Podcasts about unchained podcast

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest in crypto. In this episode, we're joined by Laura Shin, host of the Unchained Podcast, for a no-holds-barred discussion on the current state of the crypto landscape. We dive into Berachain's shaky launch, dissecting its tokenomics, insider allocations, and why the hype didn't hold. Then we uncover the rise of celebrity memecoin scams—how influencers are cashing in while their followers get rugged. Finally, we tackle the Ethereum vs. Solana debate: is Ethereum losing its edge, or is Solana's growth just a speculative bubble? It's an episode full of bold takes and sharp insights you won't want to miss. Show highlights

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest in crypto. In this episode, we're joined by Laura Shin, host of the Unchained Podcast, for a no-holds-barred discussion on the current state of the crypto landscape. We dive into Berachain's shaky launch, dissecting its tokenomics, insider allocations, and why the hype didn't hold. Then we uncover the rise of celebrity memecoin scams—how influencers are cashing in while their followers get rugged. Finally, we tackle the Ethereum vs. Solana debate: is Ethereum losing its edge, or is Solana's growth just a speculative bubble? It's an episode full of bold takes and sharp insights you won't want to miss. Show highlights

DeFi tokens have lagged in this cycle. Is that trend over? Investors Arthur Cheong and Jordi Alexander say yes.DeFi tokens have faced significant challenges in recent years. However, are we now on the verge of a new bull market?Arthur Cheong, founder and CIO of DeFiance Capital, and Jordi Alexander, founder of Selini Capital and chief alchemist at Mantle, join the show to discuss why they believe DeFi is poised for growth. They dive into how DeFi's security and user experience have improved, the impact of Layer 2 solutions on Ethereum, and whether Ethereum or Solana will drive the next bull run. Plus, they discuss whether interest in memecoins takes attention from DeFi, and why sustainable tokenomics matters when it comes to valuing coins. Are DeFi tokens finally ready to shine again?Show highlights:Why they believe that DeFi is poised for a bull cycle How DeFi's security and UX have improvedWhether DeFi activity can be sustained in the long termWhy Jordi thinks that Layer 2s are not parasitic to ETH but Arthur thinks they areWhether the DeFi bull case is stronger on Ethereum, Solana or other chainsWhether the Ethereum Foundation and Vitalik Buterin should be more proactive in supporting DeFiHow memecoins reflect a broader societal problem The importance of tokens that don't have big unlocksHow the lack of solid frameworks for valuing tokens might be causing capital misallocation in cryptoWhether a liquid venture investing approach is better for cryptoWhy Jordi says that there's a lot of “potential to unlock” with the overlap of Bitcoin and DeFiVisit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.comThank you to our sponsors!PolkadotMantleGuests:Arthur Cheong, founder and CIO of DeFiance CapitalAave, the Core Pillar of Decentralized Finance and Onchain EconomyLiquid Venture Investing in CryptoJordi Alexander, Chief Alchemist at Mantle, Founder of Selini CapitalLinksPrevious coverage of Unchained on this cycle & DeFi: Has Decentralized Finance Hit Bottom?Kain Warwick's tweet on Vitalik being anti-DeFiCointelegraph: Vitalik Buterin responds to criticism that Ethereum ‘doesn't care' about DeFiThe great return of DeFi, by @tradetheflow_Unchained Podcast is Produced by Laura Shin Media, LLC. Distributed by CoinDesk.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With geopolitical tensions rising in the Middle East, how does Bitcoin react to global risk events? And is ‘Uptober' still on the table? October started with hopes for “Uptober”—a positive price trajectory in October—in the Bitcoin community, since, historically, Bitcoin has performed well this month. But things took a turn when geopolitical tensions in the Middle East escalated, raising concerns about how that could affect Bitcoin's price this month. In this episode, André Dragosch, European Head of Research at Bitwise, talks about how Bitcoin typically responds to geopolitical shocks, whether this could present a buying opportunity, and how major events like the U.S. elections might shape Bitcoin's future.Show highlights:How Bitcoin's reacted to the geopolitical escalationsWhy André believes this is a buying opportunityHow there was a macro capitulation after the beginning of the unwind of the Japan carry trade in AugustWhether Bitcoin can truly act as a safe haven assetHow the clientele of ETFs have changed the market structure for BitcoinWhether ‘Uptober' is canceledHow Andre expects Bitcoin will perform depending on the winner of the U.S. electionsVisit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.comThank you to our sponsors!PolkadotMantle's FBTCGuestAndré Dragosch, European Head of Research at BitwiseBitcoin as a Safe-Haven: Hedging Against Geopolitical RisksLinksPrevious coverage of Unchained on the recent market movements::Investors Ditch Bitcoin, Scoop Up Gold, as Iran-Israel Tensions Escalate$500 Million Liquidated From Crypto Markets Cools ‘Uptober' EnthusiasmUnchained: Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan's thread on how bitcoin & gold have performedBlackRock's bitcoin report Unchained Podcast is Produced by Laura Shin Media, LLC. Distributed by CoinDesk.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ethereum scaled its Layer 2s, but now they are raking in the fees while paying little to the base chain. Are L2s parasitic to ETH, or will things turn around? Justin Bons and Ryan Berckmans debate.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pods, Fountain, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.Ethereum's Layer 2 solutions are booming, but are they inadvertently holding back the value of ETH itself? In this episode, Justin Bons and Ryan Berckmans engage in a heated debate over whether L2s are enhancing Ethereum's ecosystem or siphoning off its potential. They discuss the impact of L2s on decentralization, network effects, and whether Ethereum L1 can scale on its own or if the base layer and the rollups now have different incentives. Has Ethereum scaled appropriately for future usage, or was scaling via L2s the wrong roadmap for Ethereum?Show highlights:How Ethereum's rollup-centric roadmap consists of a decentralized Layer 1 (L1) for security with Layer 2 (L2) providing more transaction throughputWhy Justin is so critical about how L2s centralize EthereumWhy, according to Ryan, Layer 2 solutions aren't parasitic to Ethereum but instead enhance its network effects, decentralization, and long-term valueWhy Justin criticizes Ryan's reliance on "trust me, bro" arguments, questioning the tribalism and authority in claiming the superiority of Ethereum researchers over those from other blockchainsHow Justin thinks the Ethereum L1 could scale and what the tradeoffs are Justin's argument that Ethereum is stuck in the past and his claim that the blockchain trilemma doesn't exist anymoreRyan's take on Ethereum's L1 scaling focuses on solving bandwidth limitations and addressing whether L2s are going to fully decentralizeWhether SNARKS is the way that Ethereum scales the L1Whether L2s will start accepting other tokens to pay for gasWhy Ryan predicts Ethereum's L2 adoption will surge, driving up L1 fees and boosting Ether's value as the leading digital moneyWhether based rollups are a good solution for Ethereum to scale without losing all the fees Why L2s would even try to decentralize and why Justin says that Solana has a better roadmap than EthereumConcluding thoughts from Ryan and JustinVisit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.comThank you to our sponsors!PolkadotMantleStellarCoinbaseGuests:Justin Bons, Founder & CIO of Cyber CapitalPrevious appearance on Unchained: Is Bitcoin Doomed to Fail? Eric Wall and Justin Bons Face OffRyan Berckmans, Ethereum community member and investorPrevious appearance on Unchained: Post-Merge, If Lido Becomes Dominant, What Does That Mean for Ethereum?Unchained Podcast is Produced by Laura Shin Media, LLC. Distributed by CoinDesk.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The next generation of high-throughput blockchains are on their way. Keone Hon of Monad, Jay Jog of Sei, and Vijay Chetty of Eclipse discuss the ways they're boosting the number of transactions per second, and the tradeoffs they're having to make.In this episode of Unchained, Keone Hon of Monad Labs, Jay Jog of Sei Labs, and Vijay Chetty of Eclipse Labs share insights on their distinct approaches to scalability and performance in high-throughput blockchains. They discuss the technical advantages of parallelized EVMs, the strategic decisions behind blockchain architecture, and the innovations driving the next generation of high-speed chains. Show highlights:How Monad got started and its mission from the very beginningThe features that enable Monad to be a high-throughput blockchainWhy Monad chose to make a new blockchain instead of an L2Why Keone believes that Monad offers the best experience for developers and why he doesn't like the ‘Ethereum killer' descriptionMonad's big venture capital raise and how they'll use the moneyMonad's strong community The next steps for Monad and whether we'll see a token soonWhat Sei is and the role of the GameStop saga in the creation of itWhy Jay believes the EVM developer ecosystem is so strong Why Sei pivoted from Cosmos to the EVM that led to the launch of its v2What allows Sei to be “the fastest chain, even faster than Solana”How Sei DB works, and why Jay says that the monolithic approach has many advantages to the modular oneHow Eclipse works by combining Ethereum, Solana, and CosmosHow Eclipse deals with the complexities of its modular architectureWhat ways there are to transact in SOL on EclipseVijay's reaction to how Eclipse Labs has responded to the allegations against its founder and former CEO Neel SomaniHow Eclipse aims to attract developers What areas within crypto Vijay expects will flourish on EclipseThe next steps for Eclipse and when the mainnet could launchVisit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.comThank you to our sponsors!PolkadotToken 2049MantleGuests:Keone Hon, Co-founder and CEO at Monad Labs. Jay Jog, Co-founder of Sei Labs.Vijay Chetty, CEO of Eclipse Labs.Unchained Podcast is Produced by Laura Shin Media, LLC. Distributed by CoinDesk.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This year, games on TON have taken off, garnering hundreds of millions of users in a few months. TON Foundation's Alena Shmalko and Jack Booth share their insights on how TON, after Telegram had run-ins with the SEC, got here.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pods, Fountain, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.The Open Network, aka TON, has been on a tear since late February. TVL has skyrocketed 34x since the beginning of the year, reaching over $750 million as of the time of recording. The price of TON has more than tripled from about $2 to $7, and daily active addresses recently exceeded those of Ethereum in May and June. Games with fun names like Hamster Kombat and Catizen are gaining traction, and Pantera Capital, an OG crypto investor, is making its largest investments yet in TON. In this episode, Alena Shmalko and Jack Booth from the TON Foundation discuss how TON has managed to garner this traction, especially after a rocky start when the SEC went after the original founder, Telegram. Show highlights:Alena's and Jack's backgrounds and how they ended up at TONHow TON evolved from its origins with Telegram to its current status, and how it began getting traction this year, according to JackHow The Open League helped TON grow its TVL and other important metricsHow Telegram's collaboration with TON has evolved through time and how much they work togetherWhether there are plans for TON to integrate with apps beyond TelegramWhat in TON's architecture allows it to be extremely scalableThe mechanics of Notcoin and why it has been so successfulWhether the rise of games like Notcoin and Hamster Kombat can be sustainableThe importance of USDT in TonWhen might a Bitcoin trustless bridge be deployed and why it could be significantWhether TON is being used by criminals and what could be done to combat itWhat strategies will lead TON to have $1 billion in TVL by the end of the yearVisit Unchained for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.comThank you to our sponsors!PolkadotGuests: Alena Shmalko, Ecosystem Lead at the TON FoundationJack Booth, Director of Marketing at the TON FoundationLinks: Previous coverage on Unchained of TON:Could Telegram-Associated TON Blockchain Be the 'Next Solana' and Challenge Ethereum?Layer 2 Networks Are Arriving on the Telegram-Associated TON Blockchain TON Blockchain's Stablecoin Transfer Volume Reaches Record $299 Million on US Independence Day What Is Telegram's Ads Network on TON And How Will It Impact Advertisers & Creators?Unchained Podcast is Produced by Laura Shin Media, LLC. Distributed by CoinDesk.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Are prediction markets the key to finding the truth in an era of media narratives and social media algorithms?Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pods, Fountain, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.Prediction markets are gaining mainstream traction, particularly with the upcoming US elections. In this episode, Nick Tomaino, founder of 1confirmation, which is an investor in Polymarket, explores how platforms like Polymarket identified the possibility that President Biden might drop out of the campaign before the mainstream media did. He talks about the journey of Polymarket, the challenges it faced, and how it overcame them to provide a credible platform for betting on political outcomes. Finally, Nick explains why prediction markets are currently illegal in the U.S., the implications of the Supreme Court striking down Chevron's deference, and what the future holds for prediction markets in the U.S.Show highlights:Why prediction markets like Polymarket finally gained mainstream traction, and how 1confirmation became an early investorWhat challenges Polymarket faced in its journey to mainstream recognition, and how it managed to overcome themHow prediction markets contribute to bringing more truth to the world, particularly in the context of media narratives and social media algorithmsWhat challenges have arisen from conflicts in resolving prediction markets on PolymarketHow bets are created and how the wording and resolution of prediction markets is managed on PolymarketHow trading volumes affect the credibility of prediction markets on PolymarketThe regulatory environment of prediction markets in the US and whether the elimination of Chevron deference by the Supreme Court will have a positive impact on these marketsVisit our website for breaking news, analysis, pop op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.comThank you to our sponsors!iTrustCapitalPolkadotPlayFi LabsGuestNick Tomaino, Founder & General Partner at 1confirmationLinks | Recent news on Polymarket:Unchained: Polymarket Hits Record Highs in Monthly Users and Trading Volume Due to Presidential ElectionCrypto.news: Polymarket reverses Oracle decision on Barron Trump's involvement in DJT meme coinDecrypt: Ethereum ETFs Approved by the SEC? Yes—But Don't Bet On It - DecryptDune dashboard: Prediction MarketsCommentary:Vitalik's tweet: “Prediction markets and Community Notes are becoming the two flagship social epistemic technologies of the 2020s. Both truth-seeking and democratic, built around open public participation rather than pre-selected elites. I want to see many more things like this.”Nick Tomaino's tweet: “2024 will go down in history as the year prediction markets went mainstream.”-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.

