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BREAKDOWN: Corruption, Leverage and Cheap Money – Archegos and the Fastest Loss of Wealth in History Apr 01, 2021

Show notes

A TL;DR on how Archegos went from betting $50B or more to having nothing overnight.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io.

The financial world has been rocked by the Archegos scandal. A family office managing at least $10 billion and betting with $50 billion-$80 billion on leverage that was completely undone, literally overnight.

In this episode, NLW breaks down:

Bill Hwang’s origins in Julian Robertson’s Tiger Management
Hwang’s conviction for insider trading
How Hwang leveraged his fund’s performance to get off prime broker blacklists
Why Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and others decided to margin call Archegos last week
What the whole affair says about markets today

Nexo.io lets you borrow against your crypto at 5.9% APR, earn up to 12% on your idle assets, and exchange instantly between 75+ market pairs with the tap of a button. Get started at nexo.io.

Image credit: Emile Wamsteker/Bloomberg/Getty Images

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BREAKDOWN: Have Fun Staying Rich – Goldman to Offer Bitcoin to Wealthy Clients, Completely Reversing Course Mar 31, 2021

Show notes

Less than a year after it proclaimed cryptocurrencies are “not an asset class,” Goldman is launching a set of bitcoin and crypto products.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Casper.

As the old saying goes: “First they ignore you, then they mock you, then they fight you, then you win.”

Ten months ago, Goldman Sachs declared that “cryptocurrencies including bitcoin are not an asset class.” Today, CNBC broke the news Goldman is planning to release a full suite of bitcoin and crypto investment products.

On this episode, NLW breaks down the larger macro context that got us from then to now and explains why, if you’re a wealthy client of Goldman, you might have some big questions to ask.

Nexo.io lets you borrow against your crypto at 5.9% APR, earn up to 12% on your idle assets, and exchange instantly between 75+ market pairs with the tap of a button. Get started at nexo.io.

Launching in late-March, Casper is the future-proof blockchain protocol that finally address the blockchain trilemma. Learn more at Casper.Network.

Image credit: Scott Eells/Bloomberg/Getty Images

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BREAKDOWN: PayPal Opens Crypto Payments for Millions of Merchants Mar 30, 2021

Show notes

The old canard that you can’t buy coffee with bitcoin is less true than ever as PayPal rolls out crypto checkout for 29 million merchants.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Casper.

Today on the Brief:

BTC micro futures coming to CME
Michael Jordan is now an NFT investor
Bitcoin doesn’t care about Treasury yields

Our main discussion: PayPal has begun rolling out its crypto checkout tools to millions of merchants. NLW breaks down:

Why payments for day-to-day items have been historically deprioritized for Bitcoin and Ethereum
Why the PayPal checkout tools are unlikely to shift the primary use case from store of value style functions to medium of exchange
Why the liquidity and utility PayPal crypto checkout creates still adds significant value to these crypto assets

Nexo.io lets you borrow against your crypto at 5.9% APR, earn up to 12% on your idle assets, and exchange instantly between 75+ market pairs with the tap of a button. Get started at nexo.io.

Launching in late-March, Casper is the future-proof blockchain protocol that finally address the blockchain trilemma. Learn more at Casper.Network.

Image credit: Weedezign/iStock/Getty Images Plus

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BREAKDOWN: Visa Just Supercharged Stablecoin Legitimacy Mar 29, 2021

Show notes

Visa officially enables USDC as a native currency and means of settlement.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Casper.

Today’s episode of “The Breakdown” is an extended brief with five different topics:

NFTs make it to “SNL”
“Green” bitcoin mining
Square’s CFO thinks all companies should hold bitcoin in their treasuries
Crypto M&A doubles in 2020
Visa announces USDC as settlement currency

Ultimately, NLW argues that while non-fungible tokens are showing up in pop culture, the Visa deal reinforces the notion that this crypto bull market is being driven by large-scale institutional engagement.

Nexo.io lets you borrow against your crypto at 5.9% APR, earn up to 12% on your idle assets, and exchange instantly between 75+ market pairs with the tap of a button. Get started at nexo.io.

Launching in late-March, Casper is the future-proof blockchain protocol that finally address the blockchain trilemma. Learn more at Casper.Network.

Image credit: Ihor Reshetniak/iStock/Getty Images Plus, modified by CoinDesk

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BREAKDOWN: Can Crypto Create Cultural Revolutions? Mar 28, 2021

Show notes

A reading of David Hoffman’s recent essay “The Digital Cultural Revolution.”

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Casper, and this week’s special product launch, Exodus.

On this edition of “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads David Hoffman’s essay “The Digital Cultural Revolution” from Bankless. The essay argues that culture, more than economics, will be the most important long-term beneficiary of the rise of crypto.

Nexo.io lets you borrow against your crypto at 5.9% APR, earn up to 12% on your idle assets, and exchange instantly between 75+ market pairs with the tap of a button. Get started at nexo.io.

Launching in late-March, Casper is the future-proof blockchain protocol that finally address the blockchain trilemma. Learn more at Casper.Network.

Exodus empowers people to control their wealth through a safe and reliable non-custodial crypto wallet, placing the ownership of digital assets back into the user’s hands. Your keys, your crypto. Download Exodus today and learn more at exodus.com.

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BREAKDOWN: Soros Breaks Into Bitcoin Mar 27, 2021

Show notes

Recent investments and a TV appearance this week start to show how the legendary investor’s crypto strategy is shaping up.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Casper, and this week’s special product launch, Exodus.

