Bloomberg Crypto

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Coinbase Conundrums Aug 03, 2022

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It’s safe to say that Coinbase has had a rough couple of months. The threat of federal regulation of some of its tokens has been looming for more than a year, but really started heating up over the last few months. And in late July things got even worse. A former Coinbase product manager, his brother, and a friend were arrested by federal prosecutors on an insider trading allegation, and the Securities and Exchange Commission alleged Coinbase has been running an illegal securities exchange. To help us understand what’s at stake for Coinbase, and for all digital currency users, Bloomberg Businessweek Columnist & tech reporter Max Chafkin joins this episode.

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The SEC Probably Thinks This Is A Security Aug 02, 2022

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One of the most interesting conversations in crypto right now is all about definitions, and especially the definition of a so-called security. Who better to tackle this than Bloomberg Opinion columnist Matt Levine, a former practicing lawyer and investment banker who has written extensively about securities, securities law, insider trading, all things that are very much topical in crypto right now. You'll also hear highlights from Matt's interview with Sam Bankman-Fried at the recent Bloomberg crypto summit in New York.

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What Happens When Cops Seize Crypto and Bitcoin Aug 01, 2022

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Picture this: you’re the FBI, trying to track down the digital keys that will give you access to illicit or stolen crypto. In 2021 alone, cops in the U.S. and U.K, seized billions of dollars in Crypto-assets from various different criminal busts. With so much money on the line, enforcement agencies around the world have had to learn quickly how to spot these digital assets and seize them from accused criminals. In this episode, Bloomberg reporters Ellen MiIligan and David Voreacos join to discuss how the seizures of digital assets are transforming policing policies and protocols around the world.

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Because Crypto Is Always Awake Jul 29, 2022

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Those who are new to the world of crypto might find themselves intimidated by (or attracted to!) the volatility, complexity, and frantic pace of an asset class that quite literally never sleeps. The job of Bloomberg editors is to assess all these perspectives and determine how (and whether) they become stories. This episode of “Friday in the Editor’s Room” features a conversation with Crypto Senior Editors Anna Irrera, based in London, and Philip Lagerkranser, based in Zurich.

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Decentralizing the Music Industry Jul 28, 2022

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Earlier this year, pop music duo The Chainsmokers released 5,000 nonfungible tokens for free. These NFTs gave fans a 1% cut of the streaming royalties from their latest album, as well as priority access to concert tickets and free merchandise. The Chainsmokers aren’t the first musicians to experiment with crypto, NFTs or blockchain, and they’re unlikely to be the last.

Royal, a startup that's looking to give fans more access and more investment opportunities related to the bands they love, partnered with The Chainsmokers to give their fans a stake in their success. Royal CEO Justin Blau joins this episode, along with Bloomberg reporter Hannah Miller.

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The Democratic Nature of DeFi Jul 27, 2022

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There’s a fascinating tension in crypto: there's the prevailing belief in the necessity, indeed the superiority, of decentralization. Then, there’s reality: when things hit the fan, folks respond by seeking a bailout, and hold fraudsters accountable. In an industry prone to spectacular scams and expensive hacks, this tension is ever-present. Bloomberg Reporter Emily Nicolle joins this episode for more on this.

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Who Is Kirkland + Ellis LLP? Jul 26, 2022

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There’s an old joke in finance: when companies fight, lawyers win. And right now in crypto, lots of companies are fighting - some for their corporate lives. Kirkland + Ellis, one of the biggest law firms in the world by revenue, has emerged as a major player in crypto. Earlier this month, the firm signed on to work on the bankruptcy filings for both Celsius Network and Voyager Digital. There's relatively little case law that addresses how crypto assets - and their holders - should be treated in bankruptcy. That means that any legal precedents set could shape the future of crypto lending and determine how distressed crypto companies pay back creditors.

Joining this episode is Bloomberg reporter Jeremy Hill on how Kirkland & Ellis are tackling crypto bankruptcies.

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From Blackrock to Uniswap Jul 25, 2022

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Mary-Catherine Lader has a story to tell. She was a rising star at Blackrock when she left Wall Street and TradFi for crypto and DeFi. She's now chief operating officer at Uniswap Labs, creator of the world’s biggest decentralized exchange protocol. She joined Bloomberg Reporter Olga Kharif to talk about her belief in blockchain, what comes next after the Terra collapse, and how she sees decentralized finance shaping the future.

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DeFi versus TradFi Jul 22, 2022

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While there’s a perception that ideas like the blockchain are novel and groundbreaking, the reality is there’s lots of precedents for concepts like DAOs, or Initial Coin Offerings. This is particularly clear right now, as crypto experiences its own version of a “Bear Stearns moment”. Which all begs the question: Is DeFi just reinventing TradFi with more complexity and a sprinkling of blockchain? Or is there genuine novelty here? For more on these questions, Bloomberg Opinion Columnist Matt Levine and Bloomberg Reporter Muyao Shen join this episode.

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Temperatures Rise at Celsius Jul 21, 2022

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The crypto winter of 2022 has claimed several casualties so far, but as of late, there’s one name that’s on everyone’s lips: Celsius Network, the crypto lender that’s now trying to save its skin through Chapter 11 bankruptcy. As prices spiraled and customers rushed to withdraw their crypto from the platform, Celsius buckled under the weight. Now we know it’s amassed around $5.5 billion in liabilities, but only has about $4.3 billion in assets to back it up. For the debrief on what’s happening at Celsius, you’ll hear from Bloomberg Crypto senior editor Anna Irrera and reporters Olga Kharif and Emily Nicolle.

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