Jose Macedo of Delphi Digital and Ari Paul of BlockTower Capital talk about why a crypto asset can have wildly different prices in the public and private markets, and how they try to figure out what it's really worth.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pods, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.The problem of low float, high fully diluted valuation (FDV) coins is one that is frequently discussed in crypto. But there's another wrinkle: investors need to understand the unrealized gains of these coins to really understand the price. In this episode, Jose Macedo of Delphi Digital and Ari Paul of BlockTower Capital explain the various metrics that reveal what a coin is really worth, why a wave of token unlocks that will be hitting the crypto markets in the next few years are not bullish, and whether there is a better way to design token unlocks for teams and insiders. Plus, they cover whether venture capitalists are extractive to crypto, whether these games with circulating supply and FDV have caused investors to turn to memecoins, and why they believe the ICO era was better for retail investors. Show highlights:Why upcoming token unlocks are creating market jittersHow the ratio of unrealized gains to market cap influences token price movements How some token projects manipulate their reported circulating supplyWhether and how everyday investors can uncover the truth about token projectsWhat secondary market trading says about the potential impact of upcoming token unlocksWhy Jose believes that the current token launch strategy, despite its flaws, is still favored by insiders and unlikely to change soonWhy some projects favor decisions that are more likely to result in short-term gains over long-term successWhy Jose believes that simple time-based token unlocks often work better than complex metrics, and how projects can balance funding with realistic success metricsWhy Ari believes the SEC's investigations into VCs for acting as securities dealers might be justified, and how these practices resemble pump-and-dump schemesWith numerous token unlocks looming, why the outlook is bearish for many projects, and what challenges they face in mitigating potential sell-offsWhy many crypto investors might end up holding the bag in the current cycle, despite plans to sell early and avoid lossesWhat the future role of VCs is in crypto, and how the influx of token unlocks and the rise of memecoins could shape the bull cycleVisit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.comThank you to our sponsors!PolkadotGuests:Jose Macedo, founder at Delphi LabsAri Paul, CIO of BlockTower CapitalPrevious appearances on Unchained:Ari Paul on Why Bitcoin Is a Good Value BuyAri Paul of BlockTower Capital on the Crypto Downturn and Why It Could Change DirectionLinks : High FDV and unlocks:Unchained:How ‘Fully Diluted Valuation' Can Be a Very Dangerous Metric for Crypto Markets to Rely OnWho's to Blame for the Underperformance of Low Float, High FDV Tokens?80% of Tokens on Binance Are Down Since Listing Date: SwissBorg ResearcherCobie newsletter: New launches (part 1) - private capture, phantom pricingRocknblock: Token vesting explainerCoinDesk: 'Liquid Vesting' Is Oxymoronic Blockchain Feature That Lets Early Investors Sell Without WaitingJose's thread that inspired the episodeAri's post responding to Jose's threadToken.unlocks.app: Token vesting trackerSolutions:Hack VC: Potential Solutions to Crypto's Unlock ProblemColony Lab: Early-Stage Program & Liquid VestingImran Khan's tweet on Blast https://x.com/lmrankhan/status/1806040646433522149 -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.

The SEC won't pursue enforcement against Ethereum 2.0, but why? How much of a role did politics play? And where does that leave staking and court cases involving companies such as Consensys and Coinbase? Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pods, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.Last week, Consensys revealed that the SEC had concluded an investigation into Ethereum 2.0, referring to when Ethereum transitioned from a proof-of-work consensus mechanism to a proof-of-stake one.In this episode, Laura Brookover, senior counsel & head of litigation and investigations at Consensys, and Sam Enzer, partner at Cahill Gordon & Reindel, explore the implications of this decision on Ether's status as a commodity versus a security, and why the SEC dropped the pursuit, including whether the shifting political winds played a role. For instance, how much of the decision was influenced by the ETH ETF approvals, Democrats crossing party lines to vote for FIT21 and the repeal of SAB 121, and/or SEC crypto enforcement chief David Hirsch's resignation? In this discussion, they also explained why the closure doesn't necessarily mean that staking, or restaking, is safe from the SEC. Plus, what's the impact of this closure on the other big crypto cases, such as Coinbase, Kraken, Uniswap, and Ripple? Show highlights:How Consensys managed to get the SEC to reveal that it had concluded its investigation into Ethereum 2.0, and the significance of that moveThe SEC's possible reasoning behind investigating Ethereum after it had switched to proof of stakeHow uncommon is it for the SEC to send a letter concluding an investigation like the one into EthereumWhether recent events around crypto as an election issue, the ETH ETF approvals, votes for FIT21 and the repeal of SAB 121, and David Hirsch's resignation, might be connected to the decision to close this investigationWhether the Biden administration has shifted its stance on crypto and whether Gensler should remain as chairHow the SEC might still go after stakingWhether restaking, such as pioneered by EigenLayer, is safe from regulatory actionsWhy the SEC might be pursuing different judgments in various jurisdictions for MetaMask and Coinbase WalletWhat crucial evidence from the closed Ethereum 2.0 investigation could strengthen Coinbase's defense in its ongoing lawsuitWhy the SEC's aggressive stance on various crypto enforcement actions seems to remain unchanged despite closing the Ethereum 2.0 investigationWhy Sam and Laura believe Solana should not be considered a security, despite the SEC naming it as such in various crypto casesHow the SEC's argument about an “ecosystem” is nonsensical, according to Laura BrookoverWhat the implications of the closed investigation are for the cases of Kraken and RippleWhat Sam and Laura B. are watching out for in terms of regulation and ongoing legal casesVisit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.comThank you to our sponsors!PolkadotGuests:Laura Brookover, Senior Counsel & Head of Litigation and Investigations at ConsensysPrevious appearance on Unchained: Consensys's Lawsuit Against The SEC: Will It End Gensler's ‘Unlawful Power Grab'?Sam Enzer, Partner at Cahill Gordon & ReindelPrevious appearances on Unchained:The Real Reason Why the SEC Might Be Going After EthereumHow 'a Criminal Choice' Got Sam Bankman-Fried a 25-Year Prison SentenceWhy the SEC's Case Against Coinbase Is So Significant for CryptoWhy SBF's Testimony So Far Has Likely Already Doomed HimAnother Bad Week for Sam Bankman-Fried in His Criminal TrialWhy These Lawyers Say It's Over for SBF-But His Only Hail Mary Is to TestifySBF Trial: How Sam Bankman-Fried's Lawyers Might Try and Win His CaseSBF's Lawyers Could Be Annoying the Judge How Might That Impact the Trial?LinksEthereum ‘Survives the SEC'Consensys announcement blog Consensys' threadLaura Brookover's tweet on the investigation being closed.Investigation Termination LetterFortune: Ethereum wins a major battle, but its war with the SEC is far from over CNBC: Consensys' head of litigation provides new details after SEC closes probe into crypto firmConsensys lawsuit against the SECOriginal Press ReleaseConsensys V. Gensler Et. Al ComplaintConsensys's March 29 comment letter to SEC on proof-of-stakeEther ETFsCoinDesk: Ether ETFs Should Be Fully Approved by September, Says SEC Chair GenslerLatest on other SEC enforcement actionsccn.com: SEC vs Kraken: Judge “Inclined to Deny” Motion to Dismiss CaseUniswap Response to Wells Notice CoinDesk: Coinbase Loses Most of Motion to Dismiss SEC Lawsuit, (Mar 27)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.

Sheila Warren delves into the political dynamics and regulatory shifts driving the recent regulatory change of heart around crypto.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pods, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.Sheila Warren, CEO of the Crypto Council for Innovation, joins Unchained to explore the dramatic shift by Democrats in the last few weeks on crypto. She explains why she believes the overturning of SAB 121 and the House vote for the FIT21 bill were both instrumental to the White House's changing view on crypto and may have played a role in the SEC's surprising approval of spot ETH ETFs. Having worked for years on passing crypto legislation and as a lifelong Democrat, Sheila describes what kinds of arguments were persuasive to Democratic members of Congress, addresses some criticisms of the FIT21 bill, and gives her perspective on the debate about single-issue voters.Show highlights: The overall attitude toward crypto in Washington going into the House vote on SAB 121 on May 8The bipartisan votes in the House and Senate to overturn SAB 121Why, by the time of the Senate vote on FIT21, the White House had had a change of heart about cryptoWhy, after the Senate vote to repeal SAB 121, the SEC approved the spot ETH ETFsWhy Sheila is so proud of the passage in the House of the FIT21 billHow Sheila and CCI approached their discussions with Democrats and what arguments they found effectiveWhether the industry has survived the negative image of SBF and FTXThe sea change in the White House between the SAB 121 vote and the FIT21 voteA high-level description of the FIT21 bill What kind of authority the bill would give the CFTC over crypto What the implications of the bill are for launching tokensFIT21's approach to regulating DeFi and how the FIT21 bill is "kicking the can" on this topicThe overall political and legislation landscape and the next likely steps for cryptoWhether the ETF approval changes anything about the SEC's investigation into EthereumWhat Sheila thinks about the 'crypto single-issue voter' debate Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.comThank you to our sponsors!PolkadotVaultCraftGuest:Sheila Warren, CEO of the Crypto Council for InnovationPrevious appearance on Unchained: Did FTX Ruin Crypto's Image on Capitol Hill? Two DC Insiders DiscussLinksPrevious coverage on Unchained of the recent shift in the US political landscape:Senator Cynthia Lummis on Why Crypto Now Has Bipartisan Support in CongressBits + Bips: Is US Politics Driving the ETH ETF Approval?Why Spot Ether ETFs Are Now Likely to Be Approved on ThursdaySAB 121Bloomberg: As Bitcoin Rallies, Banks Are Pushing US Regulators to Change Crypto Guidance FIT21CCI: FIT21 Coalition Support LetterUnchained: FIT21 Bill Heads to The Senate: Should We Really Be Excited?Sheila's op-ed on Fortune: The clock is ticking for Democrats on cryptoSpot Ether ETFsUnchained: Analysts Up Odds of Spot Ether ETF to 75% as Prometheum Launches Product That Treats ETH as a SecurityEthereum Foundation investigationFortune Crypto: SEC probing crypto companies in Ethereum investigation as hopes for ETF dim-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.

Evan Zinaman breaks down why the government's indictment of the Bueno brothers for their $25 million MEV exploitation is a “vanilla fraud,” but still may shed light on potential compliance considerations for block-building participants.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pods, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.In this episode, Evan Zinaman, founder and principal at Trailbreak, delves into the first-of-its-kind case of the Bueno brothers, who face Department of Justice charges for exploiting Maximal Extractable Value (MEV) in a cryptocurrency scheme. Accused of manipulating transaction ordering to create an arbitrage opportunity, the brothers are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud as well as wire fraud itself. Zinaman explores the broader implications of MEV exploitation and addresses critics who say that the MEV exploiters just got a taste of their own medicine, and the need for block-building participants to consider their legal and compliance responsibilities.Show highlights:What the charges against the Bueno brothers are aboutHow block building works on Ethereum and how the relay was manipulated by the Bueno brothersThe different types of MEV and which ones are acceptable Why these charges could be seen as a "vanilla fraud," according to EvanWhether the benefits of MEV outweigh the cons of itThe lack of terms of service in the MEV spaceHow the regulators' attention to the space has changed over timeVisit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.comFirst Bits + Bips episode: Bits + Bips: Does Macroeconomics Point to a Potential Crypto Supercycle?Thank you to our sponsors! iTrustCapital | Polkadot | VaultCraftGuest | Evan Zinaman, Founder & Principal at TrailbreakWhere the Rubber Meets the Road: A MEV-Aware, Functionalist Review of OFAC Risk "on the Base Layer"Links | Previous coverage on Unchained of MEV:Why MEV Will Always Be ControversialThe Chopping Block: Why the Once-Taboo MEV Is Now a Core Part of EthereumThe Mango Markets Attacker on Whether His 'Trade' Was Ethical or NotThe Chopping Block: ‘Code Is Law' Is ‘Obviously Not How Anything Works Ever'The Case:Unchained: DOJ Alleges Two Brothers Stole $25 Million From MEV Bots Last YearResearch:Blockchain Transaction Ordering as Market Manipulation by Mikolaj et alLearn more: What Are Sandwich Attacks in Crypto? A Beginner's GuideWhat Is MEV in Crypto?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.

Erik Voorhees' latest venture, Venice, is a private, uncensorable, open-source AI agent run on decentralized computation. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pods, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.Erik Voorhees, a crypto OG, has launched Venice, a private, uncensorable, open-source competitor to OpenAI's ChatGPT or Anthropic's Claude, powered by a decentralized crypto network. In the episode, Erik and Venice's COO Teana Baker-Taylor delve into the problems with censorship and data in current AI agents, including how they create honeypots of information about users' search history for hackers, or that they can be absurdly politically correct, such as refusing to create images of Caucasian people. As they point out, there's also the risk that the companies managing them could be censoring the models to please the Chinese government, in order to access the market in that country. They talk about their plan for Venice to gain market share, considering that DuckDuckGo, a privacy-preserving competitor to Google, has a much smaller market share. And they explain why they intend for Venice to eventually use the compute of Morpheus, or other decentralized crypto-powered compute networks. They also critique the SEC's current regulatory approach to crypto, calling it “a joke.” Additionally, they explore the concept of AI agents using cryptocurrencies as their primary currency.Show highlights:Why Erik decided to move into artificial intelligence and merge it with cryptoWhat problems decentralized AI would solve and why it's hard to solve sexist and racist views in LLMsThe differences between ChatGPT, and other similar products, and Venice AIWhy privacy is so important for users, according to Erik, and how Venice doesn't store the users' informationHow central governments could manipulate information to their own benefit and how to avoid itWhether people will shift from using search engines to LLMsWhat Morpheus is and its goal to provide decentralized computation for AIHow Erik and Teana believe crypto and AI will continue to work together Erik's and Teana's thoughts on some of the recent government actions against founders of crypto privacy services such as Samourai Wallet and Tornado CashWhy Erik believes that the SEC has become a jokeVisit Unchained's website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.comFirst Bits + Bips episode: Bits + Bips: Does Macroeconomics Point to a Potential Crypto Supercycle?Thank you to our sponsors! Polkadot | VaultCraftGuests:Erik Voorhees, Founder and CEO of Venice AIPrevious appearances on Unchained:Erik Voorhees and Cobie on Why FTX Loaned Out Customers' AssetsWhy ShapeShift's Erik Voorhees Thinks Toxic Bitcoin Maximalism Is BullshitShapeShift's Erik Voorhees on How Crypto Will Separate Money and StateTeana Baker-Taylor, COO at Venice AILinks | Previous coverage on Unchained crypto/AI:When AI and Blockchain Meet, How Can Each Technology Benefit?The Chopping Block: Why AI Will Change the Course of History in Crypto5 Use Cases of AI in BlockchainA Beginner's Guide to AI TokensVenice AI:Erik's thread announcing Venice The Separation of Mind and StateArchitecture:About Morpheus.NetworkMessari: What is Akash Network?LLMs:MIT Technology Review: LLMs become more covertly racist with human interventionChina Talk: Censorship's Impact on China's Chatbots - by Nicholas WelchRecent cases on privacy:CoinDesk: Samourai Wallet Founders Arrested and Charged With Money LaunderingCointelegraph: DOJ's Tornado Cash arguments show ‘obvious disdain for privacy' — LawyerCNBC: North Korea crypto hacking activity soars to record high in 2023, new report showsReuters: Exclusive: UN experts investigate 58 cyberattacks worth $3 bln by North KoreaErik's post on the right to have privacy-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.

