Podcasts about Bips

Mark “Murch” Erhardt and Mike Schmidt are joined by Bastien Teinturier, Rearden Code, and Pieter Wuille to discuss Newsletter #385: 2025 Year-in-Review Special.January● Updated ChillDKG draft (43:08) ● Offchain DLCs (45:53) ● Compact block reconstructions (2:29:27) February● Erlay update (1:53:55) ● LN ephemeral anchor scripts (0:50) ● Probabilistic payments (54:45) March● Bitcoin Forking Guide (3:29:35) ● Private block template marketplace to prevent centralizing MEV (3:05:28) ● LN upfront and hold fees using burnable outputs (13:12) April● SwiftSync speedup for initial block download (2:09:35) ● DahLIAS interactive aggregate signatures (3:26:02) Summary 2025: Quantum (58:07) May● Cluster mempool (1:22:11) ● Increasing or removing Bitcoin Core's OP_RETURN policy limit (2:45:43) June● Calculating the selfish mining danger threshold (2:20:39) ● Fingerprinting nodes using addr messages (3:11:38) ● Garbled locks (3:19:01) Summary 2025: Soft fork proposals (26:57) July● Chain code delegation (49:07) August● Utreexo draft BIPs (2:15:57) ● Lowering the minimum relay feerate (2:39:52) ● Peer block template sharing (2:56:01) ● Differential fuzzing of Bitcoin and LN implementations (3:16:08) Summary 2025: Stratum v2 (2:04:49) September● Details about the design of Simplicity (3:23:01) ● Partitioning and eclipse attacks using BGP interception (3:13:47) October● Discussions about arbitrary data (3:01:15) ● Channel jamming mitigation simulation results and updates (11:05) November● Comparing performance of ECDSA signature validation in OpenSSL vs. libsecp256k1 (2:01:47) ● Modeling stale rates by propagation delay and mining centralization (2:22:32) ● BIP3 and the BIP process (3:31:37) ● Bitcoin Kernel C API introduced (3:35:35) December● Splicing (7:33)

Thank you to our sponsor, Mantle. Sign up for their hackathon here!After a “weird” year in the markets, hosts Ram Ahluwalia and Christopher Perkins are joined by Ava Labs' President John Wu for a candid debate about where crypto really is in the cycle—and what needs to happen next. The panel wrestles with a question many investors are quietly asking: has the market washed out enough to set up the next move, or is something still missing? They explore why momentum has faded, what signs would suggest it's coming back, and why 2026 keeps coming up in long-term conversations—even as near-term enthusiasm remains divided. Plus, why TGEs are “dying” and, with the rise of super apps, does Coinbase has an edge on Web2 players like Robinhood?  Hosts: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Christopher Perkins, Managing Partner and President of CoinFund Guest: John Wu, President of Ava Labs Links: Unchained:  Circle Acquires Interop Labs Team, Excludes Axelar Foundation and Token  Aave's Rushed Governance Vote Draws Backlash UNI Token Rallies as Voting Begins on UNIfication Proposal Bitcoin's Demand Boom is Fading: CryptoQuant Alex Thorn predicts BTC will reach $250K by end of 2027  Memento's research on TGEs  Jeff Dorman on X: “I don't know a single liquid fund that has bought a new token on TGE in over 2 years.” CoinDesk: Coinbase rolls out stock trading, prediction markets and more in bid to become the 'Everything Exchange' The Block:  Coinbase to acquire prediction markets startup The Clearing Company AAVE token holder proposes 'poison pill' for DAO to absorb Aave Labs amid contentious revenue debate Timestamps:

Thank you to our sponsor, Mantle. Sign up for their hackathon here!After a “weird” year in the markets, hosts Ram Ahluwalia and Christopher Perkins are joined by Ava Labs' President John Wu for a candid debate about where crypto really is in the cycle—and what needs to happen next. The panel wrestles with a question many investors are quietly asking: has the market washed out enough to set up the next move, or is something still missing? They explore why momentum has faded, what signs would suggest it's coming back, and why 2026 keeps coming up in long-term conversations—even as near-term enthusiasm remains divided. Plus, why TGEs are “dying” and, with the rise of super apps, does Coinbase has an edge on Web2 players like Robinhood?  Hosts: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Christopher Perkins, Managing Partner and President of CoinFund Guest: John Wu, President of Ava Labs Links: Unchained:  Circle Acquires Interop Labs Team, Excludes Axelar Foundation and Token  Aave's Rushed Governance Vote Draws Backlash UNI Token Rallies as Voting Begins on UNIfication Proposal Bitcoin's Demand Boom is Fading: CryptoQuant Alex Thorn predicts BTC will reach $250K by end of 2027  Memento's research on TGEs  Jeff Dorman on X: “I don't know a single liquid fund that has bought a new token on TGE in over 2 years.” CoinDesk: Coinbase rolls out stock trading, prediction markets and more in bid to become the 'Everything Exchange' The Block:  Coinbase to acquire prediction markets startup The Clearing Company AAVE token holder proposes 'poison pill' for DAO to absorb Aave Labs amid contentious revenue debate Timestamps:

In this double-header episode of Bits + Bips, Steven Ehrlich first speaks with Figure CEO Mike Cagney about why most tokenization projects fail, how Figure built an onchain mortgage replacement, and why he believes big banks may now be leading blockchain innovation. Then, Jason Brett joins the show to explain how an upcoming crypto market structure bill could expose President Trump's World Liberty Financial as centralized, and why that matters for DeFi, regulation, and the industry's credibility. Sponsors: Uniswap Mantle Host: Steve Ehrlich, Executive Editor at Unchained Guests: Mike Cagney, Co-founder and CEO of  Figure Technology Solutions Jason Brett, Former Banking Regulator With FDIC Links: Unchained: Inside Robinhood's Big Super App Plan: ‘There's Still a Lot of Work to Be Done' Coinbase Launches Stock Trading and Prediction Markets How the GENIUS Act Creates a Built-In Advantage for Banks and Deposit Tokens Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this double-header episode of Bits + Bips, Steven Ehrlich first speaks with Figure CEO Mike Cagney about why most tokenization projects fail, how Figure built an onchain mortgage replacement, and why he believes big banks may now be leading blockchain innovation. Then, Jason Brett joins the show to explain how an upcoming crypto market structure bill could expose President Trump's World Liberty Financial as centralized, and why that matters for DeFi, regulation, and the industry's credibility. Sponsors: Uniswap Mantle Host: Steve Ehrlich, Executive Editor at Unchained Guests: Mike Cagney, Co-founder and CEO of  Figure Technology Solutions Jason Brett, Former Banking Regulator With FDIC Links: Unchained: Inside Robinhood's Big Super App Plan: ‘There's Still a Lot of Work to Be Done' Coinbase Launches Stock Trading and Prediction Markets How the GENIUS Act Creates a Built-In Advantage for Banks and Deposit Tokens Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rita Santamaria interviews Chris Kelso, producing regional manager at Rate, to discuss why agents should get to know their loan officers, quarter points and BIPS, finding independent contractors, marketing yourself within your sphere of influence, mastering the mundane, and how “money will follow if you have a passion for what you do.”

