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Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Pandora, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. The past few days have been a busy stretch in the run-up to a potential spot Bitcoin ETF approval by the SEC. Goldman Sachs was revealed as a possible authorized participant (AP) for BlackRock and Grayscale's offerings, the SEC met with representatives of major stock exchanges, and a report skeptical of an imminent SEC approval likely caused a 7% decline in Bitcoin. Spencer Bogart, general partner at venture capital firm Blockchain Capital, joined Unchained to break down what all of these events mean, as well as discuss who the likely winners will be among ETF issuers, the impact of a spot bitcoin ETF on companies such as MicroStrategy and Coinbase, and how a spot ETF will affect Bitcoin futures ETFs and leveraged crypto ETFs. Show highlights: Why the newly authorized participants in the spot Bitcoin ETFs are critical for maintaining the ETF's price alignment The reasons behind the excitement over Goldman Sachs becoming an authorized participant in the spot Bitcoin ETFs How the Matrixport report led to a 7% drop in BTC value The importance of seed funding for ETFs and its impact on their stability and growth The pivotal role of distribution in an ETF and why Spencer emphasizes its significance Whether the fees charged by ETF issuers will become a decisive factor for consumers in choosing their preferred ETF The potential impact of changes in the Grayscale board on its aspirations to launch an ETF How the introduction of a spot Bitcoin ETF might influence BITO, the futures-based Bitcoin ETF Whether the launch of a spot Bitcoin ETF could affect the stock value of MicroStrategy Spencer's reasoning behind why Coinbase stands to "absolutely benefit" from the introduction of a spot Bitcoin ETF Thank you to our sponsors! Arbitrum Foundation Popcorn Network iTrustCapital Guest Spencer Bogart, General Partner at Blockchain Capital Links Previous coverage of Unchained on spot Bitcoin ETFs: Why the SEC May Want Cash Creation of Spot Bitcoin ETFs Why It Looks Like BlackRock Could Win America's First Spot Bitcoin ETF Why a Spot Bitcoin ETF Will Probably Launch No Later Than January 10 How Much Money Will Flow Into Bitcoin ETFs? Here's One Projection Why It Looks Like BlackRock Could Win America's First Spot Bitcoin ETF The Chopping Block: Are We Back? The ‘Low IQ' Response to the Potential Spot Bitcoin ETF Matrixport report Why the SEC will REJECT Bitcoin Spot ETFs again Jihan Wu's tweet defending the analyst Unchained: Why Did Bitcoin's Price Dip as ETF Approval Nears? Market participants: Unchained: Goldman Sachs Could Take Vital Role in BlackRock, Grayscale Spot Bitcoin ETFs: Report The Block: Nasdaq to meet with SEC today to discuss spot bitcoin ETFs: Source Reuters: BlackRock, VanEck among asset managers that submitted updated filings for spot bitcoin ETF CoinDesk: BlackRock, Valkyrie Name Authorized Participants Including JPMorgan for Bitcoin ETF 8-As The Block: Fidelity, Grayscale filing 8-A forms show progress for spot bitcoin ETF applications Fees Fidelity set their fee to .39% Invesco/Galaxy chose to waive fees Grayscale: Unchained: DCG CEO Silbert, President Murphy Exit Grayscale Board Learn more: Unchained: Bitcoin ETFs Explained: What Are They & How Do They Work? Why The Spot Bitcoin ETF Is a Big Deal Deciding on Bitcoin: Should New Investors Jump In Now or Wait for an ETF? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As we head into what's expected to be the home stretch for an SEC approval, venture capitalist Spencer Bogart gives his take on the most recent news.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Pandora, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.The past few days have been a busy stretch in the run-up to a potential spot Bitcoin ETF approval by the SEC. Goldman Sachs was revealed as a possible authorized participant (AP) for BlackRock and Grayscale's offerings, the SEC met with representatives of major stock exchanges, and a report skeptical of an imminent SEC approval likely caused a 7% decline in Bitcoin. Spencer Bogart, general partner at venture capital firm Blockchain Capital, joined Unchained to break down what all of these events mean, as well as discuss who the likely winners will be among ETF issuers, the impact of a spot bitcoin ETF on companies such as MicroStrategy and Coinbase, and how a spot ETF will affect Bitcoin futures ETFs and leveraged crypto ETFs.Show highlights | Why the newly authorized participants in the spot Bitcoin ETFs are critical for maintaining the ETF's price alignmentThe reasons behind the excitement over Goldman Sachs becoming an authorized participant in the spot Bitcoin ETFsHow the Matrixport report led to a 7% drop in BTC valueThe importance of seed funding for ETFs and its impact on their stability and growthThe pivotal role of distribution in an ETF and why Spencer emphasizes its significanceWhether the fees charged by ETF issuers will become a decisive factor for consumers in choosing their preferred ETFThe potential impact of changes in the Grayscale board on its aspirations to launch an ETFHow the introduction of a spot Bitcoin ETF might influence BITO, the futures-based Bitcoin ETFWhether the launch of a spot Bitcoin ETF could affect the stock value of MicroStrategySpencer's reasoning behind why Coinbase stands to "absolutely benefit" from the introduction of a spot Bitcoin ETFThank you to our sponsors! Arbitrum Foundation | Popcorn Network | iTrustCapitalGuest | Spencer Bogart, General Partner at Blockchain CapitalLinks | Previous coverage of Unchained on spot Bitcoin ETFs:Why the SEC May Want Cash Creation of Spot Bitcoin ETFsWhy It Looks Like BlackRock Could Win America's First Spot Bitcoin ETFWhy a Spot Bitcoin ETF Will Probably Launch No Later Than January 10How Much Money Will Flow Into Bitcoin ETFs? Here's One ProjectionWhy a Spot Bitcoin ETF Will Probably Launch No Later Than January 10Why It Looks Like BlackRock Could Win America's First Spot Bitcoin ETFThe Chopping Block: Are We Back? The ‘Low IQ' Response to the Potential Spot Bitcoin ETFMatrixport reportWhy the SEC will REJECT Bitcoin Spot ETFs againJihan Wu's tweet defending the analyst Unchained: Why Did Bitcoin's Price Dip as ETF Approval Nears?Market participants:Unchained: Goldman Sachs Could Take Vital Role in BlackRock, Grayscale Spot Bitcoin ETFs: ReportThe Block: Nasdaq to meet with SEC today to discuss spot bitcoin ETFs: SourceReuters: BlackRock, VanEck among asset managers that submitted updated filings for spot bitcoin ETFCoinDesk: BlackRock, Valkyrie Name Authorized Participants Including JPMorgan for Bitcoin ETF8-AsThe Block: Fidelity, Grayscale filing 8-A forms show progress for spot bitcoin ETF applicationsFeesFidelity set their fee to .39%Invesco/Galaxy chose to waive feesGrayscale:Unchained: DCG CEO Silbert, President Murphy Exit Grayscale Board Learn more: Unchained: Bitcoin ETFs Explained: What Are They & How Do They Work?Why The Spot Bitcoin ETF Is a Big DealDeciding on Bitcoin: Should New Investors Jump In Now or Wait for an ETF?Unchained Podcast is Produced by Laura Shin Media, LLC. Distributed by CoinDesk. Senior Producer is Michele Musso and Executive Producer is Jared Schwartz.