Memecoins have been the most profitable investment of the year, and these traders believe they still have a lot of potential. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pods, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.In this episode of Unchained, memecoin traders Ansem and Kelxyz unpack everything about memecoins, discussing what makes them valuable and how they evaluate their investment potential. They also address the criticisms and controversies surrounding them, including racism and sexism. (They have a surprising reaction to the latter.) Ansem and Kel argue that memecoins have substance and value, largely due to their popularity and the attention they receive on the internet. They also discuss the importance of distribution and virality in the success of a memecoin, how the chain any coin is on affects its value, and give their opinions on Runes vs. BRC-20s vs. Solana and Ethereum. Plus, they talk about their wildest memecoin stories (think: Dogwifhat) and provide their insights on what they think memecoins will become in the future.Show highlights:Ansem's and Kel's investment thesis around memecoins How Ansem and Kel got into trading memecoins and how they evaluate their potentialWhy the coin distribution matters and whether tokenomics is important with memecoinsHow to discern between memecoins with genuine vs. fake interest How memecoins differ across blockchains such as Solana Ethereum and BitcoinAnsem and Kel's responses to the criticisms of memecoinsWhether and how memecoins could become safer for users Kel and Ansem's surprising reaction to racist and sexist memecoins Ansem's story on WIF and how a female friend of his fueled its popularity Whether Bitcoin is “the original memecoin" and how they define memecoinThe future of memecoins and how they believe all memes will become coinsThank you to our sponsors!PolkadotVaultCraftGuests: Ansem. KelxyzLinks | Culture:What else could memecoins be? by Vitalik ButerinHow bad policy favors memes over matter by Chris Dixon Cointelegraph: Meme coins: Betrayal of crypto's ideals… or its true purpose?CoinDesk: The Memecoin Grift and How It Threatens Ethereum Culture Investment:CoinGecko: Top Crypto Narratives Gained 39% to 1313% in Q1 2024 Messari: Navigating Memecoin ManiaKelxyz investment strategyDecrypt: Crypto Influencer Ansem Explains His Meme Coin Thesis and Why He's Bullish on Bitcoin Runes Unchained: What Is Dogwifhat (WIF) and Why Is It Up so Much? Safer memecoinsUnchained: Half of Solana Presale Tokens Rolled Out Between November and February Were Malicious: Blockaid StudyCointelegraph: 1 in 6 new Base meme coins are scams, 91% have vulnerabilitiesAndre Conje's proposalRacist memecoinsUnchained: Offensive Memecoins Proliferate on Solana, Sparking DebateCrypto news: Ethereum's Buterin slams Solana's racist meme coins, urges better projects-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.

Celestia's co-founder and its COO talk about how their modular blockchain makes it easier for blockchains to scale. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Pandora, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.Celestia, a data availability layer for blockchains, was launched last October to much fanfare. The platform takes a modular approach to blockchains, allowing developers to post data onto it without the need for smart contracts or execution. This makes it extremely useful for scaling roll-ups and other layer two technologies. Celestia co-founder Mustafa Al-Bassam and COO Nick White join Unchained to discuss what Celestia is and how it works, how data availability sampling allows for more scalability, how Celestia compares with other data availability layers, whether Celestia could become a data availability layer for Bitcoin, and comparisons between Celestia and Solana. Show Highlights:Mustafa's background and how his project called LazyLedger ended up becoming CelestiaNick's vision for modular blockchainsWhy Mustafa believes in the “10,000 rollup” endgameWhy Mustafa thinks that gaming and NFT chains work better on a modular blockchainWhat Celestia is and how it resembles the publication of an article in a newspaperWhat data availability sampling (DAS) is and how it works to ensure that the data is available and accurate for validatorsHow DAS allows for more scalabilityWhat types of applications can be built with this type of modular architectureMustafa's explanation of the concept of Blob stream and blob spaceHow a rollup can be an independent or sovereign layer, not just a layer 2 to a layer 1How Celestia competes with other DA layers, like the future EigenDAThe role of the TIA token in the Celestia ecosystem How Mufasa hacked the CIA when he was 16 years old and how he transitioned into cryptoWhether Celestia could become a DA layer for Bitcoin layer 2 rollupsWhether Solana could end up becoming an Ethereum layer 2 using Celestia for data availability The proposal to extend the functionality of Celestia without smart contracts in the base layer Thank you to our sponsors! Popcorn Network | PolkadotGuests | Nick White, COO at Celestia LabsPrevious appearances on Unchained: Three Crypto Pioneers on Crypto's Monolithic vs. Modular DebateMustafa Al-Bassam, cofounder and CEO at Celestia LabsLinks | Modular vs. MonolithicAlchemy: Modular vs. Monolithic BlockchainsVisa: Monolithic vs. modular blockchainChris Burniske's tMonolithic vs. modular blockchain | Visaweet on modular vs monolithic“The horrific inefficiencies of monolithic blockchains” by polynyaBlockworks: A spicy salvo launched in the monolithic vs modular debateUnchained: What Is the Blockchain Trilemma?CelestiaCelestia's explanation of modular blockchainsData availabilityData availability samplingAn introduction to sovereign rollups-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.

With its lawsuit, Consensys aims to settle the question of whether staking turned ether into a security, and to hopefully put an end to what it calls the SEC's “regulatory overreach.” Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pods, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.On Thursday, Consensys sued the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a Texas federal court, seeking to prevent an impending SEC action against its MetaMask wallet and to clarify that ether is not a security.The complaint calls out the agency for what Consensys describes as “regulatory overreach,” challenges its notion that ETH is a security, and says the SEC has violated the Constitutional requirement of fair notice under the due process clause. It notes that for years, the SEC and its sister agency, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, took the position that ETH is not a security. The lawsuit also challenges the SEC's recent focus on Ethereum's switch to proof of stake in 2022 as a basis for increased scrutiny, a stance Lubin deemed "preposterous."Laura Brookover, Senior Counsel & Head of Litigation and Investigations at Consensys, joined Unchained to unpack the lawsuit and what it means for the future of Ethereum and overall crypto in the US.Show highlights:Why Consensys sued the SEC and why Brookover feels like the SEC has gone too farHow they are looking for a Judge to declare that the ETH is not a securityWhether the switch to proof of stake turned ETH into a securityWhy the SEC issued Consensys a Wells Notice, with one potential allegation being that it is operating an unregistered securities broker through its MetaMask walletHow the major questions doctrine applies to what the SEC is doing in the industry, according to BrookoverWhy Hinman's speech is still relevant today, even after 6 yearsWhether the moves by the SEC are related to a motivation to deny ether spot ETFsHow the several cases against the SEC show that the industry “has had enough”Whether Texas is a jurisdiction favorable to crypto, given that many lawsuits are being filed thereThe implications of a Consensys victory for the industry and what the next steps in the case areThank you to our sponsors! iTrustCapital | PolkadotGuest | Laura Brookover, Senior Counsel & Head of Litigation and Investigations at ConsensysLinks | The lawsuit: Fortune: SEC sued over Ethereum, crypto firm asks court to state token is not a securityConsensys's complaintBill Hughes' thread on why Consensys sued the SECConsensys is suing the SEC to defend the Ethereum ecosystemHinman speechCryptoLaw: The Hinman Speech DocumentsMajor questions doctrineUnchained: Why the SEC vs. Ripple Order Is Now About 2 Things: Coinbase and CongressReuters: SEC argues Coinbase crypto case not barred by ‘major questions' doctrine Other SEC cases:CoinbaseUnchained: Why the SEC's Case Against Coinbase Is So Significant for CryptoCourt Rejects Coinbase's Bid to Dismiss SEC Charges Against ItUniswapUnchained: Gary Gensler's Case Against Uniswap: Does the SEC Even Stand a Chance?SEC Puts DeFi in Its Sights With Potential Uniswap SuitUniswap Blog Post on the Wells noticeMarvin Ammori Thread on Wells noticeEthereum FoundationUnchained:SEC Investigating Ethereum Foundation Regarding Proof-of-Stake Transition: ReportThe Real Reason Why the SEC Might Be Going After EthereumDebt BoxUnchained: SEC Sanctioned for ‘Abuse of Power' in Debt Box LawsuitBebaDeFi Education Fund and Beba sue SEC over airdrop policiesLejilexLawsuit document-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.

Despite legal battles over Coinbase, Uniswap, Ethereum, and others, Jake Chervinsky from Variant Fund believes that crypto still has a future in the United States. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pods, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.Jake Chervinsky, chief legal officer of Variant, discusses the current state of crypto regulation, touching on several ongoing legal and regulatory issues in the crypto space, including Uniswap's Wells notice, the Coinbase case, the Tornado Cash case, the Ethereum Foundation investigation and more. Chervinsky argues that the government's approach to these cases is often misguided, particularly in instances where they hold software developers liable for how third parties use their software. He also discusses the potential implications of the government's case against Tornado Cash, suggesting that it could have far-reaching consequences for all open-source software developers. Chervinsky also delves into the SEC's ongoing investigations into the Ethereum Foundation, as well as the recent IRS draft form that lists unhosted wallets as a type of broker. He expressed concern about the potential impact of these investigations on the crypto industry but remained optimistic about the future of DeFi in the US.Show highlights:How the Tornado Cash case could set a critical precedent for open-source softwareHow the government's Tornado indictment reveals a fear of unsurveyed financial systems, according to JakeWhat the implications of the Tornado Cash case could be for the broader DeFi spaceWhat lessons can be learned from the $62 million hack of Munchables on BlastHow to address the challenge of malicious actors like North Korea using a permissionless systemWhether Coinbase's staking services are considered a securities offeringWhether Judge Failla's ruling on Coinbase acting as a broker could be overturnedWhy Jake thinks the SEC will face significant challenges in its potential case against Uniswap LabsHow the Debt Box case order impacts the SEC's reputation, according to JakeHow the industry is pushing back against the SEC's regulation by enforcement with its own lawsuits for Lejilex and BebaThe future of DeFi in the U.S. and its potential for success, according to JakeWhy Jake believes the SEC will deny Ether ETFs and why he disagrees with the latest stablecoin regulation bill by Lummis and GillibrandHow the U.S. Presidential election could impact the future of the crypto industry.Thank you to our sponsors! PolkadotGuest:Jake Chervinsky, Chief Legal Officer at VariantPrevious appearances on Unchained:Why the SEC vs. Ripple Order Is Now About 2 Things: Coinbase and CongressThe Chopping Block: Jake Chervinsky on How the SEC Has Lost CredibilityAll Things Crypto Regulation With Jake ChervinskyEverything You Need to Know About the Looming Battle Over Privacy in CryptoCan Crypto Be a Force in the Midterms? Yes, Say Kristin Smith and Jake ChervinskyLinksTornado CashJake's amicus brief with Amanda TuminelliUnchained: Given the Sanctions on Tornado Cash, Is Ethereum Censorship Resistant?Munchables exploitUnchained: Blast-Based NFT Game Munchables Recovers $62.5 Million Lost in ExploitSEC cases:CoinbaseUnchained: Why the SEC's Case Against Coinbase Is So Significant for CryptoCourt Rejects Coinbase's Bid to Dismiss SEC Charges Against ItUniswapUnchained: Gary Gensler's Case Against Uniswap: Does the SEC Even Stand a Chance?SEC Puts DeFi in Its Sights With Potential Uniswap SuitUniswap Blog Post on the Wells noticeMarvin Ammori Thread on Wells noticeEthereum FoundationUnchained:SEC Investigating Ethereum Foundation Regarding Proof-of-Stake Transition: ReportThe Real Reason Why the SEC Might Be Going After EthereumDebt BoxUnchained: SEC Sanctioned for ‘Abuse of Power' in Debt Box LawsuitBebaDeFi Education Fund and Beba sue SEC over airdrop policiesLejilexLawsuit document-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.

Welcome to the Mentality Unchained Podcast, where we delve deep into the stories of resilience, empowerment, and transformation. Join host Dr. Kevin Thomas as he navigates the complexities of the human experience with authenticity and compassion. In each episode, Dr. Thomas sits down with remarkable individuals like Mercedes Joyner, owner of JMC Strategic Consulting, and dives into their journeys of overcoming adversity and finding strength in the face of challenges. From working alongside State Representative Maurice West to overcoming misdiagnosis and thriving despite being placed in special education, Mercedes's story is one of triumph and resilience. Her unwavering commitment to community and communication, coupled with her heroic act of saving a friend's life, embodies the essence of resilience and empowerment. Through candid conversations and inspiring narratives, Mentality Unchained invites listeners to explore the depths of the human psyche, discover the power of resilience, and unlock the secrets to living a fulfilling and authentic life. Tune in to Mentality Unchained and embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery, empowerment, and growth. Subscribe now to join the conversation and unleash your mentality!

Arthur Hayes and Will Clemente explore how this Bitcoin halving might diverge from previous ones and what that means for investors.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.The Bitcoin halving is just around the corner, expected to be on April 19 or April 20. Arthur Hayes, CIO of Maelstrom, and Will Clemente, co-founder of Reflexivity Research discuss the rise in Bitcoin prices ahead of the halving, the impact of the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US, and the potential effects of the halving on the price trajectory post-halving. They also discuss the potential impact of a new class of investors on Bitcoin's price, volatility, and decentralization. Learn more: Bitcoin Halving: What Is It & How Is It Determined?Moreover, they dive into the impact of the macroeconomics, geopolitical, and demographic conditions for the crypto asset industry, the potential for L2s on Bitcoin, and their price predictions for bitcoin by year-end. Show highlights:How the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs altered the price trajectory of BTC before the halvingWhether the introduction of spot Bitcoin ETFs impacts Bitcoin's decentralization and price volatilityWhether this cycle could be the "last cycle" or the "supercycle"Why Arthur predicts a 90% drawdown in the future and how they determine when the markets are nearing the top of the cycleThe effect of high inflation, the election, and the termination of the bank term funding program on BitcoinHow artificial intelligence is expected to trigger a productivity boom, according to WillWhy Will considers Coinbase to be mispricedWhether Bitcoin L2s have a future and if security budgets are a concernTheir views on Bitcoin Ordinals and the Runes Protocol launchWhy Will views DOGE as a purer commodity than ETHArthur's rebuttal to claims that Ethena could follow in Terra/Luna's footstepsArthur's and Will's Bitcoin price projections for the end of the year and the cycleThank you to our sponsors! PolkadotGuest:Arthur Hayes, CIO of Maelstrom.Previous appearances on Unchained:Arthur Hayes on Why Bitcoin Is Money and ETH Is a Shitcoin He LovesArthur Hayes, Former Ethereum Skeptic, on Why the Merge Makes Him Bullish on ETH Arthur Hayes of Bitmex on Why Countries Will Turn to DigitalThe Chopping Block: Arthur Hayes on Why Crypto Needs to Ditch the BanksHow Crypto and Blockchain Technology Could Change Financial ServicesWill Clemente, Co-founder of Reflexivity Research-Previous appearance on Unchained: Strong Hands Aren't Selling Bitcoin. So Who Is? LinksThis cycleNaval's tweet: “The narrative for this cycle is ‘this is the last cycle.'”Unchained: Here's Why No One Agrees Exactly When The Bitcoin Halving Will HappenBitcoin Miners Diversify Their Revenue Streams as Halving NearsHeatwave by Arthur HayesDissecting Bitcoin's “4 Year Cycle,” guest post by Will Clemente on The Pomp LetterBitcoin ETFs:Unchained: The Best Spot Bitcoin ETFs for Different Types of InvestorsWho Is Buying Into Spot Bitcoin ETFs? We'll Soon Start to Get an IdeaBitcoin ETFs Explained: What Are They & How Do They Work? Macroeconomic conditionsCNBC: Consumer prices rose 3.5% from a year ago in March, more than expectedFT: Investors lose hope of rapid US interest rate cuts this yearBlock size warsBloomberg: The Block War Is Still a Sore Subject for ‘Bitcoin Jesus' Bitcoin L2sUnchained: Stacks' Muneeb Ali On Why Bitcoin Is Exciting Once Again RunesDecrypt: Bitcoin Runes Launch at the Halving: Here's Everything You Need to KnowEthenaHayes' tweet on EthenaUnchained: ENA Surges 20% to New All-Time High as Ethena Rolls Out Reward BoostsEthena's USDe Grew to $2 Billion in 7 Weeks. Is It Safe?What Is Ethena's USDe Synethic Dollar?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.