Thank you to our sponsors, Mantle!On this episode of Bits + Bips, hosts Ram Ahluwalia, Austin Campbell, and Chris Perkins are joined by Elisabeth Kirby, Head of Market Structure at Tradeweb, for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of crypto markets — and who will control them. They unpack why US market structure legislation stalled, how the SEC's enforcement-first approach shaped the last cycle, and what it signals that JPMorgan, BlackRock, and others are moving forward with tokenization.  The group debates whether Ethereum's institutional edge is durable, whether Canton can scale beyond early adopters, and why Solana's “decentralized Nasdaq” vision still faces hard questions. The episode closes with a sober look at macro conditions, risk appetite, and why crypto may be stuck waiting, even as the long-term institutional thesis quietly strengthens. Hosts: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Austin Campbell, NYU Stern professor and founder and managing partner of Zero Knowledge Consulting Christopher Perkins, Managing Partner and President of CoinFund Guest: Elisabeth Kirby, Head of Market Structure at Tradeweb Links: The S.E.C. Was Tough on Crypto. It Pulled Back After Trump Returned to Office. Timestamps:

Mark “Murch” Erhardt, Gustavo Flores Echaiz, and Mike Schmidt are joined by Matt Morehouse and Salvatore Ingala to discuss ⁠Newsletter #384⁠.News● Critical vulnerabilities fixed in LND 0.19.0 (0:59) ● A virtualized secure enclave for hardware signing devices (21:11) Changes to services and client software● Interactive transaction visualization tool (37:16) ● BlueWallet v7.2.2 released (38:20) ● Stratum v2 updates (38:42) ● Auradine announces Stratum v2 support (40:18) ● LDK Node 0.7.0 released (41:58) ● BIP-329 Python Library 1.0.0 release (43:30) ● Bitcoin Safe 1.6.0 released (44:34) Selected Q&A from Bitcoin Stack Exchange● Does a clearnet connection to my Lightning node require a TLS certificate? (45:12) ● Why do different implementations produce different DER signatures for the same private key and hash? (45:58) ● Why is the miniscript `after` value limited at 0x80000000? (49:27) Notable code and documentation changes● Bitcoin Core #33528 (53:12) ● Bitcoin Core #33723 (54:17) ● Bitcoin Core #33993 (56:35) ● Bitcoin Core #33553 (59:54) ● Eclair #3220 (1:01:52) ● LDK #4231 (1:02:48) ● LND #10396 (1:05:40) ● BTCPay Server #7022 (1:08:26) ● Rust Bitcoin #5379 (1:09:32) ● BIPs #2050 (1:10:06)

Thank you to our sponsors, Mantle!On this episode of Bits + Bips, hosts Ram Ahluwalia, Austin Campbell, and Chris Perkins are joined by Elisabeth Kirby, Head of Market Structure at Tradeweb, for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of crypto markets — and who will control them. They unpack why US market structure legislation stalled, how the SEC's enforcement-first approach shaped the last cycle, and what it signals that JPMorgan, BlackRock, and others are moving forward with tokenization.  The group debates whether Ethereum's institutional edge is durable, whether Canton can scale beyond early adopters, and why Solana's “decentralized Nasdaq” vision still faces hard questions. The episode closes with a sober look at macro conditions, risk appetite, and why crypto may be stuck waiting, even as the long-term institutional thesis quietly strengthens. Hosts: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Austin Campbell, NYU Stern professor and founder and managing partner of Zero Knowledge Consulting Christopher Perkins, Managing Partner and President of CoinFund Guest: Elisabeth Kirby, Head of Market Structure at Tradeweb Links: The S.E.C. Was Tough on Crypto. It Pulled Back After Trump Returned to Office. Timestamps:

Subscribe to Bits + Bips: https://bitsandbips.beehiiv.com/subscribe On this bundled episode of Bits + Bips, Unchained executive editor Steve Ehrlich digs into the less obvious risks shaping crypto returns, from DeFi yield to tax reporting. First, Sebastien Derivaux, co-founder of Steakhouse Financial, explains why chasing high yield can be dangerous, how institutional risk curation works onchain, and why the future of stablecoins won't be limited to the US dollar. Then, Shehan Chandrasekera, CPA and Head of Tax Strategy at CoinTracker, breaks down what crypto investors need to know heading into 2026, including tax loss harvesting, the wash sale gray zone, hidden tax obligations in crypto ETFs, and why the new 1099-DA form won't tell the full story. Host: Steve Ehrlich, Executive Editor at Unchained Guests: Shehan Chandrasekera, CPA, Head of Tax Strategy at CoinTracker Sebastien Derivaux, Co-Founder & Partner at Steakhouse Financial Timestamps:

Subscribe to Bits + Bips: https://bitsandbips.beehiiv.com/subscribe On this bundled episode of Bits + Bips, Unchained executive editor Steve Ehrlich digs into the less obvious risks shaping crypto returns, from DeFi yield to tax reporting. First, Sebastien Derivaux, co-founder of Steakhouse Financial, explains why chasing high yield can be dangerous, how institutional risk curation works onchain, and why the future of stablecoins won't be limited to the US dollar. Then, Shehan Chandrasekera, CPA and Head of Tax Strategy at CoinTracker, breaks down what crypto investors need to know heading into 2026, including tax loss harvesting, the wash sale gray zone, hidden tax obligations in crypto ETFs, and why the new 1099-DA form won't tell the full story. Host: Steve Ehrlich, Executive Editor at Unchained Guests: Shehan Chandrasekera, CPA, Head of Tax Strategy at CoinTracker Sebastien Derivaux, Co-Founder & Partner at Steakhouse Financial Timestamps:

Thank you to our sponsors! Uniswap Mantle Hosts Ram Ahluwalia, Austin Campbell, and Chris Perkins dig into why interest rates may not fall as quickly as markets hope, why oil demand could surprise to the upside, and how retail keeps buying every dip—even while consumer confidence hits new lows. The trio also breaks down the growing collision between TradFi and crypto: whether banks can compete with blockchain-native distribution, how BlackRock's staked ETH ETF filing could reshape the market, and how yields on Ethereum and Solana represent a brand-new financial primitive. Plus, they examine Ripple's controversial raise, Citadel's push to regulate DeFi, and why major incumbents are now in a frantic race to choose their crypto “dance partners.” Hosts: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Austin Campbell, NYU Stern professor and founder and managing partner of Zero Knowledge Consulting Christopher Perkins, Managing Partner and President of CoinFund Links: Unchained:  BlackRock Files S-1 for Staked ETH ETF Berachain Kept Secret a $25 Million Refund Right to a Brevan Howard Fund CoinDesk:  Citadel Challenges DeFi Framework in Letter to SEC, Sparking Industry Outrage Bloomberg:  Wall Street Hedged Big Crypto Bet in $500 Million Ripple Deal (XRP) Bitcoin Options Show Traders Hunkering Down for Crypto Winter Timestamps:

Mark “Murch” Erhardt, Gustavo Flores Echaiz, and Mike Schmidt are joined by Moonsettler and Julian to discuss Newsletter #383.News● Consensus bug in NBitcoin library (1:04) Changing consensus● LNHANCE soft fork (24:00) ● Benchmarking the varops budget (5:09) ● SLH-DSA (SPHINCS) post-quantum signature optimizations (45:29) Releases and release candidates● Core Lightning v25.12 (1:02:24) ● LDK 0.2 (1:03:43) Notable code and documentation changes● Core Lightning #8728 (1:05:14) ● Core Lightning #8702 (1:06:55) ● Core Lightning #8735 (1:07:24) ● LDK #4226 (1:11:41) ● LND #10341 (1:12:49) ● BTCPay Server #6986 (1:14:00) ● BIPs #2015 (1:16:18)

Thank you to our sponsors! Uniswap Mantle Hosts Ram Ahluwalia, Austin Campbell, and Chris Perkins dig into why interest rates may not fall as quickly as markets hope, why oil demand could surprise to the upside, and how retail keeps buying every dip—even while consumer confidence hits new lows. The trio also breaks down the growing collision between TradFi and crypto: whether banks can compete with blockchain-native distribution, how BlackRock's staked ETH ETF filing could reshape the market, and how yields on Ethereum and Solana represent a brand-new financial primitive. Plus, they examine Ripple's controversial raise, Citadel's push to regulate DeFi, and why major incumbents are now in a frantic race to choose their crypto “dance partners.” Hosts: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Austin Campbell, NYU Stern professor and founder and managing partner of Zero Knowledge Consulting Christopher Perkins, Managing Partner and President of CoinFund Links: Unchained:  BlackRock Files S-1 for Staked ETH ETF Berachain Kept Secret a $25 Million Refund Right to a Brevan Howard Fund CoinDesk:  Citadel Challenges DeFi Framework in Letter to SEC, Sparking Industry Outrage Bloomberg:  Wall Street Hedged Big Crypto Bet in $500 Million Ripple Deal (XRP) Bitcoin Options Show Traders Hunkering Down for Crypto Winter Timestamps:

In this special double-feature episode of Bits + Bips, Unchained executive editor Steve Ehrlich brings listeners two of the clearest investor perspectives on where the crypto markets may be headed next. First, Owen Lau, Managing Director at Clear Street, breaks down why crypto equities remain so tightly correlated to Bitcoin—and what might finally cause that link to break. He unpacks the growing role of stablecoin revenue, Coinbase and Circle's evolving business models, and why a market structure bill in 2026 could reshape the sector. Then, in the second half, Bob Diamond and David Schamis of Hyperliquid Strategies explain why they believe Hyperliquid and its HYPE token represent one of the most compelling opportunities in digital assets. They walk through the rationale for their DAT, Hyperliquid's performance during extreme market volatility, and the broader ecosystem being built through HIP-3 and beyond. Sponsors: Mantle Host: Steve Ehrlich, Executive Editor at Unchained Guests: Owen Lau, Managing Director at Clear Street Bob Diamond, Founding Partner and CEO of Atlas Merchant Capital David Schamis, Founding Partner and CIO of Atlas Merchant Capital Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 1:23 Owen's outlook on crypto stocks—and what really drives them today 5:19 Why Coinbase's stock is struggling while revenue goes up 7:47 Why so many crypto companies are spending heavily to expand distribution 10:58 Whether the 10/10 crash changed how analysts evaluate public crypto companies 14:41 Will public crypto companies enter prediction markets next? 17:02 How Coinbase and Circle are positioning themselves in this emerging area 23:00 What Citadel Securities' push for SEC regulation of DeFi means for the industry 24:55 How a market structure bill could reshape the outlook for altcoins 27:03 Would a public crypto company buy a DAT trading below its NAV? 28:59 Has the window for crypto IPOs already closed? Part 2  32:57 How David and Bob first got into crypto  38:57 Why a DAT for Hyperliquid is necessary  42:40 Why they say their stock is a major opportunity right now  45:55 How running an altcoin DAT differs from doing one for ETH or BTC  48:54 How the DAT deal was structured—and Paradigm's role  51:38 How they're avoiding the big sell-offs typical in PIPE deals  53:11 Why there was a gap between announcing the DAT and executing it  55:14 Why Sonnet Therapeutics will remain operational post-transaction  57:51 Why the 10/10 liquidation event made Bob more confident in Hyperliquid  1:04:19 The broader Hyperliquid ecosystem—far beyond the DEX  1:06:42 Why David says perps are far better products than options  1:10:12 Why regulatory clarity is critical for Hyperliquid's long-term success  1:13:37 What HIP-3 unlocks for builders building around perps  1:14:46 How prediction markets could integrate with perpetuals  1:15:49 How Hyperliquid can compete with major exchanges and crypto giants  1:21:18 Why Hyperliquid's feed is so much faster than other chains  1:22:28 The $1 billion shelf offering—and how they plan to accumulate more HYPE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special double-feature episode of Bits + Bips, Unchained executive editor Steve Ehrlich brings listeners two of the clearest investor perspectives on where the crypto markets may be headed next. First, Owen Lau, Managing Director at Clear Street, breaks down why crypto equities remain so tightly correlated to Bitcoin—and what might finally cause that link to break. He unpacks the growing role of stablecoin revenue, Coinbase and Circle's evolving business models, and why a market structure bill in 2026 could reshape the sector. Then, in the second half, Bob Diamond and David Schamis of Hyperliquid Strategies explain why they believe Hyperliquid and its HYPE token represent one of the most compelling opportunities in digital assets. They walk through the rationale for their DAT, Hyperliquid's performance during extreme market volatility, and the broader ecosystem being built through HIP-3 and beyond. Sponsors: Mantle Host: Steve Ehrlich, Executive Editor at Unchained Guests: Owen Lau, Managing Director at Clear Street Bob Diamond, Founding Partner and CEO of Atlas Merchant Capital David Schamis, Founding Partner and CIO of Atlas Merchant Capital Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 1:23 Owen's outlook on crypto stocks—and what really drives them today 5:19 Why Coinbase's stock is struggling while revenue goes up 7:47 Why so many crypto companies are spending heavily to expand distribution 10:58 Whether the 10/10 crash changed how analysts evaluate public crypto companies 14:41 Will public crypto companies enter prediction markets next? 17:02 How Coinbase and Circle are positioning themselves in this emerging area 23:00 What Citadel Securities' push for SEC regulation of DeFi means for the industry 24:55 How a market structure bill could reshape the outlook for altcoins 27:03 Would a public crypto company buy a DAT trading below its NAV? 28:59 Has the window for crypto IPOs already closed? Part 2  32:57 How David and Bob first got into crypto  38:57 Why a DAT for Hyperliquid is necessary  42:40 Why they say their stock is a major opportunity right now  45:55 How running an altcoin DAT differs from doing one for ETH or BTC  48:54 How the DAT deal was structured—and Paradigm's role  51:38 How they're avoiding the big sell-offs typical in PIPE deals  53:11 Why there was a gap between announcing the DAT and executing it  55:14 Why Sonnet Therapeutics will remain operational post-transaction  57:51 Why the 10/10 liquidation event made Bob more confident in Hyperliquid  1:04:19 The broader Hyperliquid ecosystem—far beyond the DEX  1:06:42 Why David says perps are far better products than options  1:10:12 Why regulatory clarity is critical for Hyperliquid's long-term success  1:13:37 What HIP-3 unlocks for builders building around perps  1:14:46 How prediction markets could integrate with perpetuals  1:15:49 How Hyperliquid can compete with major exchanges and crypto giants  1:21:18 Why Hyperliquid's feed is so much faster than other chains  1:22:28 The $1 billion shelf offering—and how they plan to accumulate more HYPE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monday's selloff rattled the entire market—Bitcoin, equities, commodities, you name it. But beneath the volatility, something more structural may be happening. In this week's Bits + Bips, Austin Campbell, Ram Ahluwalia, Chris Perkins, and B+B OG previous host Alex Kruger break down one of the most confusing macro weeks of the year. They debate why high-beta assets snapped, whether a rotation into quality is underway, why institutions seem unfazed even as retail stays skittish, and share initial thoughts on Vanguard finally allowing clients to buy crypto. The crew also unpacks Strategy's chaotic comments about selling BTC, the Clarity Act's political hurdles, the CME outage that exposed systemic fragility, and the never-ending debate over Tether—profitability, reserves, and what institutions actually want from a stablecoin issuer. Sponsors: Uniswap Mantle Hosts: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Austin Campbell, NYU Stern professor and founder and managing partner of Zero Knowledge Consulting Christopher Perkins, Managing Partner and President of CoinFund Guest: Alex Kruger, founder of Asgard   Timestamps:

Monday's selloff rattled the entire market—Bitcoin, equities, commodities, you name it. But beneath the volatility, something more structural may be happening. In this week's Bits + Bips, Austin Campbell, Ram Ahluwalia, Chris Perkins, and B+B OG previous host Alex Kruger break down one of the most confusing macro weeks of the year. They debate why high-beta assets snapped, whether a rotation into quality is underway, why institutions seem unfazed even as retail stays skittish, and share initial thoughts on Vanguard finally allowing clients to buy crypto. The crew also unpacks Strategy's chaotic comments about selling BTC, the Clarity Act's political hurdles, the CME outage that exposed systemic fragility, and the never-ending debate over Tether—profitability, reserves, and what institutions actually want from a stablecoin issuer. Sponsors: Uniswap Mantle Hosts: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Austin Campbell, NYU Stern professor and founder and managing partner of Zero Knowledge Consulting Christopher Perkins, Managing Partner and President of CoinFund Guest: Alex Kruger, founder of Asgard   Timestamps:

In this week's Bits + Bips, Austin Campbell, Ram Ahluwalia, and Chris Perkins dig into a macro environment that's suddenly turning more supportive: QT ending, institutions stepping in, improving liquidity signals, and major catalysts across global markets. But while the setup may be bullish, one corner of crypto isn't participating at all: DATs, which Ram calls “a death spiral.” The hosts debate whether altcoins can recover, whether Strategy pushed its structure too far, if banks' unrealized losses still matter, and why the return of ICO-style launches may say more about regulation than mania. Show highlights: 0:00 Intro 3:16 Why Ram says we are still in goldilocks economy 5:07 What is missing in the markets according to Chris and how retail is so hurt 11:07 Why the dollar has been on an uptrend, contrary to what people think 13:17 The importance of banks sitting on so much unrealized losses 18:24 Nvidia's earnings and whether we are in a buying opportunity 22:21 Whether banks will be negatively affected by stablecoins growth or they are fine 25:05 What Austin and Ram disagree on whether the 50-year mortgage is good 28:25 Whether MSTR should be excluded from the MSCI index 32:56 Why Ram is “very bearish on DATs” and the importance of their operating businesses 45:19 Why Chris finds it fascinating the revival of the ICOs 51:19 Whether there's a new operations choke point going on in crypto Hosts: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Austin Campbell, NYU Stern professor and founder and managing partner of Zero Knowledge Consulting Christopher Perkins, Managing Partner and President of CoinFund Links: Unchained: MON Rallies 40% After Mainnet Launch Fortune: Suddenly, the Fed interest rate cut in December looks like it is very much back on the table Nvidia didn't save the market. What's next for the AI trade? The Index Exclusion That Ends an Era: How MicroStrategy's Exile Redefines Corporate Finance Saylor fights back Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's Bits + Bips, Austin Campbell, Ram Ahluwalia, and Chris Perkins dig into a macro environment that's suddenly turning more supportive: QT ending, institutions stepping in, improving liquidity signals, and major catalysts across global markets. But while the setup may be bullish, one corner of crypto isn't participating at all: DATs, which Ram calls “a death spiral.” The hosts debate whether altcoins can recover, whether Strategy pushed its structure too far, if banks' unrealized losses still matter, and why the return of ICO-style launches may say more about regulation than mania. Show highlights: 0:00 Intro 3:16 Why Ram says we are still in goldilocks economy 5:07 What is missing in the markets according to Chris and how retail is so hurt 11:07 Why the dollar has been on an uptrend, contrary to what people think 13:17 The importance of banks sitting on so much unrealized losses 18:24 Nvidia's earnings and whether we are in a buying opportunity 22:21 Whether banks will be negatively affected by stablecoins growth or they are fine 25:05 What Austin and Ram disagree on whether the 50-year mortgage is good 28:25 Whether MSTR should be excluded from the MSCI index 32:56 Why Ram is “very bearish on DATs” and the importance of their operating businesses 45:19 Why Chris finds it fascinating the revival of the ICOs 51:19 Whether there's a new operations choke point going on in crypto Hosts: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Austin Campbell, NYU Stern professor and founder and managing partner of Zero Knowledge Consulting Christopher Perkins, Managing Partner and President of CoinFund Links: Unchained: MON Rallies 40% After Mainnet Launch Fortune: Suddenly, the Fed interest rate cut in December looks like it is very much back on the table Nvidia didn't save the market. What's next for the AI trade? The Index Exclusion That Ends an Era: How MicroStrategy's Exile Redefines Corporate Finance Saylor fights back Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Check out our sponsor Uniswap! Bitcoin keeps drifting lower — and traders are asking the same question: where's the floor? Host Steve Ehrlich brings on Markus Thielen, CEO of 10x Research, to walk through Bitcoin's technical setup, ETF flows, institutional positioning, and why the recent selloff looks different from past dips. Markus lays out the metrics he's watching, the levels that matter, and why the path downward may still be the path of least resistance. He also shares his views on Ethereum, altcoins, digital asset treasuries, and why some investors are stepping away from risk entirely. Host: Steve Ehrlich, Executive Editor at Unchained Guest: Markus Thielen, CEO of 10x Research Timestamps:

Thank you to our sponsors! Mantle Walrus President Donald Trump's pick for chair, Mike Selig, has cleared the Senate Agriculture Committee just as lawmakers look set to hand over crypto oversight to the agency. In this episode, former CFTC Chair Chris Giancarlo joins Unchained Executive Editor Steven Ehrlich to unpack Selig's Senate hearing. Chris shares his experience working with Mike, why the CFTC should get more resources to handle crypto and crypto's unique commodity trading structure. He also touches on the challenges the agency could face regulating crypto, whether exchanges should be allowed to continue performing several functions under one umbrella, the timeline for CLARITY and the regulatory path ahead for prediction markets. Host: Steve Ehrlich, Executive Editor at Unchained Guest: J. Christopher Giancarlo, Former Commissioner of the CTFC Links: Unchained: Prospective CFTC Chair Says It's ‘Vitally Important to Have a Cop On The Beat' in Crypto Senate Committee Shares Bipartisan Draft on Crypto Market Structure Bill The Chopping Block: When Wall Street Meets DeFi — How Equity Perps and RWAs Redefine Leverage On-Chain DEX in the City: Are Prediction Markets Gambling, and Who Should Regulate Them? Polymarket Quietly Relaunches in U.S. in Beta Mode: Report Timestamps:

Check out our sponsor Uniswap! Bitcoin keeps drifting lower — and traders are asking the same question: where's the floor? Host Steve Ehrlich brings on Markus Thielen, CEO of 10x Research, to walk through Bitcoin's technical setup, ETF flows, institutional positioning, and why the recent selloff looks different from past dips. Markus lays out the metrics he's watching, the levels that matter, and why the path downward may still be the path of least resistance. He also shares his views on Ethereum, altcoins, digital asset treasuries, and why some investors are stepping away from risk entirely. Host: Steve Ehrlich, Executive Editor at Unchained Guest: Markus Thielen, CEO of 10x Research Timestamps:

Thank you to our sponsors! Mantle Walrus President Donald Trump's pick for chair, Mike Selig, has cleared the Senate Agriculture Committee just as lawmakers look set to hand over crypto oversight to the agency. In this episode, former CFTC Chair Chris Giancarlo joins Unchained Executive Editor Steven Ehrlich to unpack Selig's Senate hearing. Chris shares his experience working with Mike, why the CFTC should get more resources to handle crypto and crypto's unique commodity trading structure. He also touches on the challenges the agency could face regulating crypto, whether exchanges should be allowed to continue performing several functions under one umbrella, the timeline for CLARITY and the regulatory path ahead for prediction markets. Host: Steve Ehrlich, Executive Editor at Unchained Guest: J. Christopher Giancarlo, Former Commissioner of the CTFC Links: Unchained: Prospective CFTC Chair Says It's ‘Vitally Important to Have a Cop On The Beat' in Crypto Senate Committee Shares Bipartisan Draft on Crypto Market Structure Bill The Chopping Block: When Wall Street Meets DeFi — How Equity Perps and RWAs Redefine Leverage On-Chain DEX in the City: Are Prediction Markets Gambling, and Who Should Regulate Them? Polymarket Quietly Relaunches in U.S. in Beta Mode: Report Timestamps:

Hosts Austin Campbell, Ram Ahluwalia, and Chris Perkins sit down with Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the President's Council of Advisors for Digital Assets at the White House, to break down the latest updates in the crypto market structure bill and the political calculus behind it. Pattrick discusses how Democrats have started to listen more actively, why DeFi remains one of the most complicated pieces of the bill, and how the administration is thinking about innovation versus incumbency.  Later, the group turns to markets: whether the Fed is shifting regimes, why institutions move slowly but decisively, and what catalysts could matter most in the months ahead. Sponsors: Walrus Hosts: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Austin Campbell, NYU Stern professor and founder and managing partner of Zero Knowledge Consulting Christopher Perkins, Managing Partner and President of CoinFund Guest: Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the President's Council of Advisors for Digital Assets at the White House Timestamps:

Hosts Austin Campbell, Ram Ahluwalia, and Chris Perkins sit down with Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the President's Council of Advisors for Digital Assets at the White House, to break down the latest updates in the crypto market structure bill and the political calculus behind it. Patrick discusses how Democrats have started to listen more actively, why DeFi remains one of the most complicated pieces of the bill, and how the administration is thinking about innovation versus incumbency.  Later, the group turns to markets: whether the Fed is shifting regimes, why institutions move slowly but decisively, and what catalysts could matter most in the months ahead. Sponsors: Walrus Hosts: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Austin Campbell, NYU Stern professor and founder and managing partner of Zero Knowledge Consulting Christopher Perkins, Managing Partner and President of CoinFund Guest: Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the President's Council of Advisors for Digital Assets at the White House Timestamps:

Mark “Murch” Erhardt and Mike Schmidt are joined by TheCharlatan to discuss Newsletter #380.Releases and release candidates● LND 0.20.0-beta.rc4 (1:30) Notable code and documentation changes● Bitcoin Core #30595 (2:56) ● Bitcoin Core #33443 (28:03) ● Core Lightning #8656 (29:42) ● Core Lightning #8671 (30:22) ● LDK #4204 (33:09) ● BIPs #2022 (34:45)

Bitcoin continues to look weak, falling through the psychologically important $100,000 level. Is the cycle over? In this episode, Fairlead Strategies founder Katie Stockton joins Unchained Executive Editor Steve Ehrlich to break down the charts. She explains how the Bitcoin market has changed and Ethereum's potential trajectory. She also takes a look at the state of the DAT sector and Zcash's steep rise. Thank you to our sponsors! Mantle Uniswap Guest: Katie Stockton, Founder and Managing Partner of Fairlead Strategies Links: Unchained:  Why the Crypto Markets Seem Down Bad as Bitcoin Dips Below $100K A Musk-Style Reward? Anthony Pompliano Could Earn $400 Million From ProCap Canary XRP ETF Set for Nasdaq Launch as Shutdown Ends Why the Privacy Coins Mania Is Much More Than Price Action Timestamps:

Follow Unchained On Air on X or YouTube! https://x.com/Unchained_pod https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWiiMnsnw5Isc2PP1to9nNw Check out our sponsor Walrus! https://www.walrus.xyz/ The government's about to reopen, but the economic cracks aren't healing. From runaway debt to DATs trading below NAV, markets are feeling the strain of unsolved macro problems. In this week's Bits + Bips, hosts Austin Campbell and Chris Perkins are joined by Matt Zhang of Hivemind Capital and Felix Jauvin, head of content at Blockworks and host of Forward Guidance, to unpack what happens when policy meets reality. They discuss why a $2,000 “tariff dividend” could ignite inflation, how America's ballooning debt is constructive for crypto, and why DATs could still have plenty of potential, despite already showing cracks. Plus: the Bank of England's £20K stablecoin proposal, whether $3 trillion is too low a target for the sector, and a final provocation: is XRP worth more than Ripple equity? Hosts: Austin Campbell, NYU Stern professor and founder and managing partner of Zero Knowledge Consulting Christopher Perkins, Managing Partner and President of CoinFund Guests: Felix Jauvin, Head of Content at Blockworks and Host of the Forward Guidance Podcast Matt Zhang, Founder & Managing Partner at Hivemind Capital Links: CNN: Trump's shutdown win just landed Republicans with a huge political headache Forbes: A $2,000 Tariff Dividend? Trump's New Pitch Raises Tax Concerns BeInCrypto: Digital Asset Treasuries Are Collapsing: Lost Confidence Triggers Market Sell-Off FT: Bank of England dilutes planned rules for UK stablecoins CoinDesk: U.S. Fed's Miran Says Policy Needs to Adjust to Stablecoin Boom That Could Reach $3T Timestamps:

Subscribe to the Bits + Bips newsletter: https://unchainedcrypto.com/newsletters/ Check out our sponsor Mantle!  As profitability tightens and competition soars, many Bitcoin mining companies are turning to artificial intelligence and high-performance computing (HPC) to stay relevant. In this week's Bits + Bips, host Steve Ehrlich sits down with John Todaro, Managing Director, Crypto & HPC/AI Equity Research at Needham & Company, and Kevin Dede, Senior Research Analyst at H.C. Wainwright, to unpack the pivot that's reshaping an entire corner of the crypto industry. They discuss how miners are courting AI clients, why Wall Street is suddenly valuing them like data infrastructure plays, and what this means for Bitcoin's long-term security model. The conversation dives deep into hashprice trends, investor signals, power constraints, and whether these companies can truly deliver on the AI promise — or risk stretching too thin. Guests: Kevin Dede, Senior Research AnalystManaging Director of Equity Research at H.C. Wainwright John Todaro, Managing Director, Crypto & HPC/AI Equity Research at Needham & CompanySenior Research Analyst at Needham & Company Timestamps:

Bitcoin has fallen below $102,000. “Uptober” ended in blood. But while retail traders are terrified, institutional conversations are heating up. In this episode of Bits + Bips, hosts Austin Campbell, Ram Ahluwalia, and Chris Perkins are joined by Teddy Fusaro, President of Bitwise, to unpack the week's market turmoil. They dig into why institutions are finally comfortable allocating to bitcoin, how Ripple is building an ecosystem that can't be ignored, and whether Tether's staggering $500 billion valuation makes sense. Plus: the shrinking odds of the CLARITY Act, the merging of TradFi and crypto rails, and why the competition in the payments space is so hot. Sponsors: Binance Mantle Hosts: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Austin Campbell, NYU Stern professor and founder and managing partner of Zero Knowledge Consulting Christopher Perkins, Managing Partner and President of CoinFund Guest: Teddy Fusaro, President of Bitwise Links: Unchained:  Ripple Hits $4B Investment Milestone With Palisade Deal Extreme Fear Returns to Market as Bitcoin Breaks $104k Support Solana ETFs Draw $44 Million as Bitcoin Funds Bleed $191 Million Stablecoin Volume on Ethereum Breaks $2.8 Trillion Record in October Bitcoin ETFs Record $470 Million Outflows Amid Fed Rate Decision DL News: Clarity Act has 80% chance of passing by 2026: Bitwise The Block: Tether's annual profits top $10 billion as Treasury holdings swell Timestamps:

Mark “Murch” Erhardt and Mike Schmidt discuss Newsletter #378.News● CPU DoS from unconfirmed transaction processing (1:00) Selected Q&A from Bitcoin Stack Exchange● Why was -datacarriersize redefined in 2022, and why was the 2023 proposal to expand it not merged? (17:53) ● What is the smallest valid transaction that can be included in a block? (22:59) ● Why does Bitcoin Core continue to give witness data a discount even when it is used for inscriptions? (25:38) ● The ever-growing Bitcoin blockchain size? (39:17) ● I read that OP_TEMPLATEHASH is a variant of OP_CTV. How do they differ? (44:59) Releases and release candidates● LND 0.20.0-beta.rc1 (49:59) ● Eclair 0.13.1 (50:43) Notable code and documentation changes● Bitcoin Core #29640 (51:21) ● Core Lightning #8400 (54:15) ● Eclair #3173 (54:53) ● LND #10280 (56:56) ● BIPs #2006 (57:27) ● BIPs #1975 (1:00:58)