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Pandora, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. The past few days have been a busy stretch in the run-up to a potential spot Bitcoin ETF approval by the SEC. Goldman Sachs was revealed as a possible authorized participant (AP) for BlackRock and Grayscale's offerings, the SEC met with representatives of major stock exchanges, and a report skeptical of an imminent SEC approval likely caused a 7% decline in Bitcoin. Spencer Bogart, general partner at venture capital firm Blockchain Capital, joined Unchained to break down what all of these events mean, as well as discuss who the likely winners will be among ETF issuers, the impact of a spot bitcoin ETF on companies such as MicroStrategy and Coinbase, and how a spot ETF will affect Bitcoin futures ETFs and leveraged crypto ETFs. Show highlights: Why the newly authorized participants in the spot Bitcoin ETFs are critical for maintaining the ETF's price alignment The reasons behind the excitement over Goldman Sachs becoming an authorized participant in the spot Bitcoin ETFs How the Matrixport report led to a 7% drop in BTC value The importance of seed funding for ETFs and its impact on their stability and growth The pivotal role of distribution in an ETF and why Spencer emphasizes its significance Whether the fees charged by ETF issuers will become a decisive factor for consumers in choosing their preferred ETF The potential impact of changes in the Grayscale board on its aspirations to launch an ETF How the introduction of a spot Bitcoin ETF might influence BITO, the futures-based Bitcoin ETF Whether the launch of a spot Bitcoin ETF could affect the stock value of MicroStrategy Spencer's reasoning behind why Coinbase stands to "absolutely benefit" from the introduction of a spot Bitcoin ETF Thank you to our sponsors! Arbitrum Foundation Popcorn Network iTrustCapital Guest Spencer Bogart, General Partner at Blockchain Capital Links Previous coverage of Unchained on spot Bitcoin ETFs: Why the SEC May Want Cash Creation of Spot Bitcoin ETFs Why It Looks Like BlackRock Could Win America's First Spot Bitcoin ETF Why a Spot Bitcoin ETF Will Probably Launch No Later Than January 10 How Much Money Will Flow Into Bitcoin ETFs? Here's One Projection Why It Looks Like BlackRock Could Win America's First Spot Bitcoin ETF The Chopping Block: Are We Back? The ‘Low IQ' Response to the Potential Spot Bitcoin ETF Matrixport report Why the SEC will REJECT Bitcoin Spot ETFs again Jihan Wu's tweet defending the analyst Unchained: Why Did Bitcoin's Price Dip as ETF Approval Nears? Market participants: Unchained: Goldman Sachs Could Take Vital Role in BlackRock, Grayscale Spot Bitcoin ETFs: Report The Block: Nasdaq to meet with SEC today to discuss spot bitcoin ETFs: Source Reuters: BlackRock, VanEck among asset managers that submitted updated filings for spot bitcoin ETF CoinDesk: BlackRock, Valkyrie Name Authorized Participants Including JPMorgan for Bitcoin ETF 8-As The Block: Fidelity, Grayscale filing 8-A forms show progress for spot bitcoin ETF applications Fees Fidelity set their fee to .39% Invesco/Galaxy chose to waive fees Grayscale: Unchained: DCG CEO Silbert, President Murphy Exit Grayscale Board Learn more: Unchained: Bitcoin ETFs Explained: What Are They & How Do They Work? Why The Spot Bitcoin ETF Is a Big Deal Deciding on Bitcoin: Should New Investors Jump In Now or Wait for an ETF? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today we're diving deep into the mind of Spencer Bogart, who is a partner at Blockchain Capital. Spencer has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of decentralized technologies and digital assets over the last decade. We get into his journey impact in the blockchain sector, their investment thesis around the controversial WorldCoin, how he's continued to thrive among many economic downturns, and we get into their recent news of a $580 million for two new funds. But first, Spencer tells us about the history of the firm.
In today's episode of Empire Jason and Santi interview Blockchain Capital General Partners Aleks and Spencer. Blockchain Capital recently closed two new funds, early stage and opportunity, totaling $580 million. Since its inception in 2013, Blockchain Capital has invested in more than 110 companies, protocols and crypto assets across the ecosystem. Today's discussion dives into their fund thesis and overall managing strategy, the time horizon for mass adoption, deploying capital in U.S. based projects, and existing discounts in later stage start-ups. - - Follow Aleks: https://twitter.com/_alekslarsen Follow Spencer: https://twitter.com/CremeDeLaCrypto Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7 Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ - - Get 5% off your business insurance today with Vouch, the leading insurer of crypto startups. With over 4000 clients, Vouch offers exclusive coverages with crypto enhancements including Directors & Officers with digital asset regulatory defense and Cyber that includes smart contract vulnerabilities. Get started today at https://vouch.us/web3/blockworks - - Bumper is an innovative DeFi protocol that protects the value of the crypto you hold from the downside & simultaneously preserves gains when the price climbs. - A superior alternative to crypto options for traders - 30% cheaper and more efficient than traditional tools - Liquidity providers earn 3-18% real yield on USDC - Get a share in $250,000 of BUMP rewards for Early Adopters Visit bumper.fi for more info! - - Timestamps: (00:00) $580M Fund Raise (08:00) Fund Performance and Power Dynamics (16:45) Time Horizon for Mass Adoption (22:04) Allocating Capital in U.S. (29:58) Exciting Innovation (38:30) Bumper Ad (39:34) Vouch ad (40:42) Balancing Portfolio Competition (44:50) Investment Stage Discount (47:18) What's Misunderstood about WorldCoin (51:01) Potential of AI & Crypto (54:09) Lessons Learned from Previous Cycles (58:56) Revisiting Old Ideas - - Resources: Blockchain Capital https://www.blockchaincapital.com/blog/doubling-up-while-doubling-down-announcing-our-latest-funds - - Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
Connie & Alex talk to Spencer Bogart of Blockchain Capital about his firm's recent investment in Tools for Humanity, the Sam Altman-backed startup behind Worldcoin, an ambitious attempt to create an identity token for everyone in the world.