Amanda Tuminelli dives deep into the SEC's confrontation with Uniswap, examining the implications for the entire DeFi sector.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.On Wednesday, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a Wells notice to Uniswap Labs, the team behind the prominent decentralized exchange (DEX) Uniswap, signaling a forthcoming enforcement action.Amanda Tuminelli, Chief Legal Officer at the DeFi Education Fund, joined Unchained to unpack what the case could mean for Uniswap and the overall decentralized finance (DeFi) industry.Amanda also talks about the DeFi Education Fund's recent lawsuit against the SEC over its airdrop policies and the industry's need for a proactive counteroffensive approach in dealing with the SEC.Show highlights:Why Amanda thinks that the SEC is going to take a “kitchen sink approach” to their chargesHow the SEC could make a case that some of the tokens traded via Uniswap are securitiesWhat the next steps are in the case, with a lawsuit possibly coming soonWhether there's an inconsistency between the SEC's position and Judge Failla's rejection of the motion to dismiss the Coinbase lawsuitHow the different components of Uniswap make it hard to prove that Uniswap Labs is responsible for everything that happens on the protocolWhy the DeFi Education Fund recently filed a lawsuit against the SECWhy Amanda believes in a “proactive counteroffensive strategy” with the SECHow Amanda would like legislation to be implemented in the U.S.Why the Tornado Cash developers are not liable for the actions of third parties such as North Korean hackers, according to AmandaWhy Amanda thinks Uniswap will ultimately win against the SECThank you to our sponsors! iTrustCapital PolkadotGuest |Amanda Tuminelli, Chief Legal Officer at DeFi Education FundPrevious appearance on Unchained: Is This the End of DeFi? Why the US Government Is Going After Tornado CashYou've got a friend in me: How amicus briefs are helping the crypto industry win over the courts, Amanda's op-ed for FortuneLinksWells NoticeUnchained: SEC Puts DeFi in Its Sights With Potential Uniswap SuitUnchained: UNI Drops 16% as SEC Targets Uniswap LabsUniswap Blog Post on the Wells noticeMarvin Ammori Thread on Wells noticeOther cases:Fortune: Don't blame Uniswap for crypto scams, judge rules—and she's rightThe Block: Three crypto advocacy groups file amicus briefs in Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm's caseThe DeFiant: SEC Faces Lawsuit Seeking To Exempt Airdrops From Securities ClassificationUnchained: Court Rejects Coinbase's Bid to Dismiss SEC Charges Against ItSocial media commentary:Paul Grewal's tweet on the potential inconsistencies with the Coinbase case.Gabriel Shapiro's tweet on how Uniswap AMM smart contracts are not run by the Uniswap company-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.

Ethena's synthetic dollar, USDe, hit a $2 billion market cap in just seven weeks, raising eyebrows. Ethena Labs founder Guy Young explores the risks of reinventing the digital dollar.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.This week, Ethena was in the spotlight after the airdrop of ENA, its new governance token. Ethena's flagship product, the “synthetic dollar” USDe has amassed a $2 billion market cap in less than two months. Meanwhile, ENA's market capitalization sits around $1.4 billion, with a fully diluted valuation of $15.5 billion. In this episode, Guy Young, founder of Ethena Labs, discusses the risks associated with Ethena, including custodial risks and counterparty risks to exchanges. Young also talks about the use cases of Ethena's governance token, and discusses the potential for Ethena to be integrated with DeFi and CeFi.Show highlights:An introduction to what Ethena is and how USDe worksWhy the team doesn't want to refer to USDe as a stablecoin and prefers to use the term "synthetic dollar"What the risks of USDe are, including custody, counterparties, and smart contractsWhy Guy is "pleased" with how the ENA airdrop went throughHow ENA will be used and what its role will be in the governance of EthenaWhy Ethena is now onboarding Bitcoin as collateralWhy Guy thinks that there's been an "exaggeration" regarding the situation with Maker and AaveGuy's response to the critics who say that Ethena is essentially Terra/LunaWhether USDe would only work in a bull marketHow the Ethena insurance fund works and what it aims to accomplishWhat's next for Ethena after onboarding Bitcoin, with Solana potentially being the next assetThank you to our sponsors! Polkadot | iTrustCapitalGuestGuy Young, founder of Ethena Labs. Previous appearance on Unchained: How Ethena's USDe Challenges Traditional Stablecoin ModelsLinksEthena: Unchained: What Is Ethena's USDe Synethic Dollar? A Beginner's GuideDecrypt: Ethena Just Launched to a $1.2 Billion Market Cap: Here's What You Need to Know Dust on Crust by Arthur HayesAirdrop:Unchained: Airdrops From Wormhole and Ethena Labs Set to Inject $2.4 Billion Into Crypto Market This Week CoinTelegraph: Ethena will become highest revenue-generating crypto project — Delphi Labs CEOENA Airdrop and Season 2: Sats Campaign Learn more: What Is a Crypto Airdrop? A Beginner's GuideMakerDAO/Aave controversy: The Block: MakerDAO proposes allocating $600 million worth of DAI into USDe and sUSDeThe Defiant: DeFi Projects Clash After MakerDAO Adds Ethena's USDe As Collateral, Comparisons to Terra's UST: Unchained: As Ethena's USDe Quickly Reaches $2 Billion in Market Cap, Some Wonder If It's as Risky as Terra's USTThe Defiant: Ethena Stablecoin's 27% Yield is Triggering Terra-Induced PTSDAndre Cronje's thoughts on USDeCointelegraph: Ethena Labs founder clarifies USDe stability amid high yield worries-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.

Welcome to "Mentality Unchained Podcast" hosted by Dr. Kevin Thomas, Your Neighborhood Therapist. In this episode, Dr. Thomas is joined by a very special guest, The Owner of Sonny's Place and the Founder of the Awaken Foundation, Jurea Crudup. Together, they dive deep into a variety of topics including the transformative journey of switching careers, the challenges and rewards of being on the frontline, the artistry and emotional connection of being a DJ, the vital role of a support system in mental health, and a candid discussion on the current state of mental health in Rockford, IL. Titled "The Face and the Crowd," this episode delves into the intricacies of navigating personal and professional identities amidst societal expectations and pressures. Through honest conversations and insightful reflections, listeners are invited to explore the complexities of human experience and the importance of breaking free from the confines of societal norms to live authentically. Join Dr. Kevin Thomas and his esteemed guest as they unravel the layers of the human psyche, challenge conventional thinking, and inspire listeners to embrace their true selves on the journey to mental wellness. Tune in to "Mentality Unchained Podcast" for thought-provoking discussions and empowering insights into the world of mental health. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mentality-unchained/support

Why might the SEC investigate the Ethereum Foundation, even though the agency has previously affirmed that ETH is a commodity? Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.On March 20, Fortune reported that the SEC was investigating the Ethereum Foundation and was looking for legal ways to label ETH as a security.Sam Enzer, partner at Cahill Gordon & Reindel, and Greg Strong, partner at DLx Law joined Laura to discuss everything about the investigation and its implications. The guests speculate about the hidden motivations behind the SEC's investigation and discuss the likelihood of the approval of spot Ether ETFs. They also discuss the recent ruling in the SEC vs Coinbase case, where the judge dismissed claims that Coinbase's wallet was acting as an unregistered brokerage, but allowed the rest of the suit to proceed. Lastly, they touch on the devastating impact on the crypto industry if the SEC were to win a case alleging ETHer is a security and what they are looking out for in the next couple of weeks and months.Show highlights:Whether the investigation into the Ethereum Foundation is confirmed and why the SEC would do thisWhy Sam Enzer believes that the SEC would be "utterly wrong and ridiculous" in alleging ETH is a securityWhether the number of people working on Ethereum could make the argument that it is decentralizedHow would the SEC justify that ETH is a security and whether the Foundation is running Ethereum's managerial effortsWhether the SEC is looking for evidence to deny spot ether ETFsWhy SEC chair Gary Gensler has changed his mind on many of his previous stances regarding crypto assets and whether he's acting in good faithThe ongoing battle between the SEC and the CFTC and the need for Congress to regulate the industryWhat the possible outcome of this investigation could be, and whether we'll have a court case soonWhat the impact would be if ETH were classified a securityWhether Prometheum could launch its platform offering custody of ETH as a security before an SEC designationWhy Sam believes that the spot ETH ETFs will be denied on May 23rdHow the SEC has already made up its mind even before gathering the facts, according to SamWhether the recent judgment on Coinbase's case affects the potential case against the EFWhether Ethereum transactions are security transactions, and the difference between primary and secondary salesWhat to expect in terms of regulation and enforcement actions in the short term, given the number of cases at the momentThank you to our sponsors! PolkadotGuests:Sam Enzer, Partner at Cahill Gordon & ReindelPrevious appearances on Unchained:How 'a Criminal Choice' Got Sam Bankman-Fried a 25-Year Prison SentenceWhy the SEC's Case Against Coinbase Is So Significant for CryptoWhy SBF's Testimony So Far Has Likely Already Doomed HimAnother Bad Week for Sam Bankman-Fried in His Criminal TrialWhy These Lawyers Say It's Over for SBF-But His Only Hail Mary Is to TestifySBF Trial: How Sam Bankman-Fried's Lawyers Might Try and Win His CaseSBF's Lawyers Could Be Annoying the Judge How Might That Impact the Trial?Greg Strong, partner at DLx LawPrevious appearance on Unchained: Why These Lawyers Say It's Over for SBF-But His Only Hail Mary Is to TestifyLinksEthereum Foundation investigation:Fortune: SEC probing crypto companies in ETHereum investigation as hopes for ETF dimCoinDesk: Ethereum Foundation Faces Inquiry From a Government; Fortune Says SEC Investigating ETHUnchained: Ex-CFTC Commissioner Says ETH Can Be Both a Commodity and a SecurityUnchained: SEC Investigating Ethereum Foundation Regarding Proof-of-Stake Transition: Report Ethereum's security statusUnchained: Ex-CFTC Commissioner Says ETH Can Be Both a Commodity and a SecurityFortune: SEC's Gensler seen telling hedge funds that Ethereum and Litecoin are ‘not securities' in 2018 videoCNBC: SEC Chair Gary Gensler on potential Crypto regulation: It's within the securities lawsSEC Chair Gary Gensler discusses potential crypto regulation and stablecoinsCoinDesk: SEC Chair Gensler Declines to Say if ETHer Is a Security in Contentious Congressional HearingDecrypt: Is Ethereum a Security? SEC Chair Gary Gensler Defers on the QuestionWSJ: ETHer's New ‘Staking' Model Could Draw SEC AttentionFormer SEC director William Hinman has stated that he believes Ethereum is not a securityJune 2018 speechEmails that made public during the Ripple case.Coinbase caseUnchained: Court Rejects Coinbase's Bid to Dismiss SEC Charges Against ItPrometheumCoinDesk: House Republicans Demand SEC Explain What's Up With Crypto Platform Prometheum Unchained: Aaron Kaplan Scoffs at Legal Tenets of Crypto, But Gives Few Details About PrometheumOther SEC/crypto newsThe Block: DeFi Education Fund and Texas apparel company Beba take SEC to court over 'regulating by enforcement' stanceUnchained: Gensler's Gamble: SEC Targets Ripple With $2 Billion Fine in High-Stakes Enforcement PushBloomberg: SEC Blasted by Judge for 'Abuse of Power' in Crypto Case Against DEBT BoxReuters: US SEC seeks $2 billion from Ripple Labs, chief legal officer says-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.

He's formed a new group, the Security Alliance, to improve the overall security posture of the crypto community.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Pandora, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.Well-known white hat hacker and head of security at Paradigm Samczsun recently took the wraps off a new security organization called the Security Alliance (SEAL) that offers a 911 hotline for immediate response to security threats, runs war games to simulate potential security incidents, and provides a safe harbor agreement to protect white hat hackers from legal liabilities.He joined Unchained to discuss why he and his fellow white hat hackers decided to start the Security Alliance and how it operates, how the safe harbor agreement works, the measures he takes to maintain his anonymity and why, the top security measures people in crypto should take to protect themselves, and what attack areas in crypto Sam still considers “scary.” Show highlights:How samczsun got into white hat hackingThe most memorable saves and rescues Sam was able to perform Whether there's a reason why Sam is so good at noticing bugs in cryptoThe origin of his samczsun handleWhat the Security Alliance is and why it was formedHow SEAL would approach a bug or a hackWhether black hat hackers are trying to exploit open groupsWhy the work in the group is volunteered, not paid, and whether that's sustainableHow the SEAL War Games help in training on how to respond to an incident in Web3What the Safe Harbor Agreement is and what it aims to accomplish for white hat hackersHow sam protects his identity and whether his coworkers know what he looks likeThe top security measures people working in crypto should takeHow projects should approach the audit for their smart contracts given it's an expensive endeavor What attack vectors still scare samWhat is ‘White Hat Hacking'?White hat hacking, often referred to as ethical hacking, is a cybersecurity practice where skilled computer experts use their knowledge for good, employing the same methods as malicious hackers (black hat hackers) but with a significant difference: they do so with permission and for a constructive purpose. These ethical hackers identify vulnerabilities in computer systems, networks, or applications before malicious attackers can exploit them. By detecting and resolving these security weaknesses, white hat hackers help organizations strengthen their defenses against cyber threats. Thank you to our sponsors! Popcorn Network | PolkadotGuest:Samczsun, CEO of Security Alliance (SEAL) and Head of Security at ParadigmPrevious appearances on Unchained: The Chopping Block: Top White Hat Hacker Samczsun Discusses the State of Crypto SecurityLinksIntroducing the Security AllianceBloomberg: Paradigm's Famed ‘White-Hat' Hacker Unites Peers Against Crypto Attacks, White Hat Safe Harbor [Github]Chainalysis: Funds Stolen from Crypto Platforms Fall More Than 50% in 2023, but Hacking Remains a Significant Threat as Number of Incidents Risessam's tweet on security practices Halborn: Explained: The Nomad Hack (August 2022)-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.