On this week’s Weekly Recap, NLW:

Highlights the four most important happenings around regulation and central bank digital currencies in the U.S.
Updates the macro inflation narrative for a “new normal” era
Digs into what we’ve learned recently about George Soros’ bitcoin and crypto strategy

Nexo.io lets you borrow against your crypto at 5.9% APR, earn up to 12% on your idle assets, and exchange instantly between 75+ market pairs with the tap of a button. Get started at nexo.io.

Launching in late-March, Casper is the future-proof blockchain protocol that finally address the blockchain trilemma. Learn more at Casper.Network.

Image credit: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images Entertainment

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BREAKDOWN: Worried About Bitcoin's Price Action? Here's Why You Shouldn't Be Mar 26, 2021

Show notes

Although the bitcoin price has been wavering since March 13, there are historical, technical and foundational reasons to be optimistic.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Casper, and this week’s special product launch, Exodus.

Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW digs into bitcoin and crypto markets. He argues that despite two weeks of sideways-down price action, there are a set of reasons to be optimistic:

Historically bad March months versus historically good Aprils
Retracements and pullbacks in 2017
Analysis around options expiry in 2021
The continuation and expansion of the macro inflation narrative
Institutions applying for bitcoin ETFs
Coins leaving exchanges

Nexo.io lets you borrow against your crypto at 5.9% APR, earn up to 12% on your idle assets, and exchange instantly between 75+ market pairs with the tap of a button. Get started at nexo.io.

Launching in late-March, Casper is the future-proof blockchain protocol that finally address the blockchain trilemma. Learn more at Casper.Network.

Image credit: Nuthawut Somsuk/iStock/Getty Images Plus

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BREAKDOWN: The Fed Chair and the Treasury Secretary Come Out Against Privacy-Respecting Anonymous Digital Dollar Mar 25, 2021

Show notes

The fight to protect privacy in the central bank digital currency era just got more intense.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Casper, and this week’s special product launch, Exodus.

Today on the Brief:

Fidelity files a bitcoin ETF application
Stimmies to China
The situation in the Suez

Our main discussion:

In response to a question from Illinois Democrat Bill Foster during a House hearing earlier this week, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell went on the record as being against an anonymous digital dollar. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen reinforced that stance, saying anonymity made the U.S. government’s anti-money laundering goals extremely difficult to achieve.

In today’s episode, NLW breaks down why bitcoiners should be willing to get involved in the digital dollar privacy fight.

Nexo.io lets you borrow against your crypto at 5.9% APR, earn up to 12% on your idle assets, and exchange instantly between 75+ market pairs with the tap of a button. Get started at nexo.io.

Launching in late-March, Casper is the future-proof blockchain protocol that finally address the blockchain trilemma. Learn more at Casper.Network.

Image credit: bsauter/iStock/Getty Images Plus

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BREAKDOWN: Bears Fuming as Elon Opens Tesla Purchases With Bitcoin Mar 24, 2021

Show notes

Tesla is allowing U.S. customers to buy vehicles with bitcoin, and it is not changing the crypto back to fiat.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Casper, and this week’s special product launch, Exodus.

Today on the Brief:

Robinhood IPO incoming
Competing bitcoin price predictions
Yellen and Powell’s latest testimony on economic growth

Our main discussion:

Elon Musk announced this morning Tesla’s program for buying its cars with bitcoin:

Says the company is running Bitcoin network nodes
Says Tesla won’t convert back to fiat but will hold bitcoin
Expanding the program internationally coming soon

NLW breaks down the hater response from the Tesla and Bitcoin sides and argues that much more significant are the other CEOs – like that of buzzy bed startup Eight Sleep – who are following suit.

Nexo.io lets you borrow against your crypto at 5.9% APR, earn up to 12% on your idle assets, and exchange instantly between 75+ market pairs with the tap of a button. Get started at nexo.io.

Launching in late-March, Casper is the future-proof blockchain protocol that finally address the blockchain trilemma. Learn more at Casper.Network.

Image credit: Hannibal Hanschke-Pool/Getty Images Entertainment

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BREAKDOWN: Stablecoins in the Hot Seat – Powell Calls Bitcoin a Substitute for Gold While Fed Says Digital Dollar Prototype Coming in July Mar 23, 2021

Show notes

An action-packed couple days in U.S. crypto regulatory commentary.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Casper, and this week’s special product launch, Exodus.

Three major moments over the last couple days help provide insight into the future of the U.S. government’s relationship with bitcoin, stablecoins and digital currencies.

The first was Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s comments on digital assets and a central bank digital currency, saying work on a U.S. “digital dollar” was not being motivated by bitcoin or any other crypto, and that bitcoin is just a gold substitute.

The second was news out of the Boston Fed that it would be showing off two digital dollar prototypes in conjunction with MIT by July.

The third was new draft Financial Action Task Force guidance around cryptocurrencies that CoinDesk warns are significantly more onerous than previous guidance.

Nexo.io lets you borrow against your crypto at 5.9% APR, earn up to 12% on your idle assets, and exchange instantly between 75+ market pairs with the tap of a button. Get started at nexo.io.

Launching in late-March, Casper is the future-proof blockchain protocol that finally address the blockchain trilemma. Learn more at Casper.Network.

Image credit: Al Drago-Pool/Getty Images News

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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