My guest today is my friend, Spencer Bogart, General Partner at Blockchain Capital - a leading venture firm in the crypto and blockchain industry. Spencer has made over 90 investments in companies and protocols in the sector, across different stages, geographies and asset types. Prior to Blockchain Capital , Spencer was a part of the Internet Equity Research team at Needham & Company, an investment bank, where he led the firm's research efforts in all things crypto and blockchain. We discuss how Spencer's experience publishing Bitcoin research reports in the early days of crypto and having to defend his thesis against traditional fund managers, the possibility of a Bitcoin liquidity squeeze, why DeFi is so exciting, and Blockchain Cap's Investment Framework. --- ELECTRONEUM Electroneum, has gained widespread adoption providing a mobile-first payment solution to the world's unbanked, attracting more than 4M users worldwide in less than three years. They have since launched a new freelance marketplace, AnyTask.com, which is providing thousands of freelancers the opportunity to sell their services to buyers globally, without the need of a bank account. Learn more at Electroneum.com. ––– This podcast is powered by BlockWorks Group. For exclusive content and events that provide insights into the crypto and blockchain space, visit them at https://blockworksgroup.io
My guest today is my friend, Spencer Bogart, General Partner at Blockchain Capital - a leading venture firm in the crypto and blockchain industry. Spencer has made over 90 investments in companies and protocols in the sector, across different stages, geographies and asset types. Prior to Blockchain Capital , Spencer was a part of the Internet Equity Research team at Needham & Company, an investment bank, where he led the firm's research efforts in all things crypto and blockchain. We discuss how Spencer's experience publishing Bitcoin research reports in the early days of crypto and having to defend his thesis against traditional fund managers, the possibility of a Bitcoin liquidity squeeze, why DeFi is so exciting, and Blockchain Cap's Investment Framework. --- ELECTRONEUM Electroneum, has gained widespread adoption providing a mobile-first payment solution to the world's unbanked, attracting more than 4M users worldwide in less than three years. They have since launched a new freelance marketplace, AnyTask.com, which is providing thousands of freelancers the opportunity to sell their services to buyers globally, without the need of a bank account. Learn more at Electroneum.com. ––– This podcast is powered by BlockWorks Group. For exclusive content and events that provide insights into the crypto and blockchain space, visit them at https://blockworksgroup.io
In this week's episode, Nic and Matt torch the STABLE Act cosponsored by their local representative Stephen Lynch (MA-8). Also covered: Stephen Lynch and Rashida Tlaib's STABLE Act What the STABLE Act requires of fintech providers hosting user balances What stablecoin issuers are not like banks Why the STABLE Act would be disastrous for competition in the Fintech space Why the moral positioning for the bill is internally inconsistent The prospects for the STABLE Act Why legislation like the STABLE Act will likely become USDC partners with Visa, and what it means for the industry Why the USDC-Visa partnership solves a critical issue that the industry has had for years BlockFi announces a Bitcoin-back credit card Larry Fink starts to shift his tone on Bitcoin Garry Cohn's bizarre new Bitcoin critique Our takeaways from the BCAP Bitcoin survey Will Bitcoin outlive the Euro? Content mentioned in this episode: Spencer Bogart, Bitcoin is (Still) a Demographic Mega-Trend Niall Ferguson, Bitcoin Is Winning the Covid-19 Monetary Revolution The STABLE Act press release Coin Center, The Unintended (?) Consequences of the STABLE Act
As states shutter economic activity because of preventable COVID-19 outbreaks, it’s deja vu all over again. This episode is sponsored by Bitstamp and Ciphertrace.This is a movie we’ve seen before:Rise in what could have been preventable COVID-19 casesA call for shutdowns (plus voluntary closures)Rampant politicization of health and economic issues rather than common sense approachesPersistent jobless claims plus new layoffs Wall Street nerves turning into new Federal Reserve and Treasury actionRinse, repeat, economy!This week on The Breakdown:Monday | Macro Investors Sound Off! Featuring Ari Paul, Spencer Bogart and David NageSome of the smartest investors in the crypto space share how they think the larger macro context is shaping interest in bitcoin and digital assets.Tuesday | Oil 101: How Easy Money Enabled the Shale Revolution, Feat. Tracy ShuchartAn oil and commodities expert breaks down how the shale revolution reshaped global energy power and why oil went below $0 earlier this year.Wednesday | Bull vs. Bear: Who Has the Economy Right?From markets to real estate to the dollar to retail, the data on whether the market is recovering or not is hella confused.Thursday | Is Scam Selling Suppressing the Price of Bitcoin?Scam selling, a big win for privacy from Apple, new jobless claims in the “whack-a-mole” economy and the biggest BTC options expiry ever.Friday | How Monopolies Sow the Seeds of Their Own Destruction, Feat. Tuur DemeesterThe managing partner of Adamant Capital joins for a conversation about what the Protestant Reformation and the French Revolution can teach us about bitcoin.
Some of the smartest investors in the crypto space share how they think the larger macro context is shaping interest in bitcoin and digital assets.This episode is sponsored by Bitstamp and Ciphertrace.Today on the Brief:New Federal Reserve research suggests reaction to Facebook’s Libra basket approach was overblownItalian Banking Association pushing to test a digital euroU.S. housing has worst month since 2010Our main conversation:Earlier this month, Messari hosted the Mainnet virtual summit. At that event, NLW moderated a session called “Macro Investors Sound Off!” featuring BlockTower Capital’s Ari Paul, Blockchain Capital’s Spencer Bogart and Arca’s David Nage. The discussion included:The evolution of the Fed put and how it shapes the markets How the collision of Bitcoin’s halving and the Fed’s reaction to COVID-19 created a powerful narrative momentWhy the Money Printer Go BRR meme was so effectiveWhy the Paul Tudor Jones letter was hugely influential within Family OfficesWhy these investors expect to see some significant announcements around bitcoin exposure from traditional investors in the months to come Find our guests online:Ari Paul: @AriDavidPaulSpencer Bogart: @CremeDeLaCryptoDavid Nage: @DavidJNageWatch the rest of Messari’s Mainnet 2020 sessions.
Today on the Brief: New Federal Reserve research suggests reaction to Facebook’s Libra basket approach was overblown Italian Banking Association pushing to test a digital euro U.S. housing has worst month since 2010 Our main conversation: Earlier this month, Messari hosted the Mainnet virtual summit. At that event, NLW moderated a session called “Macro Investors Sound Off!” featuring BlockTower Capital’s Ari Paul, Blockchain Capital’s Spencer Bogart and Arca’s David Nage. The discussion included: The evolution of the Fed put and how it shapes the markets How the collision of Bitcoin’s halving and the Fed’s reaction to COVID-19 created a powerful narrative moment Why the “Money Printer Go BRR” meme was so effective Why the Paul Tudor Jones letter was hugely influential within family offices Why these investors expect to see some significant announcements around bitcoin exposure from traditional investors in the months to come Find our guests online: Ari Paul: @AriDavidPaul Spencer Bogart: @CremeDeLaCrypto David Nage: @DavidJNage Watch the rest of Messari’s Mainnet 2020 sessions.