Celestia's co-founder and its COO talk about how their modular blockchain makes it easier for blockchains to scale. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Pandora, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.Celestia, a data availability layer for blockchains, was launched last October to much fanfare. The platform takes a modular approach to blockchains, allowing developers to post data onto it without the need for smart contracts or execution. This makes it extremely useful for scaling roll-ups and other layer two technologies. Celestia co-founder Mustafa Al-Bassam and COO Nick White join Unchained to discuss what Celestia is and how it works, how data availability sampling allows for more scalability, how Celestia compares with other data availability layers, whether Celestia could become a data availability layer for Bitcoin, and comparisons between Celestia and Solana. Show Highlights:Mustafa's background and how his project called LazyLedger ended up becoming CelestiaNick's vision for modular blockchainsWhy Mustafa believes in the “10,000 rollup” endgameWhy Mustafa thinks that gaming and NFT chains work better on a modular blockchainWhat Celestia is and how it resembles the publication of an article in a newspaperWhat data availability sampling (DAS) is and how it works to ensure that the data is available and accurate for validatorsHow DAS allows for more scalabilityWhat types of applications can be built with this type of modular architecture?Mustafa's explanation of the concept of Blob stream and blob spaceHow a rollup can be an independent or sovereign layer, not just a layer 2 to a layer 1How Celestia competes with other DA layers, like the future EigenDAThe role of the TIA token in the Celestia ecosystem How Mufasa hacked the CIA when he was 16 years old and how he transitioned into cryptoWhether Celestia could become a DA layer for Bitcoin layer 2 rollupsWhether Solana could end up becoming an Ethereum layer 2 using Celestia for data availability The proposal to extend the functionality of Celestia without smart contracts in the base layer Thank you to our sponsors! Popcorn Network | PolkadotGuests | Nick White, COO at Celestia LabsPrevious appearances on Unchained: Three Crypto Pioneers on Crypto's Monolithic vs. Modular DebateMustafa Al-Bassam, cofounder and CEO at Celestia LabsLinks | Modular vs. MonolithicAlchemy: Modular vs. Monolithic BlockchainsVisa: Monolithic vs. modular blockchainChris Burniske's tMonolithic vs. modular blockchain | Visaweet on modular vs monolithic“The horrific inefficiencies of monolithic blockchains” by polynyaBlockworks: A spicy salvo launched in the monolithic vs modular debateUnchained: What Is the Blockchain Trilemma?CelestiaCelestia's explanation of modular blockchainsData availabilityData availability samplingAn introduction to sovereign rollups-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.

Dan Romero, the co-founder of the decentralized social media network, discusses why Frames has become so popular, the central ideas behind Farcaster, and what's in store for Farcaster's future. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Pandora, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.In the two weeks since Farcaster introduced its Frames feature that allows developers to easily add mini apps to users' posts, the decentralized social network has become the talk of Twitter, now X, and increased its user base by ten times, according to co-founder Dan Romero. Romero joins Unchained to discuss why Frames has become so popular, the philosophy behind Farcaster and its client Warpcast, why the crypto component behind Farcaster is being kept to a minimum, how Apple's new Vision Pro could lead to the creation of a 3D social network on Farcaster, how he and his fellow co-founder's background at Coinbase helped shape their decisions about building Farcaster, and his vision for eventually getting Farcaster to a billion-plus users. Show highlights:What Farcaster is and what problems it's trying to solveHow and why Farcaster uses blockchain technology in the background How you can use ENS (Ethereum Name Services) for your handles on FarcasterHow the recovery of accounts works on Farcaster and what the security implications areWhat Frames is and why it's significant for developers and creatorsWhat's controlled by the protocol vs. the client What Dan imagines could be built with the new Apple Vision ProWhether there's potential for better economics and ways to monetize content in FarcasterWhy Farcaster is on Optimism, an Ethereum Layer 2, and whether it could be moved to another networkHow they are working to build a more decentralized networkWhat the future of Farcaster and Frames could look likeHow Dan's background at Coinbase shaped the way in which he decided to build FarcasterWhat the strategy is for scaling the platform to the numbers more associated with Web2 social mediaThank you to our sponsors! Popcorn Network | PolkadotGuest | Dan Romero, Co-founder of FarcasterCoinbase's Pragmatic Crypto Culture by Dan RomeroLinks | Unchained: Bounties to Build Frames on Farcaster Are Growing RapidlyFarcaster's User Base Skyrockets Nearly 500% After Frames LaunchWhat Is SocialFi? A Beginner's GuideThe Chopping Block: Is Farcaster the Web3 Social Layer?Dan's ideas for FarcasterFarcaster architecture | ArchitectureOnchain password reset mechanismWhy Farcaster Frames are importantThe layers of FarcasterFarcaster charges “rent”-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.

Lucas Bruder, the CEO of Jito Labs, which builds infrastructure for Solana, says despite the outages, the blockchain still has a lot going for it. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Pandora, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.On Tuesday, Solana suffered a network outage, just shy of a year since its last shutdown. The blockchain had to quickly get a new version out and notify its validators to upgrade to it and restart their systems before blocks could be produced again, resulting in downtime of roughly five hours. This was previously something that had happened regularly to the blockchain but seemed to have been largely addressed over the past year.Lucas the CEO of Jito Labs, which builds infrastructure for Solana and staged a highly successful airdrop last year that helped rejuvenate the blockchain, joined Unchained to discuss what caused the outage, whether it's something that builders on Solana should be concerned about for the future, recent improvements Solana has made to its technology, whether the implementation of Firedancer would have prevented this incident, and the promise of the Solana phone. Show highlights | What caused the Solana blockchain's outage this weekWhether Solana needs to have better quality control Whether the halt of the network affects the builders in the spaceWhat recent developments in the infrastructure surrounding Solana give Lucas confidence in the networkWhether the Firedancer client that's now in development would have prevented this week's outageThe promise of the Solana phoneWhether the network going down presents a setback for the Solana community in terms of recognition and momentumWhether financial companies will consider using Solana if these issues keep occurringThank you to our sponsors! Popcorn Network | iTrustCapital | PolkadotGuest | Lucas Bruder, CEO of Jito LabsLinks:Recent coverage of Unchained on Solana:Jupiter Founder Meow to Critics of JUP Airdrop: ‘Give Me a Break'Three Crypto Pioneers on Crypto's Monolithic vs. Modular DebateAnatoly Yakovenko on Solana's Astounding Recovery and Its Future PlansOutage:Unchained: Solana Back Online Again After Suffering 5-Hour OutageMatthew Sigel's explanation for why the outage happenedMert's tweet on how Solana prioritizes security over livenessCoinDesk: Can We All Stop Pretending That Solana Is in Beta?-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.

Meow responded to those who said that Jupiter unfairly enriched itself in the airdrop at the expense of the protocol's community. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Pandora, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.While Solana DeFi protocol Jupiter staged what was by most measures a very successful airdrop launch on Wednesday, achieving a market cap of close to $800 million, the company's critics pointed out numerous ways the company seemed to unfairly enrich itself in the process. While Jupiter's founder, who goes by the pseudonym Meow, acknowledges he might have done some things differently, he finds the criticisms of the launch mostly based on “bad faith” and misinformation. Meow joined Unchained to discuss the thinking behind the launch mechanics of JUP, how the prior launch of memecoin WEN served as a dry run for JUP, whether the aggressive pricing strategy of JUP was a mistake, and what he hopes to achieve with Jupiter next, including the possibility of enabling companies of all kinds to list themselves publicly on chain. Show highlights:What Jupiter is and how it extends its functionality beyond mere token swappingWhat users are primarily utilizing the dollar-cost-average feature of Jupiter forMeow's background in crypto and how he ended up in the Solana ecosystemWhy a launchpad seemed the ideal choice for Jupiter's token launchWhat prompted the decision to release WEN, a memecoin, before launching JUPMeow's response to criticisms regarding the launchpad's mechanicsWhether the aggressive pricing strategy for Jupiter was a misstepHow Meow feels about being targeted for criticismWhat's on the horizon for Jupiter as a platform following the airdropThank you to our sponsors! Popcorn Network iTrustCapitalGuest | Meow, cofounder of JupiterLinks | Unchained: Pro-Ethereum Crowd Slams Solana-based Jupiter Airdrop as ‘Absolute Trash'Jupiter Traders Claim Whopping 545 Million JUP Tokens in First 8 Hours of AirdropJupiter's Airdropped Token JUP Debuts at a $878 Million Market CapBreakpoint 2023 Meow conferenceThe Block: Solana DEX aggregator Jupiter confirms token release date-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.

Crypto creates an “incentive vortex” that is destined to take over everything, according to the investment firm's founder and CIO.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.Polychain Capital founder and CIO Olaf Carlson-Wee has been through every single bubble in crypto history, from Bitcoin's rise past the single digits in 2012 to the ICO craze of 2017 to 2021's NFT mania, and he says his main thesis about crypto has remained consistent since the beginning. That is, that crypto constitutes an “incentive vortex” that will replace the world's preoccupation with country-backed currencies. Carlson-Wee, who was the first employee at Coinbase, joins Unchained to discuss the significance of the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs, how he successfully navigated all the industry blow-ups in 2022, the challenges of balancing incentives for early adopters versus new users, why EigenLayer is so significant, why Worldcoin's distribution strategy is a “disaster,” and the strange places that the intersection between crypto and AI could take us. Show highlights:Why Olaf sees the current market as the cusp of another bull run and how his thesis has remained consistent since 2011​​How the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs marks a significant milestone Why criticisms of the crypto space are really criticisms of money in general The fundamental differences between Web3 applications and the Web2 ecosystem and why they matterThe importance of fair token distribution in enhancing the value of Web3 projectsWhen Olaf expects Bitcoin to replace legacy financial systemsThe areas and technologies Olaf and his fund are keen to invest inWhy Olaf thinks a modular blockchain architecture is superior to a monolithic one in the long termHow EigenLayer is innovating to enable new types of applications and whether it competes with CelestiaHow Polychain managed to avoid being hurt by the major market blowups of 2022, including Terra and FTXThe evolution of the space from an ideologically driven to a more pragmatic approachThe significance of incentive design in crypto ecosystems and the trade-offs involved in system designOlaf's perspective on the recent rise of points systemsThe growth of privacy-focused crypto projects and the potential for private blockchains to become the normWhy he thinks Worldcoin's distribution strategy is a “disaster”Olaf's interest in the intersection of AI and crypto and potential developments in this areaHis bullish outlook on SocialFi and Web3 gamingThank you to our sponsors! Popcorn NetworkGuest:Olaf Carlson-Wee, founder and CIO of Polychain CapitalPrevious appearances on Unchained:Olaf Carlson-Wee: 'If There Is a Money-Losing Exploit, the Money Is Gone' Why The First Employee Of Coinbase Launched A Hedge FundTo the Moon and Back With Polychain's Olaf Carlson-WeeSpecial Episode with CNBC's Crypto Trader: Olaf Carlson-Wee on Why This Crypto Winter Is Different From Previous OnesAll Things Cryptoeconomics, Pt. 1, With Olaf Carlson-Wee and Ryan Zurrer of Polychain CapitalLinks:Olaf Carlson-WeeForbes: This Man Has Been Living On Bitcoin For 3 YearsWhy This Hedge Fund CEO Once 'Put Most Of My Meager Life Savings Into Bitcoin'TechCrunch: The future is a decentralized internetBlockworks: Why Polychain Capital Founder Never Sells His Crypto CoinDesk: Olaf Carlson-Wee: Crypto Is the Great Wealth-Redistribution MachineRestaking/EigenLayerUnchained: DeFi Protocol EigenLayer Reaches Restaking Capacity, Pushing TVL Past $1.4 BillionDo You Need to Think Twice Before Restaking Your Assets? Olaf's tweet on EigenLayerCrypto + AIOlaf's tweet: “in crypto nearly 100% of value accrues to start-ups and outsiders, not existing establishment interests”The crypto ethosEpisode of The Chopping Block where Haseeb Qureshi talks about Justin SunRecent investments from Polychain CapitalCoinDesk: Crypto VC Firm Polychain Capital Raises $200M for Fourth Fund: Fortune (Jul 18, 2023)Polychain Capital and Hack VC Lead $18 Million Funding Round for Bitcoin Staking Protocol BabylonThe Block: Polychain Capital-backed Bioniq to leverage Internet Computer with new Bitcoin Ordinals marketplaceFortune: Polychain Capital among group betting $20 million that first-person shooter ‘Shrapnel' can succeed where other Web3 games have failed,CreateSafe, the company behind Grimes AI, raises $4.6m in seed round-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.