In this episode of Bits + Bips, former BlackRock executive and SharpLink co-CEO Joseph Chalom joins hosts Austin Campbell, Chris Perkins, and Ram Ahluwalia to discuss why the Federal Reserve may move to ease rates despite a “Goldilocks” economy, the growing role of stablecoins in foreign exchange and settlement, and how major banks like JPMorgan and Citi are expanding their use of blockchain.  The conversation also explores Japan's first yen-backed stablecoin, the implications of AI for the labor market, and the generational shift that could make crypto wallets the default interface for finance. Plus, the implications of CZ's pardon and why it's “bullish” to have Mike Selig chairing the CFTC. Sponsors: Binance Mantle Hosts: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Austin Campbell, NYU Stern professor and founder and managing partner of Zero Knowledge Consulting Christopher Perkins, Managing Partner and President of CoinFund Guest:  Joseph Chalom, Co-CEO of SharpLink Gaming, Inc. Links: Reuters: Fed poised to cut rates this week, with more easing likely on tap WSJ: Trump Considers Fed Chair Selection by Year-End From Slate of Five Finalists CoinDesk: Gov. Waller: U.S. Fed to 'Embrace Disruption,' Pitches 'Skinny' Master Account Idea Reuters: World's first yen-pegged stablecoin debuts in Japan EF: ERC-8004: Trustless Agents Bloomberg: JPMorgan to Allow Bitcoin, Ether as Collateral in Crypto Push Unchained: Trump Pardons Binance Founder CZ CNBC: Trump names Michael Selig to chair CFTC; Selig cites crypto capital goal Timestamps:

In this episode of Bits + Bips, hosts Austin Campbell, Ram Ahluwalia, and Chris Perkins tackle a packed agenda: from the fairness of Binance's listing fees to the ways in which DeFi didn't perform well during the “Black Friday” crash, why Tempo's $500 million raise might have been a political ploy, and the growing war over stablecoin dominance. The trio debates whether Bitcoin is undervalued compared to gold, why Ethereum's 10-year track record gives it an edge, and whether today's Digital Asset Treasuries (DATs) are just froth, or the permanent backbone of institutional crypto. Plus: Austin makes a bold prediction about the stablecoin that will dominate by 2040. Sponsors: Mantle Hosts: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Austin Campbell, NYU Stern professor and founder and managing partner of Zero Knowledge Consulting Christopher Perkins, Managing Partner and President of CoinFund Links: Binance Listing Fee Drama Unchained:  Binance Listing Fee Fight: What's a Fair Price to List on the Top Crypto Exchange? Binance Claims It Does Not Profit From Token Listings Jesse Pollak (Base) chimes in Tempo & Dankrad Fortune: Exclusive: Stripe-backed blockchain startup Tempo raises $500 million round led by Joshua Kushner's Thrive Capital and Greenoaks Ethereum core dev Dankrad Feist joins Tempo Reactions: Ryan Adams (Bankless): Tempo will optimize for itself, not ETH. Nick Almond: Not a death sentence for ETH Breadguy: Big loss. Dankrad was a major L1 scaling advocate. Black Friday Dan Wilson: 3 big lessons post-crash Gold vs. BTC GOLD/BTC up ‎23.5% in past month Bitcoin Is Undervalued vs. Gold DATs Bloomberg: Huobi Founder Li Lin Set To Launch $1 Billion Ether Accumulator - Bloomberg CoinDesk: Ripple Set to Enter Corporate Treasury Business With $1B Acquisition of GTreasury Timestamps:

Crypto just went through its biggest crash. In the wake of “Black Friday,” when $19 billion in positions were wiped out in hours, Bits + Bips hosts Steve Ehrlich and Ram Ahluwalia are joined by Carlos Guzman of GSR and YQ of AltLayer to dissect what really happened. Was it a coordinated attack exploiting Binance's oracles? A failure of market structure? Or simply too much leverage waiting for a trigger? Or some combination of the three? The group breaks down how liquidity vanished, why hedges failed, how this flash crash echoed the worst moments of traditional markets, and why the industry urgently needs reform before it happens again. Sponsors: Aptos Hosts: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Steve Ehrlich, Executive Editor at Unchained Guests: Carlos Guzman, Research Analyst at GSR  YQ, Co-founder of AltLayer Timestamps:

Bitcoin is hitting new all-time highs—but is this real euphoria, or just a prelude to it? In this double-header episode, we bring you a Bits + Bips roundtable and an in-depth interview on the five companies best positioned to bring crypto onchain. First, the Bits + Bips crew, Lumida's Ram Ahluwalia, FalconX's Joshua Lim, and NYU professor Austin Campbell, break down what's really driving this crypto rally. Is it dollar debasement, asset revaluation, or just pure animal spirits?  They debate how close we are to a true blow-off top, how to spot a real market peak, and what shocks could shelve bitcoin in an instant. Plus, their takes on Zcash, Japan, Coinbase's banking ambitions, and more. Then, Unchained's Steven Ehrlich sits down with Ryan Yi, author of the Onchain 5 series, to discuss the five companies that are leading crypto's push into real-world adoption.  From Coinbase's Base app and token plans, to Robinhood's play for tokenized assets, Stripe's all-in crypto tech stack, Telegram's TON-powered mini-app ecosystem, and Binance's BNB-based loyalty empire, this is the playbook for what going onchain really looks like. Thank you to our sponsor, Aptos! Hosts: Steve Ehrlich, Executive Editor at Unchained Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Guests: Joshua Lim, Co-Head of Markets at FalconX Austin Campbell, NYU Stern professor and founder and managing partner of Zero Knowledge Consulting Ryan Yi, Ex Coinbase, Coinbase Ventures, and CoinFund For links to all the amazing articles, visit https://unchainedcrypto.com/bits-bips/bits-bips-whats-really-driving-bitcoin-and-whos-driving-crypto-onchain/ Timestamps:  0:00 Intro  4:38 What Josh learned at Token2049 about what's really moving the market  10:12 How the options market is quietly driving bitcoin's price  13:25 Why Ram says this isn't a “debasement trade,” despite what everyone thinks  20:29 Whether we've hit peak euphoria—or not even close  23:54 Why Zcash suddenly exploded in price  26:45 How political changes in Japan are shaping markets  30:30 How to spot the real market top—and why Austin challenges Ram's call on stocks beating gold  35:41 How CME's 24/7 futures could change crypto trading  39:20 The signs Ram thinks would signal when the top is in  43:43 How bitcoin, altcoins, and tech stocks trade together and how they don't  47:59 What kind of shock could finally take bitcoin down  51:34 What to make of Coinbase applying for a banking license  53:34 Whether Galaxy is trying to become the next crypto super app  57:59 Why this cycle might play out completely differently  1:02:04 Why Ram believes banks are about to crush earnings  1:03:03 The biggest risks investors still aren't paying attention to  1:07:56 Meet 5 The Firms Poised to Drive the Next Wave of Crypto Adoption  1:08:53 Why distribution is the key battleground for the next wave of crypto adoption  1:12:24 How Coinbase is rearchitecting its platform around Base  1:15:42 What the upcoming Base token and Base app could unlock for users  1:19:13 How Robinhood is competing in crypto—and why it might have an edge  1:25:56 What the tokenization trend means for Robinhood's future  1:27:52 Why Stripe is building a crypto tech stack of its own  1:35:02 Why Telegram's TON token is central to its survival and growth  1:41:40 What's behind TON's lagging price performance  1:45:13 How Binance uses the BNB token as a cornerstone of its entire ecosystem  1:52:43 Why going fully onchain could be the defining strategy for the next generation of companies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark “Murch” Erhardt and Mike Schmidt are joined by Gustavo Flores Echaiz to discuss Newsletter #374.Changing consensus● Draft BIPs for Script Restoration (0:40) Releases and release candidates● Bitcoin Core 30.0rc2 (19:19) ● bdk-wallet 2.2.0 (23:39) ● LND v0.20.0-beta.rc1 (24:15) Notable code and documentation changes● Bitcoin Core #33229 (25:03) ● Bitcoin Core #33446 (26:55) ● LDK #3838 (28:11) ● LDK #4098 (30:40) ● LDK #4106 (33:40) ● LDK #4096 (35:43) ● LND #10133 (37:24) ● BDK #2029 (39:08) ● BIPs #1911 (42:15)

Crypto's bull run may be far from over, but the battleground is shifting.  On this week's Bits + Bips, Bill Barhydt of Abra and Robert Leshner of Superstate join Ram Ahluwalia and Steven Ehrlich to debate:  The current state of the markets with a looming government shutdown  SWIFT's move to build on Linea, an Ethereum layer 2 Hyperliquid vs Aster The future of perps vs. spot  Why some DATs are starting to look like grifts  Whether DeFi billionaires will ultimately eclipse their CeFi predecessors  Plus: Binance's and Tether's valuation, CZ as the entrepreneur of the decade, and why the industry may be entering an era of “perpification.” Thank you to Xapo for sponsoring this episode! Hosts: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Steven Ehrlich, Executive Editor at Unchained Guests:  Bill Barhydt, Founder and CEO of Abra Robert Leshner, Co-founder & CEO of Superstate Links: Steve's story on the DAT that claimed it raised much more than it actually did Subscribe to Bits + Bips newsletter here Timestamps:

Markets had a flood of liquidations on Monday, and traders lost over $1.5 billion in positions. So, why are liquidations spiking? Is this a warning or a blip?  Also, could a flood of DAT issuance be setting the stage for not just a crypto winter, but a crypto “nuclear” winter? If so, hedge funds and market structure could accelerate the pain.  This week on Bits + Bips, Steven Ehrlich, Ram Ahluwalia, Austin Campbell, and Vinny Lingham talk about why mNAVs could compress and whether even MicroStrategy's stack is more fragile than it looks.  They debate the bull case for gold (yes, even at these ATHs), how tokenized stocks and changing reporting cadences could open new insider edges, and what the U.S. macro picture looks like.  Thank you to our sponsors! Walrus: Scalable storage that lets you publish, deliver, and program any data, onchain. Xapo: Where Global Banking Meets Bitcoin Hosts: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Steven Ehrlich, Executive Editor at Unchained Guests: Austin Campbell, Founder and Managing Partner of Zero Knowledge Consulting Vinny Lingham, Co-founder of Praxos Capital Timestamps:

This week on Bits + Bips, hosts Steve Ehrlich and Ram Ahluwalia speak with Blockchain.com's Nic Cary and Franklin Templeton's Max Gokhman. We talk about how the potential Base token would alter the L2 landscape, and who should capture the value if Coinbase becomes the backbone for DeFi. Also, whether Web2 and TradFi giants will buy their way onchain, why privacy infrastructure is overdue, and how TON's superapp strategy could pressure social platforms to follow suit.  Plus: how Franklin Templeton is valuing L2s and other tokens, why the FOMC's decision matters for crypto risk, and how tariff talk could spill into digital assets.  Thank you to our sponsor, Xapo! Hosts: Steve Ehrlich, Executive Editor at Unchained Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Guests: Nic Cary, Co-Founder and Vice Chairman at Blockchain.com Max Gokhman, Deputy Chief Investment Officer for Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions Links: Unchained:  Base Will Likely Have a Token: Why Now, Who Wins, and How Big It Gets Base Starts to Explore a Native Token Timestamps:

The fight for Hyperliquid's USDH stablecoin is more than a ticker battle—it's a referendum on how crypto distribution, governance, and incentives will shape the next trillion-dollar market.  In this episode of Bits + Bips, Steve Ehrlich sits down with Delta Blockchain Fund's Kavita Gupta, Galaxy Digital's Alex Thorn, and Frax founder Sam Kazemian to dig into the big questions: Who will win the USDH war, and why does distribution matter more than design? Are DATs fulfilling their promises—or raising money without accountability? Why are L2s the wrong place for tokenized stocks? And where exactly is the trillion-dollar opportunity in stablecoins? Sponsors: Xapo Walrus Host: Steve Ehrlich, Executive Editor at Unchained Guests: Kavita Gupta, Founder & Managing Partner of Delta Blockchain Fund Alex Thorn, Head of Firmwide Research at Galaxy Digital Sam Kazemian, Founder of Frax Finance Links: Unchained:  The Competition Is On. Who'll Win the USDH Ticker on Hyperliquid? Stablecoin Issuers Enter Bidding War to Launch Hyperliquid's USDH Sky Joins Bidding War to Launch Hyperliquid's USDH  Timestamps:

DATs aren't done. They may just be getting started.  In this episode, CoinFund's Chris Perkins and Upexi's Brian Rudick join Ram Ahluwalia and Steven Ehrlich to dissect why some DATs could outcompete ETFs for certain investors, the bullish accretion math behind premiums, and what makes a winning vehicle. We also dig into whether this is altcoin season or a head fake, why Galaxy's tokenized-share move matters, and the one market unlock Perkins says could change everything. Use this episode to pressure-test your assumptions: are DATs “just banks,” or the best product-market-fit crypto has found for TradFi capital? Thank you to our sponsor ⁠Xapo Bank⁠! Xapo offers Bitcoin-backed loans of up to $1 million, so eligible members can access liquidity without selling their BTC.  Hosts: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Steve Ehrlich, Executive Editor at Unchained Guests: Christopher Perkins, Managing Partner and President of CoinFund Brian Rudick, Chief Strategy Officer at Upexi Links: DATs: How Crypto Treasury Companies Are Turning to DeFi and TradFi to Juice Yields How Michael Saylor Plans to Ensure Strategy Keeps Its Bitcoin Forever These 4 Crypto Treasury Companies Are Primed for a Price Crash Crypto Treasury Companies Are All the Rage. Could They Cause an Industry Collapse? Tokenization: Federal Reserve to hold conference discussing crypto stablecoins, tokenization, and AI GLXY tokenized stock Ondo Finance launched over 100 tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs on Ethereum CZ-owned Trust Wallet launches tokenized stocks and ETFs Timestamps:

In this episode, Stephan Livera and Calvin talk about Utreexo. They discuss the latest updates, including the publication of three BIPs related to Utreexo, which aim to improve the efficiency of Bitcoin nodes. The conversation covers the mechanics of Utreexo, including its accumulator structure and the concept of a Merkle forest. They also explore different types of nodes, such as compact state nodes and bridge nodes, and how these innovations can enhance user experience and participation in Bitcoin. Additionally, they touch on the growing Bitcoin community in Korea and the potential for future developments in the Utreexo space.Takeaways

Ethereum's rally has captivated the market, but is it really about the GENIUS Act and stablecoins, or just raw flows?  In this episode of Bits + Bips, Alex Kruger, Ram Ahluwalia, Steven Ehrlich, and special guest Sid Powell of Maple Finance, dive deep into what's driving ETH, the macro forces shaping crypto's next leg up, and whether traders are completely wrong about the Fed's next moves. From the potential flood of TradFi capital onto the blockchain, to the battle for stablecoin dominance, to whether Solana is about to get a major boost, the conversation dissects the signals in today's market. Hosts: Alex Kruger, Founder of Asgard Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Steven Ehrlich, Executive Editor at Unchained Guest: Sid Powell, CEO & Co-Founder of Maple Finance Links: Unchained: Custodia Patent for Bank Stablecoin Challenges Big Banks Entering the Field CBS News: CPI rose in July by 2.7% on an annual basis. Here's what that means. CNBC:  Circle shares rise as second-quarter revenue jumps 53% on strong stablecoin growth Fed board contenders Miran, Bullard say Trump's tariffs are not causing inflation CoinDesk.  ETH Transaction Volume C Much as $20limbs on Price Rally, Cheaper DeFi Costs Tom Lee's BitMine Immersion Aims to Raise asB for More ETH Buys Cointelegraph: SharpLink Gaming shares dip after $400M deal to boost Ether holdings Bloomberg: Godfather of the Mar-a-Lago Accord Goes to the Fed Timestamps:

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What's fueling crypto's market surge?  This week on Bits + Bips, Ethereum's rally has reignited market energy, triggering fresh questions about the return of alt season, and whether Bitcoin's dominance will continue to fall. With special guests Katalin Tischhauser from Sygnum Bank and Wintermute's Jake Ostrovskis, we dive deep into how corporate treasuries, tokenized assets, and shifting ETF flows are reshaping crypto's microstructure.  Plus, we dissect the macro impact of rising tariffs, the Fed's delicate dance with Trump, and whether tokenization could breathe new life into the US dollar. Check out the sponsors who make this show possible! Bitwise Mantle Hosts: Steve Ehrlich, Executive Editor at Unchained Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Guests: Katalin Tischhauser, Head of Research at Sygnum Bank Jake Ostrovskis, Head of Sales Trading (OTC) at Wintermute Links Markets:  Unchained: Spot Ether ETFs Extend 16-Day Inflow Streak With $453 Million DATs: Cointelegraph: Tron Inc. seeks $1B to grow TRX holdings as stock rallies CoinDesk: Crypto Treasury Fever Spreads to Ethena as $360M SPAC Deal Targets ENA Accumulation CEA Industries Inc. Press Release: CEA Industries and 10X Capital, with the support of YZi Labs, announce $500 Million Private Placement to Establish Largest Publicly-Listed $BNB Treasury Company in the World The Block: Specialty finance company Mill City announces $450 million offering to establish corporate Sui treasury Barron's: MicroStrategy to Offer Preferred Stock With a Twist That Could Yield 10% Trump and Powell Fortune: Jerome Powell had a surprise visit from Trump. He's poised to leave interest rates unchanged anyway CNBC: Trump spars with Powell over renovation costs during Fed visit, but backs off firing threats Timestamps:

Last week, the U.S. passed its first major piece of crypto legislation. Stablecoins now have a legal home, and that could open the floodgates for adoption, disruption, and regulation. But is this just the beginning? In this episode of Bits + Bips, Ram Ahluwalia, Noelle Acheson, Steve Ehrlich, and guest Cosmo Jiang of Pantera dive into what the stablecoin law actually means, who it helps, who it threatens, and why Wall Street and crypto startups alike are positioning fast. They also cover Ethereum's rally, what's fueling it, and whether the boom in digital asset treasury companies is sustainable. Plus, they unpack Trump's latest threats against the Fed and what it means for markets, inflation, and interest rates. Sponsors: Bitwise Mantle Hosts: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Noelle Acheson, Author of the “Crypto Is Macro Now” Newsletter  Steve Ehrlich, Executive Editor at Unchained Guest: Cosmo Jiang, General Partner and Portfolio Manager for Liquid Strategies at Pantera Capital Links Stablecoins Unchained:  GENIUS Act Passes: Who Are the Winners, Losers, and What Comes Next? House Passes Landmark Crypto Legislation: GENIUS Act and Digital Asset Bills Trump to Unblock Crypto Access in America's $9 Trillion 401(k) Market: Report The Block: GENIUS Act is helping Ethereum ‘have its moment,' Bernstein says WSJ: Why Banks Are on High Alert About Stablecoins Digital Asset Treasuries WSJ: Blank-Check Company Strikes Cryptocurrency Deal Unchained: SBET to Raise Additional $5B to Grow ETH Position Bloomberg: Trump Media Buys $2 Billion in Bitcoin for Crypto Treasury Plan CoinDesk: DeFi Development Nears $200M Solana Treasury DeFi Dev Corp Press release: DeFi Dev Corp. Announces Global Expansion Through Strategic Treasury Franchising Model TLGY Acquisition Corp Press release: TLGY Acquisition Corp. Announces Business Combination and Approximately $360 Million PIPE Financing to Form StablecoinX, an Ethena Stablecoin-Focused Treasury Company The Block: Nasdaq-listed Sonnet BioTherapeutics agrees to $888 million merger to become Hyperliquid Strategies, launch HYPE treasury Timestamps:

Bitcoin broke its all-time high. Meanwhile, stablecoin legislation is about to pass. And the macro picture is a powder keg. In this episode of Bits + Bips, Steve Ehrlich, Ram Ahluwalia, and Noelle Acheson are joined by Austin Campbell to break down what's really driving markets, and what could break them. From the GENIUS Act reshaping stablecoins to tariffs putting pressure on the Fed, to the Pump.fun ICO and memecoin mania, nothing is off limits. And with crypto ripping, is it time to ride the rally, or take some risk off the table? Thank you to our sponsor! Bitwise Steve Ehrlich, Executive Editor at Unchained Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Noelle Acheson, Author of the “Crypto Is Macro Now” Newsletter  Guest: Austin Campbell, founder and managing partner of Zero Knowledge Consulting Unchained:  Bitcoin Sets New All-Time High, But Eyes Even Bigger Gains PUMP Traders Make Big Options Bets on the Token Surging Past Its ICO Price Grayscale Files Confidential IPO Paperwork Timestamps:

In this episode of Bits + Bips, we examine how rising global trade tensions could impact macro conditions, the Fed's next move, and market stability. We also explore how investors should position themselves with inflation cooling and an uncertain policy path at the Fed. We then look at what's happening on the crypto side: volume shifting to tokenized public equities, the growing number of corporate stablecoin plans, and whether the promise of tokenization is matched by meaningful traction. Joining hosts Joe McCann, Ram Ahluwalia, and Steve Ehrlich is Rob Hadick of Dragonfly, who shares his perspective on product-market fit in crypto, shifting market structure, and where real adoption may emerge. Sponsor: Bitwise Joe McCann, Founder, CEO, and CIO of Asymmetric Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Steve Ehrlich, Executive Editor at Unchained Rob Hadick, General Partner at Dragonfly LINKS: WSJ: Trump Faces Crucial Week for Reaching Trade Deals EU Still Hopes for Initial U.S. Trade Deal Before Deadline Reuters: Japan, South Korea face 25% tariffs as Trump ramps up trade war in letters to 14 nations CNN: Trump announces new tariffs of up to 40% on a growing number of countries University of Washington: OBBB Signed Into Law Unchained:  OpenAI Says Robinhood's Stock Tokens Are Not Equity Tron Is Now More Expensive Than Ethereum. Will That Hurt Justin Sun's New Company? AI Crypto Tokens Swoon as Nvidia Reaches a New All-Time High CoinDesk: CoreWeave to Acquire Core Scientific in $9B All-Stock Deal The Block: Bit Digital swaps entire treasury into Ethereum, says it's now a top public ETH holder after a $173 million splurge Timestamps:

Crypto is bleeding into traditional finance faster than anyone expected. In this episode of Bits + Bips, the hosts dig into Robinhood's move into tokenized stocks and perps, what's actually holding back tokenized equities, and why perps might “eat the world.”  Plus, they talk crypto ETFs, altcoin summer, and whether staking in ETFs is the next big unlock. Sponsors: Bitwise Hosts: James Seyffart, Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Noelle Acheson, Author of the “Crypto Is Macro Now” Newsletter  Guest: Thomas Uhm, Chief Commercial Officer at the Jito Foundation Timestamps