Spencer Bogart (@CremeDeLaCrypto) of Blockchain Capital and Brayton Williams (@BraytonKey) of Boost VC, join Erik on this episode.They discuss:- Their analysis of the different eras of crypto and how the thinking of the people involved in the space has evolved.- Whether the crypto bubble in 2017 can be compared to the internet bubble of 1999.- Unpacking the Bitcoin-as-programmable money thesis.- Specific problems that crypto is solving that they have invested in, as well as their requests for startups.- How crypto can disrupt VC.- What might have changed in the crypto space when looking back from 5 years in the future.Thanks for listening — if you like what you hear, please review us on your favorite podcast platform. Check us out on the web at villageglobal.vc or get in touch with us on Twitter @villageglobal.
Spencer Bogart (@CremeDeLaCrypto) of Blockchain Capital and Brayton Williams (@BraytonKey) of Boost VC, join Erik on this episode.They discuss:- Their analysis of the different eras of crypto and how the thinking of the people involved in the space has evolved.- Whether the crypto bubble in 2017 can be compared to the internet bubble of 1999.- Unpacking the Bitcoin-as-programmable money thesis.- Specific problems that crypto is solving that they have invested in, as well as their requests for startups.- How crypto can disrupt VC.- What might have changed in the crypto space when looking back from 5 years in the future.Thanks for listening — if you like what you hear, please review us on your favorite podcast platform. Check us out on the web at villageglobal.vc or get in touch with us on Twitter @villageglobal.
Host Tom Shaughnessy talks to Kyle Samani, Founder and Managing Partner of Multicoin Capital. Kyle discusses his predictions for the middle layer and full-stack development, attracting developers to the crypto space, how competition in the industry will develop, and a complete discussion on the Web3 Stack. Key Points While there are a lot of opportunities higher up the stack, there is the most money in layer one because that’s what has been proven stable over time. The next few years will see an explosion of Web3 experimentation. In crypto, like with everything in technology, developments will happen very slowly, then suddenly very quickly. Quotes “When I think about opportunities for investing in the middle layer, they are generally less competitive as a function of market size, and not as many developers recognize that those markets exist.” –Kyle Samani “As these services continue to mature, we’re going to start to see people build world-class applications—we’re going to start to see new things come out over the next 12 months or so.” –Kyle Samani Episode Highlights Kyle recently published his 2019 update to the Web3 stack, which is about inverting the data model that powers the internet so that users own their own data. Kyle predicts that what we will increasingly see over the next few years will be more heterogeneity in investments, which will lead to more consolidation. Tech companies and teams that don’t pivot the right way will likely go down with their last dollar. Kyle thinks companies that are forced to run on a chain other than Ethereum or choose to explore that will choose chains that are very good at one specific thing. It’s difficult to attract new developers into crypto because the business models to make money are not yet understood. People are not good at having an historical sense of technology and understanding that once the basic idea for something arises, it takes many more years for the first iteration of the thing that will make those core ideas work. There are a lot of opportunities right now in the middle layers. There is the most money in layer ones. Developers typically want to know what will be possible in 12-24 months so they can build better applications upfront. There are structural issues with pushing complexity up the stack; the whole purpose of layer one is to abstract the complexity. Kyle agrees with Spencer Bogart of Blockchain Capital that most competition will eventually happen vertically, on one or a small number of chains. Kyle predicts that Polkadot will attack Ethereum this year, based on their recent behavior. Full-stack integrated approaches are great, but no one team can pull off all that complexity in any reasonable timeframe. Resources Mentioned: Chain Reaction Twitter: https://twitter.com/chainpodcast Tom Shaughnessy Twitter: https://twitter.com/Shaughnessy119 Multicoin Capital Website: https://multicoin.capital/ Kyle Samani Twitter: https://twitter.com/KyleSamani Kyle Samani Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylesamani/ Support The Show Visit Delta Exchange For A $10 Welcome Bonus! Check out eToro to Create Your Perfect Crypto Portfolio To sponsor this top crypto research podcast, email Tom@DelphiDigital.io Disclosures: This podcast is strictly informational and educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any tokens or securities or to make any financial decisions. Do not trade or invest in any project, tokens, or securities based upon this podcast episode. The host may personally own tokens that are mentioned on the podcast. Tom Shaughnessy owns tokens in ETH, BTC, XTZ, STX, SNX, RUNE, sUSD and HNT. Lets Talk Bitcoin is a distribution partner for the Chain Reaction Podcast, and our current show features paid sponsorships which may be featured at the start, middle and/or the end of the episode. These sponsorships are for informational purposes only and are not a solicitation to use any product or service. Music Attribution: Cosmos by From The Dust | https://soundcloud.com/ftdmusicMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Host Tom Shaughnessy talks to Spencer Bogart, general partner with Blockchain Capital. Spencer discusses the current state of crypto, his predictions for its future, and more. FYI: We're looking for long term show sponsors. To be considered as a sponsor this show, contact Tom@DelphiDigital.io Key Points: Crypto is becoming increasingly relevant to global macroeconomics. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly where in the crypto development arc we are, so some believe it’s growing more slowly than expected and others believe it’s moving faster. There is an overall shift in crypto from horizontal competition to vertical construction. Episode Highlights Blockchain Capital has over 300 million assets and 80 portfolio companies. Spencer got into crypto after buying some Bitcoin, which led to him getting more and more interested and eventually writing some research pieces on the crypto space. Bitcoin is just starting to become relevant on a macroeconomic scale. Political unrest globally could be a driver towards crypto to avoid government regulation and interference. Technological developments and the best tech are not what establish standards. Spencer predicts that rather than a new protocol launching and becoming number one, more success and better standards will be established by people building on top of existing protocols. People will build for the chains that have the most end-users, and those options are Bitcoin and Ethereum. Now that it has become easier to build up the stack, Spencer predicts we will see more innovative and creative solutions. Tom thinks given new involvement in crypto from China, Facebook, and other places, that we’re maybe moving slower than expected, but Spencer disagrees. Spencer points out that asset value is not the only way to assess a crypto’s success, but that you can also look at the transaction value. Spencer suggests when pitching to a VC, don’t overrepresent what you’re doing. Be cautious about assuming that what you see online, on crypto Twitter for example, is representative of everything that’s going on in the industry; some of the most knowledgeable and impactful people aren’t on crypto Twitter because they’re too busy building. Spencer’s long-term view of the industry is that there’s an overall shift from horizontal competition to vertical construction. Bitcoin probably does not need vertical construction to grow because it is focused on a specific market and specific use cases. Quotes “Keep in mind that any kind of venture investor that you’re going to go and talk to, they just see a lot of opportunities, so they’re looking for reasons—as much as they’re looking for reasons to invest in something, they’re also looking for reasons not to invest.” –Spencer Bogart “It’s only because of fee pressure that we started to get innovations on things like lightning. So the other option would have been to increase the block size to try to keep transaction fees low, but the reality is there’s unbounded demand for cheap block space.” –Spencer Bogart “We’re seeing a shakeout in terms of trying to establish standards. So I think these standards are trying to basically create the foundation for programmable assets. And standards are almost never set by best tech.” –Spencer Bogart Support The Show Visit Delta Exchange For A $10 Welcome Bonus! Check out eToro to Create Your Perfect Crypto Portfolio To sponsor this top crypto research podcast, email Tom@DelphiDigital.io Resources Chain Reaction Twitter: https://twitter.com/chainpodcast Tom Shaughnessy Twitter: https://twitter.com/Shaughnessy119 Blockchain Capital website: https://blockchain.capital/ Blockchain Capital Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blockchaincapital/ Blockchain Capital Twitter: https://twitter.com/blockchaincap Blockchain Capital’s 2019 Review: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vc-DGG0iqEBQqNlsr5x6vxGxWUAEdgV3/view Spencer Bogart Twitter: https://twitter.com/cremedelacrypto?lang=en Disclosures: This podcast is strictly informational and educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any tokens or securities or to make any financial decisions. Do not trade or invest in any project, tokens, or securities based upon this podcast episode. The host may personally own tokens that are mentioned on the podcast. Tom Shaughnessy owns tokens in ETH, BTC, XTZ, STX, SNX, RUNE, sUSD and HNT. Lets Talk Bitcoin is a distribution partner for the Chain Reaction Podcast, and our current show features paid sponsorships which may be featured at the start, middle and/or the end of the episode. These sponsorships are for informational purposes only and are not a solicitation to use any product or service. Music Attribution: Cosmos by From The Dust | https://soundcloud.com/ftdmusicMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Hunter Horsley, cofounder and CEO of Bitwise Asset Management, and Matt Hougan, global head of research at Bitwise, describe their vision for Bitwise, its current funds and indices, as well as how it handles things like forks and airdrops. Then they give their reaction to and interpretation of the SEC disapproval of their Bitcoin ETF proposal, as well as what their focus will be now to try to get a Bitcoin ETF approved. We also discuss their general thesis around how the crypto space will develop, whether or not indices and funds around the top 100 assets will ever make sense, their ideas on how to value these networks and whether or not the company would ever try to compete in the DeFi space. Plus, don't miss our conversation on Bitcoin IRAs. Thank you to our sponsors! Crypto.com: http://crypto.com/ Kraken: https://kraken.com CipherTrace: https://ciphertrace.com/unchained Episode links: Bitwise: https://www.bitwiseinvestments.com/ Hunter Horsley: https://twitter.com/HHorsley Matt Hougan: https://twitter.com/Matt_Hougan Unchained interview with Spencer Bogart: https://unchainedpodcast.com/spencer-bogart-on-the-20-trillion-in-store-of-value-assets/ Bitwise 10 Private Fund fact sheet: https://static.bitwiseinvestments.com/FactSheet/bitwise10/Bitwise-10-Private-Index-Fund-Investor-Class-Fact-Sheet.pdf Bitwise 10 Offshore Index Fund: https://static.bitwiseinvestments.com/FactSheet/bitwise10-offshore/Bitwise-10-Index-Offshore-Fund-Investor-Fact-Sheet.pdf Grayscale Bitcoin Investment Trust: https://grayscale.co/bitcoin-trust/ Bitwise Ethereum Fund: https://static.bitwiseinvestments.com/FactSheet/ethereumFund/Bitwise-Ethereum-Fund-Investor-Class-Fact-Sheet.pdf SEC order disapproving the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF proposal: https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro/nysearca/2019/34-87267.pdf Matt on CNBC discussing the Bitcoin ETF proposal: https://twitter.com/CNBC/status/1181309471349526530?s=20 Bitstamp/BitMEX trading manipulation: https://twitter.com/DoveyWan/status/1129246233917382656 Jake Chervinsky’s tweet about how the SEC is unlikely to approve a Bitcoin ETF under Chair Jay Clayton: https://twitter.com/jchervinsky/status/1182149164177608704?s=20 Unchained interview with Jake: https://unchainedpodcast.com/all-things-crypto-regulation-with-jake-chervinsky/ SEC commissioner Hester Peirce’s dissent to the disapproval of the Winklevoss Bitcoin ETF: https://www.sec.gov/news/public-statement/peirce-dissent-34-83723 Van Eck’s withdrawal of the Bitcoin ETF proposal: https://www.coindesk.com/vaneck-solidx-withdraw-bitcoin-etf-proposal-from-sec-review Chris Burniske on how to value these networks: https://unchainedpodcast.com/how-to-value-a-crypto-asset/
Hunter Horsley, cofounder and CEO of Bitwise Asset Management, and Matt Hougan, global head of research at Bitwise, describe their vision for Bitwise, its current funds and indices, as well as how it handles things like forks and airdrops. Then they give their reaction to and interpretation of the SEC disapproval of their Bitcoin ETF proposal, as well as what their focus will be now to try to get a Bitcoin ETF approved. We also discuss their general thesis around how the crypto space will develop, whether or not indices and funds around the top 100 assets will ever make sense, their ideas on how to value these networks and whether or not the company would ever try to compete in the DeFi space. Plus, don't miss our conversation on Bitcoin IRAs. Thank you to our sponsors! Crypto.com: http://crypto.com/ Kraken: https://kraken.com CipherTrace: https://ciphertrace.com/unchained Episode links: Bitwise: https://www.bitwiseinvestments.com/ Hunter Horsley: https://twitter.com/HHorsley Matt Hougan: https://twitter.com/Matt_Hougan Unchained interview with Spencer Bogart: https://unchainedpodcast.com/spencer-bogart-on-the-20-trillion-in-store-of-value-assets/ Bitwise 10 Private Fund fact sheet: https://static.bitwiseinvestments.com/FactSheet/bitwise10/Bitwise-10-Private-Index-Fund-Investor-Class-Fact-Sheet.pdf Bitwise 10 Offshore Index Fund: https://static.bitwiseinvestments.com/FactSheet/bitwise10-offshore/Bitwise-10-Index-Offshore-Fund-Investor-Fact-Sheet.pdf Grayscale Bitcoin Investment Trust: https://grayscale.co/bitcoin-trust/ Bitwise Ethereum Fund: https://static.bitwiseinvestments.com/FactSheet/ethereumFund/Bitwise-Ethereum-Fund-Investor-Class-Fact-Sheet.pdf SEC order disapproving the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF proposal: https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro/nysearca/2019/34-87267.pdf Matt on CNBC discussing the Bitcoin ETF proposal: https://twitter.com/CNBC/status/1181309471349526530?s=20 Bitstamp/BitMEX trading manipulation: https://twitter.com/DoveyWan/status/1129246233917382656 Jake Chervinsky's tweet about how the SEC is unlikely to approve a Bitcoin ETF under Chair Jay Clayton: https://twitter.com/jchervinsky/status/1182149164177608704?s=20 Unchained interview with Jake: https://unchainedpodcast.com/all-things-crypto-regulation-with-jake-chervinsky/ SEC commissioner Hester Peirce's dissent to the disapproval of the Winklevoss Bitcoin ETF: https://www.sec.gov/news/public-statement/peirce-dissent-34-83723 Van Eck's withdrawal of the Bitcoin ETF proposal: https://www.coindesk.com/vaneck-solidx-withdraw-bitcoin-etf-proposal-from-sec-review Chris Burniske on how to value these networks: https://unchainedpodcast.com/how-to-value-a-crypto-asset/
Spencer Bogart, General Partner at Blockchain Capital, joins the show to discuss his current views on Bitcoin, Smart Contract Platforms, Ethereum, and advice for those who are looking to enter a career in the cryptoasset industry. For more information please visit our website at www.castleisland.vc and follow us on Twitter @CastleIslandVC.
Spencer Bogart, general partner at Blockchain Capital, the first VC firm to tokenize one of its funds, talks about how well offering tokenized shares has worked out, why it didn't do so for the following fund, the appeal of security tokens generally and what advantages tokenized securities offer over non-blockchain platforms like Second Market, in which investors can trade shares in private companies. He also explains what entrepreneurs are looking for from VCs now that they have more ways to raise from the crowd, how Blockchain Capital decides between investing in equity vs. tokens when there is an option, and why the firm believes there will only be five or fewer dominant blockchains. He describes why he thinks it's likely Bitcoin will take the lion's share of the market, noting its $200 billion market cap vs. the $20 trillion in other store-of-value assets such as gold, real estate and art, and whether or not it's possible to invest in Lightning, the second layer built on top of Bitcoin. We also cover the Bitcoin ETF proposals, stablecoins, how crypto might take off in video games and its 66x return within two years on its investment in Block.One. Thank you to our sponsors! Simbachain: https://simbachain.com Kraken: https://kraken.com CipherTrace: http://ciphertrace.com/unchained Episode links: Blockchain Capital: https://blockchain.capital/ Spencer Bogart: https://twitter.com/CremeDeLaCrypto Unchained interview with Brock Pierce: https://unchainedpodcast.com/this-vc-is-sure-venture-capital-is-about-to-be-disrupted/ BCAP Q2 Nav: https://blockchainloop.com/blockchain-capital-releases-q2-2019-bcap-token-nav/ Upgrading of BCAP to Securitize platform: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/09/04/1565117/0/en/BCAP-Tokens-to-be-Upgraded-Utilizing-Securitize-Platform.html Funding of Securitize: https://www.coindesk.com/coinbase-backs-security-token-startups-12-75-million-funding-round Blockchain Capital's fourth fund: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blockchain-capital-closes-fund-iv-at-150-million-300617495.html Story about Blockchain Capital trying to separate itself from Brock Pierce: https://decrypt.co/6876/is-blockchain-capital-trying-to-scrub-co-founder-and-mighty-ducks-star-brock-pierce-from-its-history Interview with Brock Pierce in which he describes leaving Blockchain Capital: https://hackernoon.com/brock-pierce-interview-tales-from-the-bitcoin-floor-e479693a49bd Lightning Network statistics: https://bitcoinvisuals.com/lightning Tweets from LNBig on how they earned $0.10-$0.30 a day on Lightning fees: https://twitter.com/lnbig_com/status/1163055682964348934?s=20 https://twitter.com/lnbig_com/status/1159538637597487104?s=20 LNBig on how they spent $1,000 or so to open their Lightning channels: https://www.reddit.com/r/btc/comments/bxh0ny/lightning_network_capacity_takes_a_sudden_dive/eq9x4i9/ Profitability of running a lightning node: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/a9dmzw/how_profitable_is_running_a_lightning_node/ Letter to the SEC: https://blockchain.capital/examining-bitcoins-valued-attributes-a-letter-to-the-sec/ Blog post about Bitcoin's likely dominance: https://blockchain.capital/the-past-future-of-blockchain-where-were-going-and-why/ Spencer's Reddit post with questions/concerns about MakerDAO: https://www.reddit.com/r/MakerDAO/comments/asb9n6/a_couple_questions_concerns_about_maker_and_mkr/ + tweetstorm: https://twitter.com/cremedelacrypto/status/1103428046621618178
Spencer Bogart, general partner at Blockchain Capital, the first VC firm to tokenize one of its funds, talks about how well offering tokenized shares has worked out, why it didn't do so for the following fund, the appeal of security tokens generally and what advantages tokenized securities offer over non-blockchain platforms like Second Market, in which investors can trade shares in private companies. He also explains what entrepreneurs are looking for from VCs now that they have more ways to raise from the crowd, how Blockchain Capital decides between investing in equity vs. tokens when there is an option, and why the firm believes there will only be five or fewer dominant blockchains. He describes why he thinks it's likely Bitcoin will take the lion's share of the market, noting its $200 billion market cap vs. the $20 trillion in other store-of-value assets such as gold, real estate and art, and whether or not it's possible to invest in Lightning, the second layer built on top of Bitcoin. We also cover the Bitcoin ETF proposals, stablecoins, how crypto might take off in video games and its 66x return within two years on its investment in Block.One. Thank you to our sponsors! Simbachain: https://simbachain.com Kraken: https://kraken.com CipherTrace: http://ciphertrace.com/unchained Episode links: Blockchain Capital: https://blockchain.capital/ Spencer Bogart: https://twitter.com/CremeDeLaCrypto Unchained interview with Brock Pierce: https://unchainedpodcast.com/this-vc-is-sure-venture-capital-is-about-to-be-disrupted/ BCAP Q2 Nav: https://blockchainloop.com/blockchain-capital-releases-q2-2019-bcap-token-nav/ Upgrading of BCAP to Securitize platform: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/09/04/1565117/0/en/BCAP-Tokens-to-be-Upgraded-Utilizing-Securitize-Platform.html Funding of Securitize: https://www.coindesk.com/coinbase-backs-security-token-startups-12-75-million-funding-round Blockchain Capital’s fourth fund: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blockchain-capital-closes-fund-iv-at-150-million-300617495.html Story about Blockchain Capital trying to separate itself from Brock Pierce: https://decrypt.co/6876/is-blockchain-capital-trying-to-scrub-co-founder-and-mighty-ducks-star-brock-pierce-from-its-history Interview with Brock Pierce in which he describes leaving Blockchain Capital: https://hackernoon.com/brock-pierce-interview-tales-from-the-bitcoin-floor-e479693a49bd Lightning Network statistics: https://bitcoinvisuals.com/lightning Tweets from LNBig on how they earned $0.10-$0.30 a day on Lightning fees: https://twitter.com/lnbig_com/status/1163055682964348934?s=20 https://twitter.com/lnbig_com/status/1159538637597487104?s=20 LNBig on how they spent $1,000 or so to open their Lightning channels: https://www.reddit.com/r/btc/comments/bxh0ny/lightning_network_capacity_takes_a_sudden_dive/eq9x4i9/ Profitability of running a lightning node: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/a9dmzw/how_profitable_is_running_a_lightning_node/ Letter to the SEC: https://blockchain.capital/examining-bitcoins-valued-attributes-a-letter-to-the-sec/ Blog post about Bitcoin’s likely dominance: https://blockchain.capital/the-past-future-of-blockchain-where-were-going-and-why/ Spencer's Reddit post with questions/concerns about MakerDAO: https://www.reddit.com/r/MakerDAO/comments/asb9n6/a_couple_questions_concerns_about_maker_and_mkr/ + tweetstorm: https://twitter.com/cremedelacrypto/status/1103428046621618178
Interview Location: San FranciscoInterview Date: 24th June ‘19Company: Blockchain CapitalRole: Brad - Co-founder & Managing Partner | Spencer - General PartnerBlockchain, Cryptocurrency and Bitcoin are terms with different meanings to different people. They have been used to inflate valuations ahead of funding and drive ICOs. So, how do you tell a good investment from a bad one? I sat down with Spencer and Brad from Blockchain Capital, one of the first venture capital firms investing in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space.As well as insight into how they pick an investment and the verticals they are currently interested in, we also discussed:- Their background and how they started the fund- Bitcoin vs other cryptocurrencies- Views on Ethereum- Libra Coin being a win/win for Bitcoin- Lightning Network- If it is possible to make money building utility on top of Bitcoin- Looking for a Unicorn- Differences between investing in Bitcoin and traditional markets- What to consider when approaching a company to raise a round of funding- What they are currently looking to invest in- What entrepreneur should look for in Investors-----If you enjoy The What Bitcoin Did Podcast you can help support the show my doing the following:Become a Patron and get access to shows early or help contributeMake a tip:Bitcoin: 3FiC6w7eb3dkcaNHMAnj39ANTAkv8Ufi2SQR Codes: Bitcoin | Ethereum | Litecoin | Monero | ZCash | RipplecoinIf you do send a tip then please email me so that I can say thank youSubscribe on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | TuneIn | RSS FeedLeave a review on iTunesShare the show and episodes with your friends and familySubscribe to the newsletter on my websiteFollow me on Twitter Personal | Twitter Podcast | Instagram | Medium | YouTubeIf you are interested in sponsoring the show, you can read more about that here or please feel free to drop me an email to discuss options.
The Binance Hack This week’s world-shaking news, of course, centres around the Binance Hack. 7070 BTC was withdrawn, amounting to more than $40 million during a complex hack that involved stealing 2-factor authentication codes and API keys. During a live Twitter AMA, Binance CEO, Changpeng Zhao, addressed the increasingly concerned crypto community, and assured everyone that emergency measures were in place. CoinTelegraph featured this story https://cointelegraph.com/news/binance-ceo-addresses- concerns-live-after-40-mln-btc-hack-rejects-blockchain-reorg-idea BTC Busts Out Hacks aside, it’s been a great week for BTC, as bullish developments led it towards breaking that famed $6000 threshold. And, as of Thursday this week, that beautiful moment we’ve all been waiting for happened. Techcentral has more on this bull of a story https://techcentral.co.za/bitcoin-soars-above-6-000/89420/ Could Facebook Coin Be The Catalyst For Mass Adoption? If crypto adoption rates are soaring, imagine just how much more they will, when Facebook Coin hits our newsfeeds? Spencer Bogart, General Partner at Blockchain Capital, in a recent with Bloomberg, called Facebook Coin a “potential gateway drug” that ushers in new entrants to the cryptocurrency space. Read More on Coingape https://coingape.com/facebook-coin-gateway-drug-cryptocurrency-bitcoin/ What Else Is Happening: ● Fidelity is set to launch its own crypto trading service https://www.newsbtc.com/2019/05/06/institutions-inbound-fidelity-set-to- launch-crypto-trading-service-as-interest-in-markets-flourishes/ ● Bitfinex might be in trouble, as revealed in massive net outflow during last month https://www.newsbtc.com/2019/05/08/trouble-bitfinex-posts-record- high-net-bitcoin-withdrawals-in-april-2019/ ● A new survey has revealed that nearly half of institutional investors feel confident about owning digital assets https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-02/fidelity-survey-finds- institutional-investors-are-eyeing-crypto Featured Tweet: We were lucky enough to nab an interview with the incredible Alakanani (@bitcoinlady) during Blockchain Africa 2019. And, we were extremely excited this week to spot this news: that her Satoshi Centre website has been redesigned! May this Botswana-based bitcoin community centre grow from strength to strength!
In the first CoinList Chats episode, Andy Bromberg speaks with Spencer Bogart of Blockchain Capital about how his investment theses have changed since he started covering cryptocurrencies in 2015, as well as his current thoughts on the Bitcoin ecosystem. CoinList: https://coinlist.co/ Blockchain Capital: https://blockchain.capital/ Spencer Bogart on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cremedelacrypto Nic Carter on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nic__carter Wyre Talks: https://blog.sendwyre.com/tagged/wyre-talks Legal disclaimer: This podcast was recorded and is being distributed by Amalgamated Token Services Inc., dba CoinList, for informational purposes only, and expresses solely the opinions of the speakers, not necessarily those of CoinList. Nothing in this podcast shall constitute or be construed as an offering of securities or as investment, legal or tax advice or investment recommendations (i.e., recommendations as to whether or not to enter into any transaction involving any specific interest or interests) by CoinList or any of its affiliates, or a recommendation as to an investment or other strategy. These types of investments involve a high degree of risk (including the risk of total loss) and potential investors should consult with their own advisors. CoinList does not receive compensation for publishing, giving publicity to, or circulating notices or communications that describe securities.
Spencer Bogart is a Partner at Blockchain Capital, the oldest venture firm dedicated to investing exclusively in the blockchain and crypto ecosystem. In this fireside chat, Spencer sits down to discuss recent trends in the industry and where he thinks the next herd of unicorns will emerge within the industry. With Spencer Bogart of Blockchain Capital.
Spencer Bogart, partner at Blockchain Capital, discusses why he think Bitcoin's growing pains are a sign of success, how the SEC regulatory gloom could affect the development of crypto and how a liquidity crunch could affect crypto hedge funds. We also take a peek at the coming platform wars. Blockchain Capital: http://blockchain.capital/ New crypto hedge funds: https://hackernoon.com/the-fate-of-crypto-hedge-funds-ca5850e8421c
Unconfirmed: Insights and Analysis From the Top Minds in Crypto
Spencer Bogart, partner at Blockchain Capital, discusses why he think Bitcoin's growing pains are a sign of success, how the SEC regulatory gloom could affect the development of crypto and how a liquidity crunch could affect crypto hedge funds. We also take a peek at the coming platform wars. Blockchain Capital: http://blockchain.capital/ New crypto hedge funds: https://hackernoon.com/the-fate-of-crypto-hedge-funds-ca5850e8421c
Spencer Bogart, partner at Blockchain Capital, discusses why he think Bitcoin's growing pains are a sign of success, how the SEC regulatory gloom could affect the development of crypto and how a liquidity crunch could affect crypto hedge funds. We also take a peek at the coming platform wars. Blockchain Capital: http://blockchain.capital/ New crypto hedge funds: https://hackernoon.com/the-fate-of-crypto-hedge-funds-ca5850e8421c
In 1660, Prince Rupert traveled to England from his home in Germany. Like many noblemen of his time, Prince Rupert was seemingly related to almost everyone else in the nobility – so despite being a German prince, he was also a nephew of the English king. And so – while in England, the German prince […] The post S01E08: Investment, Speculation, and The Future of Cryptocurrency with Spencer Bogart appeared first on CURIOUS.
The Top Entrepreneurs in Money, Marketing, Business and Life
Spencer Bogart. He’s a managing director and the head of research for Blockchain Capital, the premier venture firm for investing directly in the blockchain companies. Prior to joining Blockchain Capital, Spencer was a VP of Equity Research where he covered traditional software and internet stocks. He had his first industry report on blockchain technology and is the most active analyst covering bitcoin. Famous Five: Favorite Book? – Zero to One What CEO do you follow? – Balaji Srinivasan Favorite online tool? — Telegram How many hours of sleep do you get?— 6 If you could let your 20-year old self, know one thing, what would it be? – “I just wish I would have spent more time on bitcoin” Time Stamped Show Notes: 01:48 – Nathan introduces Spencer to the show 03:10 – Crypto hedge fund has created a “honey pot” for hackers 03:18 – The “honey pot” is actually bigger on the exchanges 04:23 – Most companies are now making bitcoins more accessible 04:45 – Spencer shares how to use Coinbase 05:00 – Spencer has predicted that there’s a sub 25% chance that the US SEC is approving a bitcoin ETF 05:21 – It is difficult for regulators to get comfortable with bitcoin 05:30 – Spencer shares the pros and cons of approving a bitcoin ETF 06:02 – There has been changes in US SEC’s administration that could be favorable with the approval 06:39 – There’s an ETF that was disapproved, but appealed and it was then granted 07:34 – There are speculators who moved in beforehand 08:03 – Blockchain Capital is a VC firm that has focused on blockchain for the last 4-5 years 08:14 – The last fund they did was their own ICO 08:23 – Their cap was a $10M offering 08:33 – Their offering’s sold out in just 10 minutes 08:50 – They are currently raising their fourth fund 09:10 – The industry has been changing consistently 09:36 – “We’re just all hands on deck” 10:08 – Blockchain Capital’s fund one was $3-5M and fund two was $15M 10:40 – Target fund for the fourth one is $250M 11:12 – Spencer shares about their Civic deal 11:50 – Civic allows you to provide your identity to others without them getting your identity 12:28 – Civic’s ICO 12:50 – Spencer discusses with his team how they handle situations where they had an initial investment of token sales 13:22 – Tokens are not dilutive 13:57 – People who bought into token issuance won’t directly benefit from the acquisition of companies 14:08 – There’s a lot of demand for under-line technology 15:35 – Spencer shares the problems Civic is trying to solve 16:18 – Civic wanted to sell enough tokens to get the attributions abroad to create an initial user base 16:35 – A company won’t sell its equity upfront 17:45 – Spencer made their acquisition and token issuance in two totally different time frames 18:13 – Token offerings have different models 20:19 – Nathan asks Spencer how an entrepreneur can manage his money in order to run the business vs. what to keep 20:31 – Most of the funds that have been raised should be converted to dollars so they can pay the bills 21:05 – Spencer is liquidating usually 80% 21:19 – “Do yourself a favor, convert into a currency that you can actually pay your bills in and pay the developers in” 21:57 – Spencer believes that Coinbase is the biggest brand in the space, especially in exchange 22:38 – Nathan asks Spencer, “what if any government starts normalizing crypto?”— the demand for the exchange would decrease drastically 22:58 – Coinbase was incentivized to not see widespread government adoption of cryptocurrency because they need people to put money into their system 23:20 – Spencer believes that if this happens, this will be a high class problem for Coinbase 23:25 – There are companies who are using Coinbase, not just for exchange 26:24 – The Famous Five 3 Key Points: Bitcoin is becoming more accessible to people because of the demand. The government’s regulation on cryptocurrency is still in its beginnings. Liquidation of the funds depends on the company’s decisions regarding what they need and their what their goals are. Resources Mentioned: Simplero – The easiest way to launch your own membership course like the big influencers do but at 1/10th the cost. The Top Inbox – The site Nathan uses to schedule emails to be sent later, set reminders in inbox, track opens, and follow-up with email sequences GetLatka - Database of all B2B SaaS companies who have been on my show including their revenue, CAC, churn, ARPU and more Klipfolio – Track your business performance across all departments for FREE Hotjar – Nathan uses Hotjar to track what you’re doing on this site. He gets a video of each user visit like where they clicked and scrolled to make the site a better experience Acuity Scheduling – Nathan uses Acuity to schedule his podcast interviews and appointments Host Gator– The site Nathan uses to buy his domain names and hosting for the cheapest price possible Audible– Nathan uses Audible when he’s driving from Austin to San Antonio (1.5-hour drive) to listen to audio books Show Notes provided by Mallard Creatives
What do you do as a sell-side analyst when you write the seminal research report on Bitcoin? You join a new type of venture capital firm that invests solely in the blockchain ecosystem. Today's guest is Spencer Bogart, head of research at Blockchain Capital, which has made dozens of investments in blockchain. Bogart was previously at Needham and Company, where I had first read his work on the rise of Bitcoin as an asset class. We talk about the transition from the sell-side on Wall Street to venture capital and how his experience impacts his research. We also discuss his newest fund which was funded in its own cryptocurrency, BCAP. This form of investing, still really just an interesting experiment, could potentially change the mechanics of investing in private companies. You can get this episode of the podcast, as well as 160 previous episodes in our archive, at our website, www.tearsheet.co. If you get value out of these episodes, please take a minute to rate us on iTunes. Doing so, helps other people find us. We're also available on SoundCloud. Also, if you're not signed up for our newsletter, subscribe now. 10,000 industry professionals read our Tearsheet newsletter every week to explore the impact technology is having on the financial services industry. www.tearsheet.co/subscribe Here's my conversation with Spencer.