Attorney Sam Enzer explains how the case that's currently being heard could impact the SEC's entire enforcement regime against crypto.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Pandora, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.On Wednesday, a federal court in New York heard oral arguments in Coinbase's motion to dismiss the SEC's case against it for, among other things, allegedly acting as an unregulated securities exchange. Notably, Judge Katherine Polk Failla pressed the SEC to explain how it has jurisdiction over Coinbase in the case by defining what it considers a security. Sam Enzer, a partner at Cahill Gorden & Reindel who represents Coinbase but not in this matter, joined Unchained to discuss why this case is so significant for the crypto industry, how he believes the government contradicted itself on the crucial definition of what constitutes a security, why he thinks the judge will not dismiss the case at this early stage, how the Ripple and Terraform Labs cases could be used by each side, and why he thinks Judge Failla is such a perfect choice to rule in this case. Show highlights:Why SEC v Coinbase holds important implications for the U.S. crypto ecosystemWhat the SEC alleges against Coinbase, focusing on its trading platform, wallet, and staking servicesHow Coinbase forcefully counters the SEC's claims as it strives to get the case dismissedWhat the “major questions doctrine” entails and its critical role in this disputeWhy Sam perceives the judge as “extremely skeptical” of the SEC's stanceWhether inconsistencies surfaced in the SEC lawyers' argumentsWhat “strict liability” means and its frequent mention in this legal battleWhat takeaways from the Ripple and Terraform Labs cases offer about secondary market salesWhy Sam believes Judge Katherine Polk Failla is exceptionally well-suited for this caseWhether Judge Failla might reject the motion to dismiss, and when Thank you to our sponsors! Popcorn Network | iTrustCapitalGuestSam Enzer, partner at Cahill Gordon & ReindelPrevious appearances on Unchained: Why SBF's Testimony So Far Has Likely Already Doomed HimAnother Bad Week for Sam Bankman-Fried in His Criminal TrialWhy These Lawyers Say It's Over for SBF-But His Only Hail Mary Is to TestifySBF Trial: How Sam Bankman-Fried's Lawyers Might Try and Win His CaseSBF's Lawyers Could Be Annoying the Judge How Might That Impact the Trial?LinksPrevious coverage of Unchained on the Coinbase case and the topic of securities:SEC Sues Binance, Coinbase: ‘This Is Not the End of Crypto in the United States' These 2 Crypto Trading Platforms Agree With SEC Chair Gary GenslerCoinbase's Legal Action Against the SEC: How It Will Likely Unfold ‘Is ETH a Security?' Why Gary Gensler Couldn't Give Congress a Straight AnswerGary Gensler vs. Crypto: What Will the SEC Attack Next?Rep. Emmer on Why He Believes Gary Gensler Is a ‘Bad-Faith Regulator'Coinbase vs. SECUnchained: Federal Judge Presses SEC Over Jurisdiction in Case Against CoinbaseSEC Sues Coinbase for Breaking Securities LawsSEC Files Motion to Freeze Binance's Assets, Asks for ‘Sworn Accounting'SEC Files 13 Charges Against Binance Including the Mishandling of Funds, Sale of Unregistered SecuritiesSEC Calls Solana, Polygon, Algorand and Other Tokens Securities but Misses Ether in Binance LawsuitCointelegraph: Senator Lummis files amicus brief supporting Coinbase's dismissal motion against SEC.Other casesKrakenCNBC:Crypto exchange Kraken settles with SEC for $30 million, will close US staking operationXRPUnchained: SEC vs Ripple: Judge Rules XRP Sold on Exchanges Is Not a SecurityTerraform LabsReuters: Judge sides with US SEC, says Terraform Labs crypto founder Do Kwon violated law-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.

Bitwise's Matt Hougan and VanEck's Matthew Sigel delve into the details of the first two days of trading and what each company tried to focus on with its offering. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Pandora, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.Thursday was a momentous day in crypto as the first SEC-approved spot Bitcoin ETFs finally began trading after more than a decade of waiting, and by almost all accounts, it was a huge success, with more than $625 million in inflows on the first day of trading. Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan and VanEck head of digital assets research Matthew Sigel joined Unchained to discuss their approaches towards selling their products in the market, the challenges of competing with larger firms like BlackRock and Fidelity, the fee wars and where those are headed, the importance of specialist expertise in the crypto investment space, and how Bitcoin prices might react to all the new supply in the market. Show highlights:Why Matt Hougan regards the first week as a massive success for BitcoinHow Matthew Sigel emphasizes the costs and benefits ETFs offer to retail investorsThe strategic marketing approaches of VanEck and Bitwise aligning with Bitcoin community valuesThe reasons for Bitwise's standout performance in the first days of trading, according to MattWhether the introduction of Bitcoin ETFs will reshape the broader ETF landscapeMatt's perspective on why some financial institutions resist Bitcoin, and their eventual openness to cryptoWhether the established players in finance feel threatened by the rise of open-source technologiesWhether Gary Gensler's statement after the approval is “totally crazy”Why data for the various ETFs in the market should be analyzed on a weekly or monthly basisThe ongoing fee competition and how smaller entities can compete against giants like BlackRock and FidelityGrayscale's strategies to remain competitive with higher fees and the possibility of launching a new, low-fee ETFHow investment advisors might adapt to these new crypto products and the potential for mainstream adoptionMatthew's predictions for when BTC investors, both short-term and long-term, will take profitsWhy they are both closely monitoring Ethereum's performance and the prospects for a spot ether ETF in the marketThank you to our sponsors! Arbitrum Foundation | Popcorn NetworkGuests:Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise Asset ManagementPrevious appearances on Unchained: Why a Spot Bitcoin ETF Will Probably Launch No Later Than January 10Matthew Sigel, Head of Digital Assets Research at VanEck.LinksPrevious coverage of Unchained on spot Bitcoin ETFs:Why Some Brokerage Firms Are Blocking Access to Spot Bitcoin ETFsWhy Spot Bitcoin ETFs Are Likely to Finally Start Trading on Thursday Why the SEC May Want Cash Creation of Spot Bitcoin ETFsWhy It Looks Like BlackRock Could Win America's First Spot Bitcoin ETFWill a Spot Bitcoin ETF Finally Get Approved?The 4 Factors That Will Determine Which Spot Bitcoin ETFs Win Market ShareHow Much Money Will Flow Into Bitcoin ETFs? Here's One ProjectionApproval:Unchained: Spot Bitcoin ETFs Finally Receive SEC Seal of ApprovalWhat Officials, ETF Issuers, and Others Are Saying About the SEC's Spot Bitcoin ETF ApprovalsLaura Shin's op-ed on Unchained: Why Spot Bitcoin ETFs Are (But Mostly Aren't) a Big Deal for CryptoDavid Z. Morris' op-ed on Unchained: The SEC's Bumbling Bitcoin ETF Rollout Was Perfectly On-BrandFirst days of tradingUnchained: Spot Bitcoin ETFs Record $4.6 Billion First Day Trading VolumeSpot Bitcoin ETF Inflows Topped $625 Million on First Day in ‘Phenomenal' Debut, Led by BitwiseVanguard Isn't Allowing Customers to Buy Spot Bitcoin ETFsEther Rallies on Optimism Following Spot Bitcoin ETF ApprovalsSpot Bitcoin ETF Approval Sparks Altcoin RallyCoinDesk: UBS and Citi Will Let Some Customers Trade Bitcoin ETFs, Contrary to RumorsThe Block: Elizabeth Warren slams SEC over decision to allow spot bitcoin ETFs, says crypto needs to follow anti-money laundering rulesBlackRock's new spot bitcoin ETF tops $1 billion in big first day of tradingBlockworks: Spot bitcoin ETF volumes eclipse $4.5B on first day of tradingFees Unchained: VanEck Pledges 5% of Profits From Yet-to-Be-Approved Spot ETF to Bitcoin Core DevelopersFee Competition Heats Up Among BlackRock and Other Spot Bitcoin ETF ApplicantsBitcoin ETF Fee War Could Make Investing in Bitcoin Cheaper Than Using an ExchangeBlackRock, ARK 21Shares Lower Bitcoin ETF Fees Again as Approval LoomsBitwise will donate 10% of the profits of the Bitwise Bitcoin ETFLearn 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.

Bloomberg Intelligence ETF analysts James Seyffart and Eric Balchunas break down the spot Bitcoin ETF launch timeline, plus analyze the already ruthless fee war.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Pandora, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.It's set to be a historic week in crypto, with the SEC widely expected to finally approve a spot Bitcoin ETF, although it's not a 100% certainty. Two Bloomberg analysts who have followed all the developments closely since the beginning, James Seyffart and Eric Balchunas, join Unchained to discuss the final filings, the likely to schedule, and whether all the applications are likely to be approved on the same day. Then they dive into the real action: the cutthroat wars that have already begun, why Grayscale might be keeping its fees on the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust so high, and who the likely winners in what has traditionally been a “winner take most” category will be. Show highlights:What the recent 19b-4 and S-1 filings say about how close the ETFs are to approvalWhether Hashdex's existing futures ETF impacts its treatment in the spot Bitcoin ETF processThe likely timeline for trading to start post-ETF approvalThe possibility of simultaneous launches for all approved ETF issuersThe SEC's concerns about ensuring a fair launch, informed by the BITO experienceEric's surprise at JP Morgan's involvement as an Authorized ParticipantWhy the SEC is approving the ETF despite Gensler's stance against cryptoWhat extreme cases Eric believes might cause the ETF not to be approved How BlackRock's low fees set a challenging benchmark for competitorsThe potential for an issuer to offer even lower fees than current playersHow issuer margins are thin due to marketing fees, and the impact of waiversJames' theory about why Grayscale might be keeping the fee on GBTC so highPredictions about which issuer(s) will gain the bulk of assets under managementThe rumor about BlackRock introducing substantial liquidity on the ETF's first dayEric and James's expectations for ETF inflows and market dynamicsThank you to our sponsors! Arbitrum Foundation | Popcorn NetworkGuest:James Seyffart, Research analyst at Bloomberg IntelligencePrevious appearances on Unchained: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 10Eric Balchunas, Senior ETF analyst at Bloomberg IntelligencePrevious appearances on Unchained:Will a Spot Bitcoin ETF Finally Get Approved?LinksPrevious coverage of Unchained on spot Bitcoin ETFs:The 4 Factors That Will Determine Which Spot Bitcoin ETFs Win Market ShareHow Much Money Will Flow Into Bitcoin ETFs? Here's One ProjectionThe Chopping Block: Are We Back? The ‘Low IQ' Response to the Potential Spot Bitcoin ETFFees Unchained: Fee Competition Heats Up Among BlackRock and Other Spot Bitcoin ETF ApplicantsCaitlin Long's tweet warning about no feesFidelity set their fee to .39%Invesco/Galaxy chose to waive feesMarket 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 ETFOthers:Better Markets' letter: The SEC Must Follow the Law and Reject Spot Bitcoin ETPs Which Will Inflict Massive Investor HarmFXSTREET: BlackRock might be on track to create history with $2 billion inflows in spot Bitcoin ETF in a weekEleanor Terrett of Fox News' tweet on Better Markets' letterScott Johnson of Van Buren Capital's estimateLearn 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.

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.

Join the discussion in the fifth episode of UNCHAINED, the English-language anti-corruption podcast, featuring Oleksandra Keudel, associate professor at the Department of Public Policy and Governance at the Kyiv School of Economics. Oleksandra notes that Ukrainians are notably critical and unafraid to pose questions. While decentralization grants more authority to local governments, it also demands greater accountability. It essentially reveals who we can turn to :) This episode not only sheds light on the functioning of anti-corruption mechanisms at the local level but also delves into the decentralization reform's intricacies and its role during a full-scale invasion. To learn how local powers operate, tune in to Spotify, SoundCloud, Google, and Apple Podcasts. Don't forget to share the podcast to explain decentralization to your international friends. A collaborative effort by ACREC, EAACN, and Inna Nelles with financial support from the International Foundation Renaissance (IFR). Stories of successful anti-corruption endeavors in Eastern Europe and Eurasia.

Experts Dorothy DeWitt and Michael Dawson discuss the implications, challenges, and potential outcomes of Binance's compliance monitorship. The record $4.3 billion settlement reached between Binance and the U.S. government over charges of money laundering and sanctions violations calls for the world's largest crypto exchange to maintain an independent compliance monitor for the next five years. Michael Dawson, a partner at WilmerHale, and Dorothy DeWitt, founder and CEO of Tolt Strategies, a former director at the CFTC and former general counsel at Coinbase, dissect the intricacies of this arrangement, delving into the roles and responsibilities of the compliance monitor, the potential impact on Binance's operations and the broader implications for the crypto industry.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.Show highlights:What exactly is a compliance monitor, and why it's essential in the Binance settlement Which regulatory agencies do the monitors report to and their significanceWhy the DOJ insisted on including a compliance monitor in its settlement with Binancehow Binance's compliance monitor is expected to create a “ripple effect across the industry,” according to MichaelWhy Binance, despite being a non-U.S. entity, is subject to a U.S.-appointed monitorDorothy's perspective on why more monitorships might be appointed in the crypto industry going forwardHow much the monitorship will cost Binance and the factors influencing their choice of monitorWhether the government will be able to discover other crimes with all this new information, which will be used by other agencies such as the IRS and the FBIWho might be appointed as the compliance monitor for Binance and why Michael favors Patrick McHenryWhat constitutes the SAR lookback and AML program consultancyWhat could happen when the government gets to look at all past transactionsWhat happens if the monitor discovers any wrongdoing within BinanceWhether the monitorship is likely to impact Binance's business operationsAdvice from Dorothy and Michael for Binance's new CEO on navigating these challengesWhy predicting the future of Changpeng Zhao, Binance's ex-CEO, is complex, according to DorothyThank you to our sponsors! LayerZero | Popcorn Network | Arbitrum FoundationGuests | Michael Dawson, partner, Financial Institutions Group at WilmerHaleDorothy DeWitt, founder and CEO of Tolt Strategies and former Director of the Division of Market Oversight at the CFTCLinks |SettlementDOJ Settlement TextFINCEN Settlement TextCFTC Settlement TextOFAC Settlement TextWSJ: Binance Penalties Include a Number of Crypto Industry Firsts: The Treasury Department's FinCEN is imposing its first-ever monitorship on the cryptocurrency exchangeCoinDesk: Binance's Future and Other Questions Post-Settlement Unchained: Binance to Pay $4.3 Billion to Settle U.S. DOJ Criminal Probe; CEO Changpeng Zhao Pleads Guilty for Violating Bank Secrecy Act Law360: Binance's Compliance Chief Is Optimistic About MonitorshipThe C FTC's guidance on monitorship:CFTC Releases Enforcement Advisory on Penalties, Monitors and AdmissionsOther monitors at crypto companies:Coinbase (independent monitor): Press Release- January 3, 2023: Superintendent Adrienne A. Harris Announces $100 Million Settlement with Coinbase, Inc. after DFS Investigation Finds Significant Failings in the Company's Compliance Program | Department of Financial ServicesRobinhood Crypto (independent compliance consultant): Press Release- August 2, 2022: DFS Superintendent Harris Announces $30 Million Penalty on Robinhood Crypto for Significant Anti- Money Laundering, Cybersecurity & Consumer Protection Violations | Department of Financial Services (ny.gov)-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.

Things looked bleak for Solana after the collapse of FTX. Anatoly Yakovenko explains how the blockchain rebounded so successfully that SOL became the best-performing top crypto in 2023. Solana's native token SOL has been one of the best-performing cryptos of the year, up more than 500% so far, but you wouldn't have guessed that would be the case given how closely tied the blockchain was to FTX, which held huge amounts of SOL and was a big supporter of the platform. The blockchain also experienced numerous outages in 2022. But Anatoly Yakovenko, Solana's co-founder, says the discipline imposed by FTX's collapse, as well as improvements to the technology, have made Solana stronger. On this episode of Unchained, Yakovenko talks about the impact of FTX's collapse, his early impressions of Sam Bankman-Fried, the SEC's designation of SOL as a security, how entrepreneurs are leaving the U.S. because of the regulatory risk, SOL's share of the stablecoin market, and why he thinks it's inevitable that finance will eventually run on something like Solana. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.Show highlights | How the Solana ecosystem weathered the FTX crisisHow FTX's collapse was like ripping off a band-aid for SolanaAnatoly's initial impression of SBF as a “super genius”Why, despite SOL's strong 2023 performance, the Solana ecosystem hasn't experienced a corresponding growth in active developersWhat factors Anatoly believes contribute to the relatively low number of daily active wallet addresses in SolanaHow Solana addressed and rectified the outage issues that were so frequent in previous yearsWhy Anatoly draws a parallel between Ethereum and Windows 95, and Solana and Windows 2000Why he's not worried about Jump Crypto building a client for the blockchainThe ongoing debate within Solana on open-source versus closed-source culture, and the potential for future shiftsHow the Solana Foundation is handling the SEC's classification of SOL as a securityWhether there's a trend of developers and founders relocating from the United States in search of a more supportive ecosystemWhy Solana holds a low market share of stablecoins across various blockchains, and the implications of this trendWhy Anatoly considers trading volume a more critical metric than Total Value Locked (TVL) in assessing blockchain successHow Web3 gaming has been flourishing on SolanaWhy Anatoly is confident that DeFi will find its rightful place on the Solana networkThe future plans for the Saga phone after its market challengesWhat Anatoly thinks is the number one focus for Solana for the near termThank you to our sponsors! LayerZero | Popcorn Network | Arbitrum FoundationGuest | Anatoly Yakovenko, Co-founder of Solana LabsPrevious appearance on Unchained: Will Solana Be the Execution Layer and Ethereum the Settlement Layer?Previous appearance on The Chopping Block: Anatoly Yakovenko on Why Solana Is Building the SAGALinks | Unchained: Solana Saga review Decrypt: Mad Lads NFTs Hit All-Time High as Backpack Taps FTX Lawyer for Exchange Launch Op-ed by Anatoly on Fortune: Solana co-founder: 'To keep the next great American founder in America, Congress must regulate crypto. But first lawmakers should learn how it works'-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.

The Ukrainian political system, like any system worldwide, isn't flawless. Nevertheless, it is possible to elevate honesty and diminish corruption levels thanks to the engaged and caring citizens. If you believe that twenty individuals can't make a difference, get ready for a surprise in the fifth episode of the English-language anti-corruption podcast UNCHAINED. Meet Vita Dumanska, coordinator of the NGO CHESNO movement. For over 12 years, this initiative have tirelessly worked to ensure the political system serves the state's development, not the illicit enrichment of its representatives. What inspired the NGO CHESNO movement, and what milestones has the team reached in over 12 years? How has Ukraine transformed since 2011? What positive changes owe their existence to CHESNO? How does the team operate amid a full-scale invasion? Tune in on Spotify, SoundCloud, Google, and Apple Podcasts – it's bound to captivate you and your friends abroad. This podcast is a collaborative effort by ACREC, EAACN, and Inna Nelles, generously supported by The International Renaissance Foundation (IRF). It is inspiring stories of successful anti-corruption efforts in Eastern Europe and Eurasia.

Coin Center's Peter Van Valkenburgh believes that the U.S. Treasury could use the Bank Secrecy Act in a dark way against crypto developers. In this episode of Unchained, Peter Van Valkenburgh, director of research at Coin Center, explains why the IRS's proposed broker rule for tax reporting in crypto could harm the crypto industry as well as the security and privacy of users. He explains how Coin Center thinks the IRS should accomplish its aims, and why that would even work for collecting taxes on DeFi gains. Additionally, Peter explains why he believes the Bank Secrecy Act might be unconstitutional and how that could potentially affect developers building in crypto. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.Show highlights | What does the IRS's proposed broker rule entail for crypto tax reporting and why this could have a negative impact on the industryWhat responsibilities do brokers in the crypto space now faceWhy the IRS didn't use Congress's amended language from the infrastructure billWhy Peter argues that the IRS's new proposed broker rule on crypto is unconstitutional and the principles at stakeThe alternative approaches Peter suggests the IRS could adopt for more effective and fair regulationWhy Peter has concerns for crypto developers about the potential application of the Bank Secrecy ActWhat actions Coin Center is undertaking to advocate for changes in the Bank Secrecy Act to better align with crypto realitiesWhy Coin Center is appealing in its lawsuit against the Treasury Department over the OFAC sanctions on Tornado CashThank you to our sponsors! Arbitrum Foundation Popcorn NetworkGuest | Peter Van Valkenburgh, director of research at Coin CenterPrevious appearances on Unchained: Why the SEC Is Probing Yuga Labs and Coin Center Is Suing TreasuryHow Coin Center Is Helping Define The 'Big Fuzzy Gray Area' Of Blockchain And Cryptocurrency LawWhy the SEC's Proposed Rules Affecting DeFi Could Violate the First AmendmentLinks | IRS Crypto RegulationCoin Center: Report Electronic Cash, Decentralized Exchange, and the ConstitutionThe Blockchain Association's letter opposing tax regulations proposed by the IRSCoinDesk: How the Crypto Industry Responded to the IRS Proposed Broker RulePatriot Act California Bankers Assn. v. ShultzBank Secrecy ActCoin Center:Report Broad, Ambiguous, or Delegated: Constitutional Infirmities of the Bank Secrecy ActTornado CashCoin Center:U.S. Treasury sanction of privacy tools places sweeping restrictions on all AmericansCoin Center is suing OFAC over its Tornado Cash sanctionDenial of Coin Center's motion in its case against the US Treasury over OFAC sanctions-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.

In a rare interview, two Genesis creditors discuss their dealings with the lender and DCG, including the sales pitch that got them to give Genesis new loans after the 3AC debacle. Two Genesis creditors, BJ and Branden, who prefer to use pseudonyms for security reasons, spoke with Unchained about the alleged fraud by the crypto lender and its parent company, Digital Currency Group (DCG). The discussion is one of the first times Genesis creditors have spoken with a media organization about the situation. BJ and Branden explain how they gave more loans to Genesis after it took a $1.1 billion hit from the liquidation of Three Arrows Capital and how they then came to be members of the ad hoc group, a collective of Genesis customers who came together to try and save the company from bankruptcy. They talk about how they now want DCG to pay back the $1.1 billion it owes over a shorter timeframe and to pay back any Bitcoin in actual Bitcoin. The discussion with Unchained followed shortly after New York Attorney General Leticia James filed a lawsuit against Genesis, along with its parent company Digital Currency Group, and Gemini Trust. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.Show highlights | What NYAG Letitia James alleged in the lawsuit against Gemini, DCG, and GenesisHow BJ and Branden became creditors of GenesisHow Genesis claimed it got into what it called a “liquidity mismatch”How, after the Three Arrows Capital collapse, BJ and Branden were reassured that Genesis had "no issues" and "was back to business" Whether the trading and lending units of Genesis were all part of the same company and why that distinction is important.What the difference is between the ad hoc group and an unsecured creditors committeeWhat the creditors are proposing in order to get their assets backWhy the creditors want to be paid in crypto, not in USDWhether the case will go to litigation and what Silbert can do to avoid itThank you to our sponsors! | Crypto.com | Arbitrum Foundation | Phemex| Popcorn NetworkGuests| Branden, Creditor of GenesisBJ, Creditor of GenesisLinks | Previous coverage of Unchained on Genesis and DCG:Genesis May Be Facing Bankruptcy. Could It Take DCG Down With It?Gemini vs. DCG Is Heating Up. Could Gemini Force Genesis Into Bankruptcy?$630M Due Next Week: Is DCG at Default Risk?NYAG LawsuitUnchained: NY Attorney General Sues Crypto Firms Gemini, Genesis, and DCG for Over $1 Billion FraudThe Block:DCG says it was 'blind sided' by NYAG suit in third quarter shareholder letterGenesis, Gemini, DCG disputesUnchained: Gemini Says DCG Missed $630 Million Payment Last WeekCameron Winklevoss Threatens to Sue DCG and Barry Silbert Over Delays in Genesis ResolutionDCG Calls Gemini Lawsuit a ‘Publicity Stunt' From Cameron WinklevossDCG Calls Gemini's Complaint a PR Campaign in Motion to Dismiss LawsuitFTX and Genesis Reach $175 Million Settlement, Resolving Complex DisputeDCG and Genesis Reach In-Principle Deal With CreditorsGemini and Genesis Creditor Groups Object to In-Principle Deal to Resolve BankruptcyGenesis Winds Down its US Spot Crypto Trading OperationGenesis Sues Parent Company DCG, Seeks Repayment of $600 MillionDCG Proposes Remuneration Plan That Could Enable Gemini Earn Users to Be Made WholeGenesis Winds Down All Crypto Trading Services: ReportGemini Pushes Back on DCG's Remuneration Proposal, Calling it an ‘Attempt to Bait' Earn UsersDisclaimer: Genesis and CoinDesk are both owned by DCG.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.

Sam Enzer, partner at Cahill Gordon & Reindel, and Brian Klein, partner at Waymaker, discuss the strategies that the defense and prosecution appear to be using, and why the testimonies from FTX software developer Adam Yedidia, FTX cofounder Gary Wang, and others to come will be so damaging for the defense.The first week of the criminal trial of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried has come to a close, with his former friends and FTX colleagues Adam Yedidia and Gary Wang delivering powerful testimonies that are forming the foundations for the prosecution's arguments — arguments that the defense may have a difficult time surmounting. Sam Enzer, partner at Cahill Gordon & Reindel, and Brian Klein, partner at Waymaker, discuss Alameda's special privileges coded into the FTX software, the reason why a scorched FTX customer may have been chosen as the first witness, and why upcoming key witnesses are going to be a “real problem” for the defense.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or your favorite podcast platform.Show highlights | What we learned about the prosecution and defense's strategies after the first week of the trialHow the jury being mostly non-finance professionals may impact deliberationsWhy Brian believes someone “out of the mainstream” would make an ideal juror for the defenseWhy Sam believes the defense's opening was stronger than the prosecution'sWhich arguments may be the most difficult for Sam Bankman-Fried's lawyers to defendWhy the defense's “building a plane as you're flying” analogy may come back to hurt them in closingWhy Sam believes the order of the witness testimony so far is helping the prosecution build the foundation of its caseWhether Adam Yedidia's testimony was effective at establishing him as a credible witnessWhether the fact that some witnesses are cooperating to avoid prison time will impact the jury's decisionWhat Gary Wang, former CTO of FTX, revealed about Alameda's special privileges coded into FTX software and how it wasn't an “oversight”Whether Judge Kaplan is growing impatient with the defenseWhether the prosecution's objections were sustained reasonably by Judge KaplanWhy upcoming insider witnesses pose a “real problem” to the defenseWhy Gary Wang, Nishad Sigh, and Caroline Ellison could very well serve no prison timeWhy it's "not even an open question" that the defense team will appeal if they lose the caseThank you to our sponsors! Crypto.com | LayerZero | Popcorn NetworkGuest: | Sam Enzer, partner at Cahill Gordon & ReindelPrevious appearance on Unchained: SBF Trial: How Sam Bankman-Fried's Lawyers Might Try and Win His CaseBrian Klein, partner at WaymakerPrevious appearance on Unchained: SBF Behind Bars: Why Revoked Bail Is a Big Deal for Crypto's Biggest TrialLinks | Previous coverage by Unchained on the trial of Sam Bankman-Fried:Sam Bankman-Fried Trial: Here's Everything That Happened So FarSBF Trial, Day 1: Possible Witnesses Include FTX Insiders, Big Names in Crypto, and SBF's FamilySBF Trial, Day 2: DOJ Says Sam Bankman-Fried ‘Lied' While Defense Claims His Actions Were ‘Reasonable'SBF Trial, Day 3: Why a True Believer in FTX Flipped Once He Learned One FactSBF Trial, Day 4: SBF's Lawyers Annoy Judge Kaplan, While Wang Reveals Alameda's Special PrivilegesDid Sam Bankman-Fried Have Intent to Defraud FTX Investors?Here's How Sam Bankman-Fried's High-Stakes Trial Could Play OutSBF Trial: How Sam Bankman-Fried's Lawyers Might Try and Win His CaseThe High-Stakes Trial of Sam Bankman-Fried Begins: What to ExpectIn the SBF Case, Elite Corruption Is What's Really on TrialBusiness Insider: Sam Bankman-Fried deleted his tweet saying FTX 'assets are fine' on the day he announced his Binance deal-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.

Kayvan Sadeghi, partner at Jenner & Block, and Sam Enzer, partner at Cahill Gordon & Reindel, discuss how Sam Bankman-Fried's trial might play out and what arguments the defense and prosecution might try to use to win the jury's favor.The high-stakes trial of Sam Bankman-Fried began on October 3, and the FTX founder and former CEO will have to answer for his role in the cryptocurrency exchange's downfall, which led to billions in losses. Both the prosecution and defense are currently preparing for what is set to be a significant milestone for the crypto industry. Kayvan Sadeghi, partner at Jenner & Block, and Sam Enzer, partner at Cahill Gordon & Reindel, discuss the differences between a civil and criminal trial, what the jury selection process might look like, and what arguments the prosecution and defense might use to support their cases. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.Show highlights:The difference between a civil and criminal trial and why it's difficult for the defense to prepare while Sam Bankman-Fried is in jailWhether SBF was offered a plea deal and if so, why he didn't take itWhat the process of vetting jurors look like and what both sides are looking forWhat a pre-opening jury charge is and why Judge Lewis A. Kaplan might choose to use itThe importance of intent when it comes to SBF's chargesThe pros and cons of the defense using the argument that the FTX founder was receiving poor legal adviceWhat charges SBF is facing and whether the defense or prosecution have the upper handHow the opening statements of both the prosecution and the defense might play outWhether SBF will be put on the stand and why that could be a "dangerous" move, according to SamHow the defense could respond to testimony from key witnesses like Caroline Ellison or Gary WangHow Judge Kaplan being a "tough sentencer" could impact SBF's jail sentence, according to SamThank you to our sponsors! Crypto.com | LayerZero | Popcorn NetworkGuests | Kayvan Sadeghi, partner and co-chair of Fintech & Crypto Assets at Jenner & BlockPrevious appearance on Unchained: Why the SEC vs. Ripple Order Is Now About 2 Things: Coinbase and CongressSamson Enzer, partner at Cahill Gordon & Reindel.Links |Previous coverage from Unchained on Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX:Here's How Sam Bankman-Fried's High-Stakes Trial Could Play OutWhy FTX Might Try to Claw Back Funds From Retail CustomersThe Chopping Block: Was FTX a Scam From the Very Beginning? How Much Prison Time Is FTX's Sam Bankman-Fried Facing? Why the Legal Process for FTX and Sam Bankman-Fried Could Take YearsThe Chopping Block: SBF Wants to Win in the Court of Public Opinion. Will He?Jesse Powell and Kevin Zhou on How FTX and Alameda Lost $10 BillionDid the Bahamian Government Direct SBF and Gary Wang to Hack FTX?The Chopping Block: Why Lenders Didn't Liquidate Alameda When It Was Underwater Erik Voorhees and Cobie on Why FTX Loaned Out Customers' AssetsThe Chopping Block: FTX: The Biggest Collapse in the History of Crypto?Sam Bankman-Fried on How to Prevent the Next Terra and 3ACDetails of the Trial:Unchained: FTX: The Exchange That Brought Down the IndustryCoinDesk: Here's the Sam Bankman-Fried Trial ScheduleThe SBF Trial: How Did We Get Here?Here's How FTX Founder Sam Bankman-Fried's Trial May Play OutForbes:Sam Bankman-Fried Could Face 'Very Long Sentence,' Judge Says Before Denying ReleaseSBF's defense team:Unchained: Sam-Bankman-Fried Files New Request for Temporary Release Before TrialCoinDesk: U.S. Department of Justice Opposes Sam Bankman-Fried's Latest Move for 'Temporary Release'Sam Bankman-Fried Can Use an 'Air-Gapped' Laptop in Court, Judge RulesKey witnesses:Unchained: SBF's Expert Witnesses Barred From Testifying at TrialReuters: Who is Caroline Ellison, a key witness set to testify against Sam Bankman-Fried?NYT: Prosecutors Detail Evidence Against Sam Bankman-Fried - The New York TimesCoinDesk: All of Sam Bankman-Fried's Proposed Expert Witnesses Should Be Barred From Testifying: DOJJudge Blocks Sam Bankman-Fried's Proposed Witnesses From TestifyingBusiness Insider: Sam Bankman-Fried is being sent to jail after a judge revoked his bail over alleged witness tamperingJury selection:CoinDesk: Sam Bankman-Fried Can Ask DOJ Witnesses About Drug UseCointelegraph: Sam Bankman-Fried's political donations can be surfaced in trial, rules judge-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.

Thomas Braziel, founder of 117 Partners, discusses the chances of FTX winning in court and how it can claw back funds to repay its debts.As lawsuits continue to pile up in the FTX saga, FTX chief John Ray III is focused on clawing back funds from former affiliates to pay back creditors. But how might that play out in court? Founder of 117 Partners Thomas Braziel, who specializes in the trading of bankruptcy claims, explains the different paths Ray may choose to go down and the potential outcomes of these cases.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.Show highlights:The chances of FTX winning in court against Sam Bankman-Fried's parentsThe case against Barbara Fried and Joseph Bankman Whether civil cases could turn into criminal onesWhether bankruptcy proceedings and the criminal case against Sam Bankman-Fried are a coordinated effort What retail clawbacks are and the likelihood that FTX will pursue themThank you to our sponsors: Crypto.com | Arbitrum Foundation | Thales | DAO | TokuGuest | Thomas Braziel - founder of 117 Partners.Previous appearances on Unchained:Will FTX Reboot? Here's John Ray's Internal Deadline for Making a DecisionWill FTX Customers Ever Recover Their Assets? Two Insolvency Experts Weigh InWill Celsius Survive the Bankruptcy Process?How Crypto Bankruptcy Claims Buyers Will Profit From the Collapse of FTXLinks | Previous coverage of Unchained on Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX:The Chopping Block: Was FTX a Scam From the Very Beginning? How Much Prison Time Is FTX's Sam Bankman-Fried Facing? Why the Legal Process for FTX and Sam Bankman-Fried Could Take YearsThe Chopping Block: SBF Wants to Win in the Court of Public Opinion. Will He?Jesse Powell and Kevin Zhou on How FTX and Alameda Lost $10 BillionIs the Collapse of Crypto Lending Over, or Is It Just Starting?Did the Bahamian Government Direct SBF and Gary Wang to Hack FTX?The Chopping Block: Why Lenders Didn't Liquidate Alameda When It Was Underwater Erik Voorhees and Cobie on Why FTX Loaned Out Customers' AssetsThe Chopping Block: FTX: The Biggest Collapse in the History of Crypto?Sam Bankman-Fried on How to Prevent the Next Terra and 3ACUnchained: New Suit Claims That FTX Kept Its Fraud All in the FamilyStanford University Will Return $5.5 Million to FTXFTX Sues SBF's Parents to Claw Back Misappropriated Funds: ReportFull text of the FTX lawsuit against Bankman and FriedCoinDesk: Sam Bankman-Fried's Dad Thought His Son Wasn't Paying Him Enough, So He Got Mom InvolvedBloomberg: How Sam Bankman-Fried's Elite Parents Enabled His Crypto EmpireThe Verge: The best stuff Sam Bankman-Fried's parents bought using FTX money-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.

How can Ukraine navigate the anticorruption challenge on the road to reconstruction? In the fourth episode of our anti-corruption podcast, UNCHAINED, we tackle a pressing issue: corruption in the reconstruction of Ukraine after Russian aggression. Our guest is Richard Messic, an anticorruption advisor and the executive editor of the Global Anticorruption Blog. With extensive experience, including years at the World Bank, Richard sheds light on the insidious practices and corruption networks that plague the construction industry. And it's not just Ukraine; these issues are pervasive across the globe, from the Philippines and the Netherlands to France, Germany, and the United States. How do unscrupulous actors siphon off funds meant for reconstruction? Where are the vulnerabilities and red flags? What mechanisms exist for auditing and oversight? And, critically, how can cutting-edge technologies bolster the fight against corruption? Listen in and share this insightful discussion with your global network on Spotify, SoundCloud, Google, and Apple podcasts. This podcast is a collaborative effort by ACREC, EAACN, and Inna Nelles, generously supported by The International Renaissance Foundation (IRF). It is inspiring stories of successful anti-corruption efforts in Eastern Europe and Eurasia.

It's been a busy year for USDC issuer Circle, with several new product launches and partnerships, a crypto banking crisis to contend with, the entry of PayPal into the stablecoin business, and plenty of new global regulatory developments, including a bill in the U.S. now making its way through Congress. Circle co-founder and CEO Jeremy Allaire joins Unchained for an in-depth discussion on the reasons behind Coinbase's investment in Circle, how Circle has emerged stronger from the banking crisis, what he thinks of PYUSD, what he likes and doesn't like about the current U.S. stablecoin bill, and his thoughts on what the final bill will look like. Show highlights:Why Circle and Coinbase created the Center Consortium and why Coinbase acquired a stake in Circle?Whether Circle is aiming to be acquired or become a public company, and why Jeremy is pursuing a "multi-decade" strategy.Why Circle partnered with MercadoLibre and the stablecoin usage in Latin America?How the company has been supporting developers to build applications.Why Circle is launching native USDC on so many new blockchains?What the purpose of cross-chain transfer protocol (CCTP) is and what the big problems with bridges are.How Circle responded to Silicon Valley Bank's collapse and why the world began to feel that "it's not safe to be exposed to the US."Jeremy's thoughts on the launch of PayPal's stablecoin, PYUSD.Why is having stablecoin legislation a "national priority," according to Jeremy?Why Jeremy is a proponent of a fully reserved banking system?Why did he think the US needs to "aggressively" take action to preserve the global reserve currency status of the US dollar?How China's national digital currency is likely to develop.How crypto can provide a better way of support identity without giving up privacy?Why blockchain technology is much more than just a financial regulatory matter?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.

Earlier this week, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and four co-authors published a paper describing a smart contract protocol called privacy pools that would enable crypto users to associate their funds with those being used for legitimate purposes versus those being used in criminal activity such as hacks or money laundering. The protocol addresses one of the main shortcomings of coin mixer Tornado Cash, which has been sanctioned by the U.S. government. Chainalysis chief scientist Jacob Illum, one of those co-authors, discusses the impetus for the paper, the technology behind privacy pools and how they would work in practice, who would provide some of the necessary organization to operate the pools, and some of the early criticisms of the paper.Show highlights |What the current state of crypto privacy is and what the motivation was to write this paper?What privacy pools are and how they work.How zero-knowledge proofs are the key technology behind privacy pools. What the role of association set providers is in making this new technology work?What would happen in different potential scenarios, such as a "bad address" being discovered after a transaction has been made?How the protocol would protect the privacy and identity of the users.How law enforcement, credit score agencies, and other organizations could have "special viewing privileges" of transactions, according to Jacob.How the community has been reacting to the recently published paper.Jacob's response to criticisms the paper has received from industry players.Why Chainalysis participated in the paper given that many people see them as 'anti-privacy'.Thank you to our sponsors!Crypto.com | Arbitrum Foundation | Thales DAO | TokuGuest | Jacob Illum, chief scientist at ChainalysisLinks | Unchained: Tornado Cash Cofounder Arrested, Another Sanctioned by U.S. GovernmentCoinDesk: Crypto-Mixing Service Tornado Cash Blacklisted by US Treasury Blockchain Privacy and Regulatory Compliance: Towards a Practical EquilibriumMatt Corallo's tweetCrypto lawyer Preston Byrne's tweetPrevious coverage of Unchained on Tornado Cash:The Chopping Block: 'Code Is Law' Is 'Obviously Not How Anything Works Ever'The Chopping Block: Why DeFi May Be Over-Complying With Tornado Cash SanctionsPreston Van Loon on Ethereum's Merge and His Lawsuit Against TreasuryGiven the Sanctions on Tornado Cash, Is Ethereum Censorship Resistant?The Chopping Block: Did OFAC Overstep by Sanctioning Tornado Cash?Tornado Cash Sanctioned. Did the Government Overstep Its Bounds?-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.

Friend.tech, a decentralized social media platform in which you can buy and sell “keys” in your friends on X (formerly known as Twitter) whose value can go up and down, has become a viral sensation, racking up as many as 100,000 users since launching on August 10. Should keys be considered securities and thus regulated by the SEC? How should gains and losses be taxed? And how private should users assume their communications and transactions on the platform are? Securities and banking law professor at George Mason Law School JW Verret, and tax partner and co-head of the Digital Assets and Blockchain Practice at Fried, Frank Jason Schwartz, share their thoughts. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.Show Highlights | How Friend.tech works and how the price of keys is determinedHow Friend.tech is different from many other past attempts at creating a decentralized social media platformWhether the keys offered by Friend.tech could be deemed securities by the SECWhat wrapped Friend.tech tokens are and whether these could be considered securitiesWhy the traditional approach to crypto taxation is bad for most Friend.tech taxpayersWhat the tax implications of Friend.tech airdrops areWhat Friend.tech users should assume about their privacy on the appWhat the future holds for Friend.techGUESTS | J.W. Verret, Associate Professor of Law at George Mason Law SchoolPrevious appearance on Unchained: Coinbase's Legal Action Against the SEC: How It Will Likely UnfoldJason Schwartz, tax partner and co-head of the Digital Assets and Blockchain Practice at Fried, FrankFriend.Tech Shows How Complicated Taxing Crypto Transactions Can Be by Jason SchwartzLinks | Unchained: Friend.tech Threatens to Penalize Users That Move to Copies or ForksFriend.tech Clarifies That Database of 100,000 Users Was Not LeakedWhat Is SocialFi? A Beginner's GuideThe ‘Howey Test' and the Debate Over Crypto's Legal Status - Crypto Security vs CommodityCoinDesk: Friend.tech Attracted NBA Influencers. So Why Does Everyone Think Crypto's Latest Trend Will Die?Decrypt:Friend.tech Renames Its Token—But Is It Even Legal?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.

If you want early fireworks before the 4th tomorrow, listen to last week's Unchained Podcast where Laura Shin “interviewed” Aaron Kaplan, co-CEO of Prometheum, and Paradigm Special Counsel Rodrigo Seira. I put “interview” in quotes because it's more like she refereed a prize fight. Listen to that before you listen to this, then come back here and hear why Aaron's arguments don't hold much water.Key Points From This Episode:Reg D is an issuer exemption.What's Rule 144 and why is it hard to apply in the context of digital assets?Why Prometheum can't fulfill its mission to protect investors (hint: because it has none…because it has no tokens to list).Disclaimer:This show is for informational purposes only. Nothing presented here constitutes legal advice. Tokens of Wisdom is produced by Dave Rothschild, partner at Cole-Frieman & Mallon LLP headquartered in San Francisco, California. For more information, visit https://colefrieman.com/Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:Unchained from June 27 - https://unchainedcrypto.com/prometheum-and-paradigm-in-debate-can-the-status-quo-work-for-crypto/. Dave Rothschild - https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidcrothschild/Cole-Frieman & Mallon LLP - https://colefrieman.com/Music by Joe Ginsberg - https://www.instagram.com/thejoeginsbergFor any questions or comments, email: tow@colefrieman.com

Amidst a wide-ranging crackdown on all kinds of crypto players, Representative Tom Emmer talks about recent enforcement actions, the classification of cryptocurrencies as securities or commodities, the potential impact of US regulatory actions on the country's global economic power, and the Federal Reserve's upcoming payment system. He touches on the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in the crypto industry and the role of government in fostering these developments. Show highlights: why Rep. Emmer thinks there's an operation to cut crypto off from the banking system how, as he puts it, Sen. Elizabeth Warren has been 'dancing on the grave' of the recent banking failures how the interest in crypto in Congress has changed over time, especially after the Infrastructure bill in 2021 whether the CFTC lawsuit against Binance represents an "appropriate" use of enforcement actions why Rep. Emmer says that bureaucrats are trying to polarize blockchain technology how the US's attitudes toward crypto could affect the country's global power why he is against FedNow, the new Federal Reserve's payment system Thank you to our sponsors! Crypto.com Railgun DAO  Guest Congressman and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer Previous appearances on Unchained: Rep. Tom Emmer, One of the Most Active Crypto Congress Members, on Taxes and DeFi Links Operation Choke Point 2.0: Coverage of Unchained Podcast on the topic: Is the Government Trying to Kill Off Crypto in the US? Operation Choke Point 2.0 Is Underway, And Crypto Is In Its Crosshairs Enforcement actions Unchained: CFTC Sues Binance and CZ Over US Regulatory Violations SEC Issues Coinbase a Wells Notice Coverage of Unchained Podcast on the recent regulatory crackdown:  Why the CFTC Case Against Binance Will Have Very Important Consequences for Crypto Coinbase's Top Lawyer Calls SEC Wells Notice a ‘Massive Overreach'  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices