Empire

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7ww

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Explore the SKALE Ecosystem at skale.space/ecosystem and stay up to date with the gas-free blockchain on X at @skalenetwork

- -

It's time for an on chain Binance to emerge.

Magic Eden is getting into token trading and their vision is to become on chain Binance and then much more as the entire world ends up moving on chain

- -

The self-custody wallet that's built for swapping. Created for a multi-chain world by the most trusted team in DeFi.

Available on Chrome, iOS, and Android.

- -

$cmETH, a Mantle native liquid restaking token, will launch together with Season 2: Methamorphosis, allowing users to easily participate in restaking, and earn $COOK rewards in addition to other yields.

$COOK, the governance token of mETH Protocol, will allow holders to play a pivotal role in directing the strategic future of mETH Protocol.

Learn more: https://x.com/mETHProtocol

- -

Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors Empire podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER™ device and secure your crypto today.

Buy now at Ledger.com

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:50) Impact of Election

(16:27) Global Macro Outlook

(29:42) Crypto's Secular Trend

(42:31) Skale Ad

(43:11) Magic Eden Ad

(43:55) Uniswap Ad

(44:27) Mantle Ad

(45:21) Ledger Ad

(46:04) Impact of Institutional Adoption

(49:11) Bull and Bear Cases for BTC

(54:11) Eth & Sol Outlook

(01:01:50) The Cycle Trade

(01:08:11) Corporates Buying BTC

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Coinbase’s Listing Frenzy, Massive ETF Flows, and Bull Market Phases | Roundup Nov 15, 2024

In this episode, Santi and Jason discuss the launch of Inversion Capital, the recent multichain expansion of BlackRock’s BUIDL, and Coinbase’s flurry of memecoin listings. They also dove into the recent ETF flows, and Ethereum 3.0. Finally, they closed out the episode with their thoughts on a Bitcoin strategic reserve, Blur’s fee switch proposal, and the phases of a crypto bull market

Resources

Ben Horowitz Clip: https://x.com/solana/status/1856523333090820378

RWA Dashboard: https://app.rwa.xyz/treasuries

Pickle Crypto on Coinbase Listings: https://x.com/Pickle_cRypto/status/1856777061668622718

Coinbase Wallet Implements Free US Bank Accounts: https://x.com/zcabrams/status/1856731679651758144

Eric Balchunas on ETFs: https://x.com/EricBalchunas/status/1856081711706030300

BIP-1 - Blur Fee Switch & veBLUR: https://gov.blur.foundation/t/blur-improvement-proposal-1-bip-1-blur-fee-switch-veblur-tokenomics/1040

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Inversion Capital: https://x.com/inversion_cap

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7ww

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

Join the Empire Telegram group: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh

- -

Explore the SKALE Ecosystem at skale.space/ecosystem and stay up to date with the gas-free blockchain on X at @skalenetwork

—

Cronos zkEVM has launched its Pioneer Program,offering early users loyalty points for engaging with Cronos zkEVM & its dapps.

Join the first quest by depositing CRO in the Cronos zkEVM bridge to receive zkCRO & loyalty points at mainnet launch, as well as a chance to win a part of a $30,000 zkCRO giveaway by depositing in the bridge.

Visit https://zkevm.cronos.org/bridge for more info

--

Toku simplifies every part of global token compensation — everything from paying full time employees in stablecoins, issuing token grants to your team and investors, all in 100 countries on one platform.

Talk to Toku today at: https://www.toku.com/

- -

Supra Containers are secured by Supra’s L1 nodes and get access to Supra’s 500k TPS throughput, sub-second consensus latency, and all their built-in services like oracle price feeds and onchain randomness without any overhead. Supra is also MultiVM compatible so you can easily deploy your EVM, Move, and SVM smart contracts here.

Get all the freedom, control, and tools you need to build super dApps and bring the world onchain. To learn more, visit www.supra.com/blockworks

- -

Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors Empire podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER™ device and secure your crypto today.

Buy now at Ledger.com

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(03:51) Inversion Capital

(10:31) Crypto's Big Week

(22:54) BlackRock's BUIDL Goes Multichain

(28:27) Coinbase Memecoin Listings & Bank Accounts

(33:09) Skale Ad

(33:47) Ledger Ad

(34:28) Supra Ad

(35:24) Toku Ad

(36:35) Cronos Ad

(37:33) What Do You Do If You're Sidelined?

(48:14) Crypto ETF Inflows & Ethereum 3.0

(1:02:31) Merger & Acquisition Activity in Crypto

(1:09:29) Blur Fee Switch Proposal

(1:18:25) Bull Market Phases

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guest

Inside Baseball of Building a Crypto Brand | Austin Federa & Ekram Ahmed Nov 14, 2024

In today's episode Austin Federa (Head of Strategy at Solana Foundation) and Ekram Ahmed (CMO of Celestia) - break down what actually works in crypto marketing. They discuss why Web2 marketing principles fail in crypto, reveal how Solana and Celestia developed their distinct narrative positions, and explain what most projects get wrong about crisis communications and community building. The conversation covers everything from the "modular vs monolithic" narrative war to why marketing agencies rarely work in crypto. Thanks for listening!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Ekram: https://x.com/ekrahm

Follow Austin: https://x.com/austin_federa

Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7ww

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

04:54 Crypto vs Web2 Marketing

10:29 Creating a Brand in Crypto

36:44 Building Narratives

43:56 Genius of Modular

52:07 When to Pivot?

58:09 Hiring Marketers

01:09:58 Crisis Management

01:19:21 Value of KOLs

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Trading Crypto's Bull Market Breakout | 1000x Live Nov 13, 2024

Gm, we're back with another episode where we discuss crypto's bull market breakout. We deep dive into trading momentum vs profit taking, what's performing in this market, alt's, crypto stocks & so much more. Enjoy!

--

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Join the 1000x Telegram: https://t.me/+fz-2f0cwC6o0MWNh

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(4:10) Trading Momentum

(10:06) Strategic Bitcoin Reserve

(14:28) Taking Profits vs Riding Momentum

(15:46) Alt's

(18:57) Who's Allocating To Crypto?

(26:38) What's Performing In This Market?

(41:08) Bitcoin Miners

(43:55) Zillow = Top Signal

(47:58) Crypto Stocks

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed

Inside Crypto's First Breakout Game: Off The Grid | Theodore Agranat, Gunzilla Nov 12, 2024

In today's episode Theo from Gunzilla Games joins us to break down how Off The Grid became web3's first successful AAA game, reaching over 8.3 million players in just weeks. We explore the 5-year, $100M journey of building the blockchain enabled battle royale game. Theo shares insights on their custom Avalanche chain, battle pass monetization strategy, and vision for building the "Nintendo of web3" through their Gunzilla gaming ecosystem. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Theodore: https://x.com/theodoreagranat

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7ww

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Explore the SKALE Ecosystem at skale.space/ecosystem and stay up to date with the gas-free blockchain on X at @skalenetwork

- -

It's time for an on chain Binance to emerge.

Magic Eden is getting into token trading and their vision is to become on chain Binance and then much more as the entire world ends up moving on chain

- -

The self-custody wallet that's built for swapping. Created for a multi-chain world by the most trusted team in DeFi.

Available on Chrome, iOS, and Android.

- -

$cmETH, a Mantle native liquid restaking token, will launch together with Season 2: Methamorphosis, allowing users to easily participate in restaking, and earn $COOK rewards in addition to other yields.

$COOK, the governance token of mETH Protocol, will allow holders to play a pivotal role in directing the strategic future of mETH Protocol.

Learn more: https://x.com/mETHProtocol

- -

Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors Empire podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER™ device and secure your crypto today.

Buy now at Ledger.com

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:31) Game Design

(11:03) Blockchain Elements

(21:17) Web3 Gaming Value Prop

(38:59) Skale Ad

(39:39) Magic Eden Ad

(40:23) Uniswap Ad

(40:55) Mantle Ad

(41:46) Ledger Ad

(42:29) Game Rentention Strategy

(49:35) Development Journey

(54:49) Token Dynamics

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Hivemind: Trump's Clean Sweep, the Bitcoin Reserve, and Finding the Fastest Horse Nov 09, 2024

Join the Hivemind crew for their thoughts on Trump's election victory and its implications for the crypto industry. They unpack potential regulatory shifts, from Gary Gensler's future to the possibility of a Bitcoin strategic reserve. They also dive into the evolving landscape of token launches, debating whether the return of ICOs could reshape market dynamics and liquidity. They also discuss Polymarket's election success to the future of meme coins, venture capital, and liquid crypto investments. They close out by giving their thoughts on what will outperform this cycle. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Ceteris: https://twitter.com/ceterispar1bus

Follow Jose: https://x.com/ZeMariaMacedo

Follow Yan: https://x.com/YanLiberman

Follow Duncan: https://x.com/FloodCapital

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:02) Election Outcomes

(7:55) Crypto Performance

(11:07) Crypto's Regulatory Shift

(21:00) Return of ICOs

(34:10) Polymarket's Future

(44:15) Venture vs Liquid Climate

(49:22) Will Trump Continue Supporting Crypto?

(57:16) Market Positioning

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Trump's Win, Portfolio Positioning, and Crypto's Return to the US | Roundup Nov 08, 2024

Chat with us in our new telegram: https://t.co/uvyS3SSdUn

In this episode, Jason and Santi unpack the implications of Trump's victory for the crypto industry. From Bitcoin's immediate price surge to the potential for a US Bitcoin reserve, they discuss how the regulatory landscape could dramatically shift in crypto's favor. They also unpack why prediction markets like Polymarket emerged as crucial information sources during the election, the return of major crypto conferences to the US, and share why they believe we're still early in crypto's journey. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Explore the SKALE Ecosystem at skale.space/ecosystem and stay up to date with the gas-free blockchain on X at @skalenetwork

- -

Supra Containers are secured by Supra’s L1 nodes and get access to Supra’s 500k TPS throughput, sub-second consensus latency, and all their built-in services like oracle price feeds and onchain randomness without any overhead. Supra is also MultiVM compatible so you can easily deploy your EVM, Move, and SVM smart contracts here.

Get all the freedom, control, and tools you need to build super dApps and bring the world onchain. To learn more, visit www.supra.com/blockworks

- -

Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors Empire podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER™ device and secure your crypto today.

Buy now at https://shop.ledger.com/?r=1da180a5de00

- -

Toku simplifies every part of global token compensation — everything from paying full time employees in stablecoins, issuing token grants to your team and investors, all in 100 countries on one platform.

Talk to Toku today at: https://www.toku.com/

- -

Cronos zkEVM has launched its Pioneer Program,offering early users loyalty points for engaging with Cronos zkEVM & its dapps.

Join the first quest by depositing CRO in the Cronos zkEVM bridge to receive zkCRO & loyalty points at mainnet launch, as well as a chance to win a part of a $30,000 zkCRO giveaway by depositing in the bridge.

Visit https://zkevm.cronos.org/bridge for more info

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:43) What Does the Election Mean?

(15:37) Impact of Prediction Markets

(22:20) Portfolio Construction

(29:35) Skale Ad

(30:14) Cronos Ad

(31:12) Toku Ad

(32:03) Supra Ad

(32:59) Ledger Ad

(33:42) Cycle Timing

(43:22) Crypto's IPO

(47:27) Why We're Bullish

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

New Bitcoin All Time High, What's Next For Crypto? | 1000x Live Nov 07, 2024

Gm, we're back with another episode where we discuss what a Trump victory means for markets, Bitcoin's breakout to $75k, finding the best trades in crypto, what to expect as we head into 2025 & more!

--

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Join the 1000x Telegram: https://t.me/+fz-2f0cwC6o0MWNh

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(3:23) The Election Impact

(10:48) The ETH Trade

(15:50) Best Trades In Crypto

(23:47) What Stops This Rally?

(30:51) Leverage Trading

(32:09) Crypto Regulation

(38:17) Strategic Bitcoin Reserve

(43:29) On Chain vs Trading

(52:04) Time To Make Some Money

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Bridge Founder on Their $1.1B Stripe Acquisition | Zach Abrams Nov 05, 2024

In today's episode Bridge founder Zach Abrams discusses how they built a billion-dollar company in just 18 months before being acquired by Stripe. He shares the inside story of building critical stablecoin infrastructure that processes billions in transaction volume with less than 0.01% fraud. The conversation covers their rapid growth from launch during the USDC de-peg to becoming essential infrastructure for governments, fintechs, and global companies. Zach also reveals his vision for the future of stablecoins and why every major company might soon have their own digital currency. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Zach: https://x.com/zcabrams

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7ww

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Explore the SKALE Ecosystem at skale.space/ecosystem and stay up to date with the gas-free blockchain on X at @skalenetwork

- -

The self-custody wallet that's built for swapping. Created for a multi-chain world by the most trusted team in DeFi.

Available on Chrome, iOS, and Android.

- -

$cmETH, a Mantle native liquid restaking token, will launch together with Season 2: Methamorphosis, allowing users to easily participate in restaking, and earn $COOK rewards in addition to other yields.

$COOK, the governance token of mETH Protocol, will allow holders to play a pivotal role in directing the strategic future of mETH Protocol.

Learn more: https://x.com/mETHProtocol

- -

Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors Empire podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER™ device and secure your crypto today.

Buy now at Ledger.com

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:08) From Partnership to Acquisition

(15:49) How Does Bridge Remove Friction

(30:35) Skale Ad

(31:14) Uniswap Ad

(31:46) Mantle Ad

(32:38) Ledger Ad

(33:21) Key Early Stage Decisions

(49:27) Goals & Future Outlook

(01:02:24) Negotiating Acquisitions

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Bridge's $1.1b Exit, Crypto's Voting Power, and a Token Unlock Playbook | Roundup Nov 01, 2024

In this episode, Jason and Santi dive deep into what to expect heading into the United States election cycle, Coinbase's Q3 earnings miss, and why the market's reaction might be overblown. They analyze the implications of Celestia's massive token unlock and debate the fundamentals versus market perception. The duo then provides an in-depth analysis of crypto's role in the upcoming election, examining Poly Market's controversial Trump odds and the potential impact of crypto voters in swing states. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Explore the SKALE Ecosystem at skale.space/ecosystem and stay up to date with the gas-free blockchain on X at @skalenetwork

- -

The Aggregation Summit, organized by Polygon Labs, is happening in Bangkok, Thailand, November 10-11, 2024

Learn more and get your early bird tickets now at https://www.agglayer.dev

- -

Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors Empire podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER™ device and secure your crypto today.

Buy now at https://shop.ledger.com/?r=1da180a5de00

- -

Cronos zkEVM has launched its Pioneer Program,offering early users loyalty points for engaging with Cronos zkEVM & its dapps.

Join the first quest by depositing CRO in the Cronos zkEVM bridge to receive zkCRO & loyalty points at mainnet launch, as well as a chance to win a part of a $30,000 zkCRO giveaway by depositing in the bridge.

Visit zkevm.cronos.org/bridge for more info

- -

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

02:04 Santi's Fundraising

13:57 Crypto Layoffs

22:03 Coinbase Revenue Miss

33:17 Skale Ad

33:57 Cronos Ad

34:55 Polygon Ad

35:37 Ledger Ad

36:21 Crypto's Fatal Election

46:50 Election Predictions

54:10 Token Unlocks

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Is Bitcoin About To Break New Highs? | Will Clemente Oct 31, 2024

Gm! This week Will Clemente joins the show to discuss what's next for crypto. We deep dive into the Bitcoin thesis, Will's highest conviction trades in crypto, Microstrategy, BTC miners, the election impact, memecoins & much more. Enjoy!

--

Follow Will: https://x.com/WClementeIII

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Join the 1000x Telegram: https://t.me/+fz-2f0cwC6o0MWNh

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(8:05) The Bitcoin Thesis

(12:19) Best Trades In Crypto

(18:23) Microstrategy: The Big Long

(21:55) BTC Miners

(30:48) BTC, The Trump Trade & VC Coins

(43:04) Meme's

(59:45) What's Next For Crypto Into 2025?

(1:03:55) Crypto Leverage

(1:06:59) Rapid Fire Questions

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed

The Real Reason Kraken Built an L2 | Andrew Koller & Hilmar Orth Oct 29, 2024

In today's episode we unpack why Kraken is building a Layer 2, Ink. Andrew and Hilmar, dive into why companies are rushing to launch their own chains. We unpack the technical decisions behind launching an L2, and debate who actually needs their own chain, and explore predictions that hundreds of new L2s will launch in the coming months. The conversation really explores if crypto and financial products might depend on custom chain infrastructure. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Andrew: https://x.com/ak47ink

Follow Hilmar: https://x.com/hilmarxo

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7ww

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Explore the SKALE Ecosystem at skale.space/ecosystem and stay up to date with the gas-free blockchain on X at @skalenetwork

- -

The self-custody wallet that's built for swapping. Created for a multi-chain world by the most trusted team in DeFi.

Available on Chrome, iOS, and Android.

- -

Supra Containers are secured by Supra’s L1 nodes and get access to Supra’s 500k TPS throughput, sub-second consensus latency, and all their built-in services like oracle price feeds and onchain randomness without any overhead. Supra is also MultiVM compatible so you can easily deploy your EVM, Move, and SVM smart contracts here.

Get all the freedom, control, and tools you need to build super dApps and bring the world onchain. To learn more, visit www.supra.com/blockworks

- -

$cmETH, a Mantle native liquid restaking token, will launch together with Season 2: Methamorphosis, allowing users to easily participate in restaking, and earn $COOK rewards in addition to other yields.

$COOK, the governance token of mETH Protocol, will allow holders to play a pivotal role in directing the strategic future of mETH Protocol.

Learn more: https://x.com/mETHProtocol

- -

Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors Empire podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER™ device and secure your crypto today.

Buy now at Ledger.com

- -

Timestamps:

00:00 intro

04:04 Why an L2?

16:37 Launching an L2

20:50 Why Optimism?

31:00 Value of Service Providers

39:05 Skale Ad

39:45 Supra Ad

40:41 Mantle Ad

41:32 Uniswao Ad

42:04 Ledger Ad

42:47 Building the App Layer

49:34 Who Needs an L2?

59:35 Bitcoin Renaissance?

01:05:07 5 Year Onchain Outlook

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Hivemind: The AI Memecoin Meta, ETH vs SOL & Stripe's Bridge Acquisition Oct 26, 2024

In this episode, the Hivemind team dives deep into the phenomenon of AI memecoins, unpacking the meteoric rise of GOAT and its implications. They then explore Solana's dominance in the current cycle and what it means for the ecosystem. The conversation shifts to macro concerns as they discuss Paul Tudor Jones and Druckenmiller's warnings about the US fiscal situation. Finally, they analyze Stripe's major $1.1B acquisition of Bridge and its implications for stablecoin adoption. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Ceteris: https://twitter.com/ceterispar1bus

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:17) GOAT AI Meta

(8:18) AI vs Memecoin

(24:45) Who is Winning this Cycle?

(29:52) US Fiscal Situation

(39:58) Kraken L2 & Optimism Superchains

(41:40) Strip Spends $1.1b on Bridge

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Santi's Favorite Memecoins and What Kraken's L2 Means | Roundup Oct 25, 2024

In this episode, we dive deep into why memecoins have become undeniable for both retail and institutional investors. We explore key trading insights from Soros and Druckenmiller that apply to today's crypto market, then examine Kraken's L2 launch and what it means for exchanges. The conversation concludes with Stripe's $1.1B Bridge acquisition and why stablecoins are becoming the "superconductors" of financial services. Thanks for listening!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Explore the SKALE Ecosystem at skale.space/ecosystem and stay up to date with the gas-free blockchain on X at @skalenetwork

- -

Supra Containers are secured by Supra’s L1 nodes and get access to Supra’s 500k TPS throughput, sub-second consensus latency, and all their built-in services like oracle price feeds and onchain randomness without any overhead. Supra is also MultiVM compatible so you can easily deploy your EVM, Move, and SVM smart contracts here.

Get all the freedom, control, and tools you need to build super dApps and bring the world onchain. To learn more, visit www.supra.com/blockworks

- -

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

02:17 NFT Acquisition

10:12 GOAT: New Meta?

28:50 Buy Now, Analyze Later

36:00 Skale Ad

36:39 Supra Ad

37:37 Kraken L2 Launch

43:55 Is Ethereum Hated?

50:32 Token Launches & FDVs

54:48 Stripe Acquires Bridge

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Founder’s Journey (And Return) | Antonio Juliano, dYdX Oct 22, 2024

In this episode, Antonio, founder of dYdX, opens up about his deeply personal journey of stepping down as CEO and ultimately returning to the company. He shares raw insights about founder identity, the emotional toll of building a successful company, and the profound realizations that came from completely disconnecting from his creation. The conversation explores the unique challenges founders face with connection, leadership, and authenticity, while offering a candid look at how Antonio plans to run dYdX differently after his return. Found out what it's actually like being a founder in crypto. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Antonio: https://x.com/antoniomjuliano

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

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Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Explore the SKALE Ecosystem at skale.space/ecosystem and stay up to date with the gas-free blockchain on X at @skalenetwork

- -

The self-custody wallet that's built for swapping. Created for a multi-chain world by the most trusted team in DeFi.

Available on Chrome, iOS, and Android.

- -

Supra Containers are secured by Supra’s L1 nodes and get access to Supra’s 500k TPS throughput, sub-second consensus latency, and all their built-in services like oracle price feeds and onchain randomness without any overhead. Supra is also MultiVM compatible so you can easily deploy your EVM, Move, and SVM smart contracts here.

Get all the freedom, control, and tools you need to build super dApps and bring the world onchain. To learn more, visit www.supra.com/blockworks

- -

$cmETH, a Mantle native liquid restaking token, will launch together with Season 2: Methamorphosis, allowing users to easily participate in restaking, and earn $COOK rewards in addition to other yields.

$COOK, the governance token of mETH Protocol, will allow holders to play a pivotal role in directing the strategic future of mETH Protocol.

Learn more: https://x.com/mETHProtocol

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(02:13) Stepping Down from CEO

(17:09) Returning to Building

(32:57) Skale Ad

(33:36) Supra Ad

(34:32) Uniswap ad

(35:04) Mantle Ad

(35:57) Founders Lessons Learned

(39:30) Advice for Founders

(47:30) Founders Setting Goals

(59:38) Social Strains of Foundership

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Reality of Bitcoin's Election Correlation | The Giver Oct 19, 2024

In this episode, we dive deep into the state of crypto heading into the election with special guest, The Giver. We explore Bitcoin's recent surge and its true correlation with the upcoming election. The Giver shares his contrarian view on Bitcoin's rally and explains why he's shorting altcoins. We also delve into meme coins, discussing their role in portfolio composition and their potential for uncorrelated returns.

Enjoy!

--

Follow The Giver: https://x.com/lazyvillager1

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Join the 1000x Telegram: https://t.me/+fz-2f0cwC6o0MWNh

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

2:54 Bitcoin's Flows & Shift

9:32 The Giver's Crypto Journey

17:57 Long Term Thinking in Short Term Markets

23:27 Edge in Crypto from Private Equity

31:32 Net Short Perspective

44:35 Bitcoin's ATH Move

56:40 GOAT Memecoin

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed

Behind Crypto Conferences, Taking More Risks, and Crypto's Private Equity Frontier | Roundup Oct 18, 2024

In this episode, Yano and Santi dive deep into the evolving landscape of crypto conferences, unpacking the success and struggles of Permissionless 2024. They discuss the launch of Blockworks' new advisory business, offering insights into the growing need for specialized crypto consulting. The conversation then shifts to Santi's ambitious plans for a crypto-focused private equity fund, aiming to transform traditional businesses. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Explore the SKALE Ecosystem at skale.space/ecosystem and stay up to date with the gas-free blockchain on X at @skalenetwork

- -

The self-custody wallet that's built for swapping. Created for a multi-chain world by the most trusted team in DeFi.

Available on Chrome, iOS, and Android.

- -

Supra Containers are secured by Supra’s L1 nodes and get access to Supra’s 500k TPS throughput, sub-second consensus latency, and all their built-in services like oracle price feeds and onchain randomness without any overhead. Supra is also MultiVM compatible so you can easily deploy your EVM, Move, and SVM smart contracts here.

Get all the freedom, control, and tools you need to build super dApps and bring the world onchain. To learn more, visit www.supra.com/blockworks

- -

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:52 Permissionless & Crypto Conferences

24:12 The Value of Crypto Advisory

35:48 Skale Ad

36:28 Supra Ad

37:24 Uniswap Ad

37:57 Business Adoption of Crypto

48:44 Taking Risks in Life

01:03:09 Memecoins & AI

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How Unichain and Geopolitics Are Redefining Crypto's Value | Avichal Garg & Michael Anderson Oct 14, 2024

In this episode, Jason is live from Permissionless with Michael Anderson from Framework Ventures and Avichal Garg from Electric Capital. They delve into the implications of Uniswap's Unichain, exploring its potential impact on ETH, OP, and the broader DeFi ecosystem. The conversation shifts to the evolving landscape of crypto applications and infrastructure, touching on investment strategies in both public and private markets. Finally, they discuss the upcoming U.S. election's influence on crypto regulation and the surprising role of stablecoins in national security.

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Avichal: https://twitter.com/avichal

Follow Michael: https://x.com/im_manderson

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

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Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Anoma is the universal intent machine, introducing a new era of applications where you define the outcomes you want. Anoma’s intent-centric architecture provides a universal operating system for building intent-centric apps compatible with any blockchain. Anoma vastly improves blockchain UX, enables novel applications, and promotes a more human-centric future for decentralized technology.

Follow Anoma at x.com/anoma and signup for the newsletter at anoma.net

- -

Supra Containers are secured by Supra’s L1 nodes and get access to Supra’s 500k TPS throughput, sub-second consensus latency, and all their built-in services like oracle price feeds and onchain randomness without any overhead. Supra is also MultiVM compatible so you can easily deploy your EVM, Move, and SVM smart contracts here.

Get all the freedom, control, and tools you need to build super dApps and bring the world onchain. To learn more, visit www.supra.com/blockworks

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Hivemind: What UniChain Means, Return of Memecoins, and Crypto’s AAA Gaming Moment Oct 12, 2024

In this episode, the Hivemind team dives deep into Uniswap's UniChain announcement, exploring its potential impact on DeFi infrastructure and L2 dynamics. They debate the merits and risks of meme coins versus utility tokens, discussing their role in user onboarding and capital allocation. The conversation shifts to the growing importance of Crypto AI, with insights into upcoming Delphi Digital research. Finally, they analyze the successful launch of Off The Grid, a AAA crypto game. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Logan: https://x.com/LoganJastremski

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7ww

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Anoma is the universal intent machine, introducing a new era of applications where you define the outcomes you want. Anoma’s intent-centric architecture provides a universal operating system for building intent-centric apps compatible with any blockchain. Anoma vastly improves blockchain UX, enables novel applications, and promotes a more human-centric future for decentralized technology.

Follow Anoma at x.com/anoma and signup for the newsletter at anoma.net

- -

Supra Containers are secured by Supra’s L1 nodes and get access to Supra’s 500k TPS throughput, sub-second consensus latency, and all their built-in services like oracle price feeds and onchain randomness without any overhead. Supra is also MultiVM compatible so you can easily deploy your EVM, Move, and SVM smart contracts here.

Get all the freedom, control, and tools you need to build super dApps and bring the world onchain. To learn more, visit www.supra.com/blockworks

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:22) High Throughput Conviction

(13:39) SVM to Ethereum & L2s

(24:52) Limitations & Trade-offs of Systems

(35:44) Unique Applications in Crypto

(41:13) Anoma ad

(42:14) Supra Ad

(43:12) What's Wrong with ETH?

(57:20) Fixing Ethereum

(01:03:11) Alt Chains

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How To Make It This Cycle | 1000x Live Oct 11, 2024

Gm, this week we're live from Permissionless! We discuss the election impact on crypto markets, Bitcoin vs alt's vs memes, how to make it this cycle & why it's now time to lock in. Enjoy!

--

Follow Mike: https://x.com/MikeIppolito_

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Join the 1000x Telegram: https://t.me/+fz-2f0cwC6o0MWNh

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:27) Time To Be Bullish?

(5:54) Election Impact On Crypto

(8:59) Bitcoin vs Alt's vs Memes

(21:19) A.I

(26:48) The 2021 Crypto Credit Cycle

(31:32) Time To Lock In

(36:45) How To Make It This Cycle?

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed

Why Bandwidth is Still Undervalued in Crypto | Logan Jastremski Oct 08, 2024

In this episode, Logan Jastremski, founder of Frictionless Capital, discusses the future of high-throughput blockchains and their current place in the crypto L1 landscape. He delves into the advantages of integrated blockchain solutions like Solana over Ethereum's, and explains why bandwidth and compute power are crucial for the endgame of blockchain scalability. Logan shares insights on the challenges facing Ethereum, the promise of emerging chains like Sui and Aptos, and the importance of focusing on building better products to drive mass adoption in crypto. Stay tuned for all of this spice and much more!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Logan: https://x.com/LoganJastremski

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7ww

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Anoma is the universal intent machine, introducing a new era of applications where you define the outcomes you want. Anoma’s intent-centric architecture provides a universal operating system for building intent-centric apps compatible with any blockchain. Anoma vastly improves blockchain UX, enables novel applications, and promotes a more human-centric future for decentralized technology.

Follow Anoma at x.com/anoma and signup for the newsletter at anoma.net

- -

Supra Containers are secured by Supra’s L1 nodes and get access to Supra’s 500k TPS throughput, sub-second consensus latency, and all their built-in services like oracle price feeds and onchain randomness without any overhead. Supra is also MultiVM compatible so you can easily deploy your EVM, Move, and SVM smart contracts here.

Get all the freedom, control, and tools you need to build super dApps and bring the world onchain. To learn more, visit www.supra.com/blockworks

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:22) High Throughput Conviction

(13:39) SVM to Ethereum & L2s

(24:52) Limitations & Trade-offs of Systems

(35:44) Unique Applications in Crypto

(41:13) Anoma ad

(42:14) Supra Ad

(43:12) What's Wrong with ETH?

(57:20) Fixing Ethereum

(01:03:11) Alt Chains

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

A Founder’s Mindset, DePIN’s Breakthrough, and Stablecoin Models | Roundup Oct 04, 2024

In this episode, Santi and Jason discuss their respective journey’s as founders and investors. They also unpack the growing success of DePIN and payments systems on Solana, and their respective future outlooks. Additionally, they think through portfolio construction in a world dominated by AI. Finally, they close out the episode by breaking down BitGo’s new stablecoin model. Thanks for tuning in!

Resources

Why Air Rights Are Trading on Crypto Rails: https://apple.co/3TUp9hA

How Crypto Fixes the Internet Monopoly: https://apple.co/3XmqRsD

Why GPS Needs Crypto to Evolve: https://apple.co/4eODzHR

Blockworks Disclosures: https://blockworks.co/financial-disclosures

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7ww

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Anoma is the universal intent machine, introducing a new era of applications where you define the outcomes you want. Anoma’s intent-centric architecture provides a universal operating system for building intent-centric apps compatible with any blockchain. Anoma vastly improves blockchain UX, enables novel applications, and promotes a more human-centric future for decentralized technology.

Follow Anoma at x.com/anoma and sign up for the newsletter at anoma.net

–

Supra Containers are secured by Supra’s L1 nodes and get access to Supra’s 500k TPS throughput, sub-second consensus latency, and all their built-in services like oracle price feeds and onchain randomness without any overhead. Supra is also MultiVM compatible so you can easily deploy your EVM, Move, and SVM smart contracts here.

Get all the freedom, control, and tools you need to build super dApps and bring the world onchain. To learn more, visit www.supra.com/blockworks

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:25) Founding and Growing Blockworks

(12:54) Founders vs Investors

(23:14) Santi at Oktoberfest

(26:53) The Secondary Watch Market

(29:18) Permissionless III's Speaker Lineup

(34:13) Anoma ad

(35:15) Supra Ad

(36:13) DePIN and Payments on Solana

(44:45) Does Bitcoin Work as a Safe Haven Asset?

(52:38) Thinking Through Portfolio Construction

(01:04:35) BitGo Announces USDS Stablecoin

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guest

Why Crypto's Capital Allocation is Broken | Jordi Alexander Oct 01, 2024

In this episode, Jordi Alexander exposes the fundamental flaws in how capital is allocated in crypto. Jordi dissects the misaligned incentives, short-term thinking, and hype-driven decision-making that plague the space. He unpacks his take on token economics, the pitfalls of venture capital deals, and the often-overlooked dynamics of supply and demand. Jordi also shares insights on how projects like Mantle are attempting to rectify these issues, and provides a sobering outlook on what needs to change for crypto to realize its true potential. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Jordi: https://twitter.com/gametheorizing

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7ww

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Cronos zkEVM has launched its Pioneer Program,offering early users loyalty points for engaging with Cronos zkEVM & its dapps.

Join the first quest by depositing CRO in the Cronos zkEVM bridge to receive zkCRO & loyalty points at mainnet launch, as well as a chance to win a part of a $30,000 zkCRO giveaway by depositing in the bridge.

Visit zkevm.cronos.org/bridge for more info

- -

Harpie sets the standard in on-chain security, actively monitoring and safeguarding your crypto wallet against theft in real time. It detects, blocks, and recovers stolen assets from risky transactions before they execute, shielding you from even the most advanced hacks and scams. Harpie is free to use and compatible with all Ethereum, Base, Polygon, and Arbitrum wallets.

Protect your crypto today at harpie.io.

- -

Supra Containers are secured by Supra’s L1 nodes and get access to Supra’s 500k TPS throughput, sub-second consensus latency, and all their built-in services like oracle price feeds and onchain randomness without any overhead. Supra is also MultiVM compatible so you can easily deploy your EVM, Move, and SVM smart contracts here.

Get all the freedom, control, and tools you need to build super dApps and bring the world onchain. To learn more, visit www.supra.com/blockworks

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:37) Crypto Today

(07:30) ETH's Journey

(15:25) Truth About Currency Yield

(20:46) Fractionalizing ETH Value Accrual

(27:53) Valuating Digital Assets

(42:49) Cronos Ad

(43:49) Surpa Ad

(44:45) Harpie Ad

(45:38) Venture Dynamics

(56:14) Mantle's Origin & Strategy

(01:07:18) 2025 Outlook

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Hivemind: Conference Circuit, VC Coin Comebacks, and Crypto's Next Narrative Sep 28, 2024

In this episode, the Hivemind team unpacks their biggest insights from Breakpoint and Token2049. They then dive into the surprising resurgence of VC coins, analyzing their performance against memecoins and the potential impact of upcoming unlocks. The discussion then shifts to the market shift, debating Bitcoin's path to potential new highs, Solana's momentum, and how the looming U.S. election could shape crypto's regulatory landscape and next big narrative. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Jake: https://x.com/3xliquidated

Follow Jose: https://x.com/ZeMariaMacedo

Follow Yan: https://x.com/YanLiberman

Follow Duncan: https://x.com/FloodCapital

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:33) Singapore & Conference Circuit

(16:06) Rise of Network States

(22:54) Most Hated & Loved Sectors

(30:19) Ton's Potential

(36:16) Market Sentiment

(46:33) Are Alts Back?

(59:42) VC Game Coin

(1:07:26) Election Impact

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Why We're Uncomfortably Bullish on Crypto | Roundup Sep 27, 2024

In this episode, Santi and Jason reveal their "uncomfortable bullishness" on crypto, despite recent market choppiness. They dissect Kamala Harris's first pro-crypto statements and their potential impact on the industry. They also dive into the growth of DePIN projects, particularly Helium's surprising metrics and its implications for the sector. They share insights from Breakpoint and Token2049, discussing the disconnect between online sentiment and real-world development. They close out by unpacking Santi's vision for transforming traditional businesses using blockchain. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Anoma is the universal intent machine, introducing a new era of applications where you define the outcomes you want. Anoma’s intent-centric architecture provides a universal operating system for building intent-centric apps compatible with any blockchain. Anoma vastly improves blockchain UX, enables novel applications, and promotes a more human-centric future for decentralized technology.

Follow Anoma at x.com/anoma and signup for the newsletter at anoma.net

- -

Supra Containers are secured by Supra’s L1 nodes and get access to Supra’s 500k TPS throughput, sub-second consensus latency, and all their built-in services like oracle price feeds and onchain randomness without any overhead. Supra is also MultiVM compatible so you can easily deploy your EVM, Move, and SVM smart contracts here.

Get all the freedom, control, and tools you need to build super dApps and bring the world onchain. To learn more, visit www.supra.com/blockworks

- -

FBTC is now available on both Ethereum and Mantle Network, and its points-inspired campaign “Sparkle” has officially started, with lucrative and sustainable yields, plus points and token airdrop from Babylon, Mantle’s new token $COOK, and more.

Learn more: https://fbtc.com/ongoing-campaign

- -

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:54 Token2049 Review

04:03 Lessons from the Degens

12:25 Pricing Helium

20:26 Hoffman vs Kain

23:38 Debanking Crypto

28:08 Kamala's Pro Crypto Stance

38:11 Anoma ad

39:13 Supra Ad

40:09 Mantle Ad

41:10 Uncomfortable Bullishness

44:56 Breakpoint Vibes

52:33 Marketability of F1 Drivers

53:49 Family Funds & Crypto

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Time To Lock In With Chiefingza | 1000x Sep 26, 2024

We apologise for any slight audio glitches in today's episode! This week Chief returns to discuss where are we in the cycle, the outlook for majors & alt's, trading the election, the crypto/AI thesis & much more. Enjoy!

--

Follow Chief: https://x.com/chiefingza

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Join the 1000x Telegram: https://t.me/+fz-2f0cwC6o0MWNh

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(3:41) Token2049 Recap

(7:09) Alt L1's

(8:21) Where Are We In The Cycle?

(14:02) The Rate Cut Impact

(20:58) Taking Profits During Parabolic Moves

(25:23) Trading The Election

(31:32) Chief's Trading Process

(36:53) The Crypto/AI Thesis

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed

The Case for a New Internet | Curtis Yarvin & Jake Brukhman, Urbit Sep 24, 2024

In this episode, Urbit founder Curtis Yarvin presents a case for reimagining the internet from the ground up. Yarvin dissects the evolution of the internet from its decentralized origins to today's centralized "social databases," explaining how this shift has degraded online communities and compromised digital sovereignty. He introduces Urbit as a potential solution, detailing its unique approach to digital identity and personal servers. The conversation explores the challenges of centralization, the potential for "accountable monarchies" in digital governance, and how crypto could fundamentally alter the internet's course. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Curtis: https://substack.com/@graymirror

Follow Jake: https://x.com/jbrukh

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7ww

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

The 6th edition of Meridian, a web3 conference hosted by the Stellar Development Foundation is happening in London, England October 15-17, 2024.

Learn more and get your early-bird priced tickets now at meridian.stellar.org by using the code BLOCKWORKSPOD.

- -

Harpie sets the standard in on-chain security, actively monitoring and safeguarding your crypto wallet against theft in real time. It detects, blocks, and recovers stolen assets from risky transactions before they execute, shielding you from even the most advanced hacks and scams. Harpie is free to use and compatible with all Ethereum, Base, Polygon, and Arbitrum wallets.

Protect your crypto today at harpie.io.

- -

Supra Containers are secured by Supra’s L1 nodes and get access to Supra’s 500k TPS throughput, sub-second consensus latency, and all their built-in services like oracle price feeds and onchain randomness without any overhead. Supra is also MultiVM compatible so you can easily deploy your EVM, Move, and SVM smart contracts here.

Get all the freedom, control, and tools you need to build super dApps and bring the world onchain. To learn more, visit www.supra.com/blockworks

- -

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:51 The Evolution of the Internet

08:22 Rise of Centralized Networks

12:15 Future of Decentralized Systems

30:45 Urbit & Blockchains

46:53 Stellar Ad

47:43 Supra Ad

48:39 Harpie Ad

49:32 What is Urbit?

01:15:54 Decentralized Identity and Personal Servers

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Asia's Crypto Boom, Stablecoin Wars, and Crypto's Global Shifts | Roundup Sep 20, 2024

In this episode, the Jason and Santi dive deep into their experiences at Token2049 in Singapore. They discuss the staggering scale of Asian crypto exchanges, the emergence of yield-generating stablecoins, and the stark contrast in user adoption between Asia and the West. The conversation also touches on founder fatigue in the crypto space, Singapore's unique governance model, and the evolving venture capital landscape. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

https://www.topology.vc/deai-map

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Anoma is the universal intent machine, introducing a new era of applications where you define the outcomes you want. Anoma’s intent-centric architecture provides a universal operating system for building intent-centric apps compatible with any blockchain. Anoma vastly improves blockchain UX, enables novel applications, and promotes a more human-centric future for decentralized technology.

Follow Anoma at x.com/anoma and signup for the newsletter at anoma.net

- -

Supra Containers are secured by Supra’s L1 nodes and get access to Supra’s 500k TPS throughput, sub-second consensus latency, and all their built-in services like oracle price feeds and onchain randomness without any overhead. Supra is also MultiVM compatible so you can easily deploy your EVM, Move, and SVM smart contracts here.

Get all the freedom, control, and tools you need to build super dApps and bring the world onchain. To learn more, visit www.supra.com/blockworks

- -

Polygon Labs is developing the next generation of open source zero-knowledge tech to aggregate crypto liquidity and user bases with the AggLayer. To support the aggregated future, the Polygon Community Grants Program was launched with 1 billion tokens — all for Polygon builders.

Season One of the community grants program is live now, and features 35 million in MATIC to support the next generation of Polygon projects!

Join the aggregated future today by applying at https://polygon.technology/grants

- -

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Singapore

02:50 Token2049 Review

11:34 Growth of Crypto in Asia

22:47 Anoma ad

23:49 Supra AD

24:45 Polygon Ad

25:55 Founders Closing Shop

33:38 Lack of L2s

35:14 Singapore Review

42:37 Ventures Raising Funds

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Time To Be Bullish? | 1000x Live Sep 18, 2024

1000x livestreams are your chance to get Avi and Jonah to answer your crypto market questions in real time! This episode we discuss how to trade crypto's current market regime, Fed rate cuts, the BTC to alt rotation, is ETH the XRP of this cycle & much more. Enjoy!

--

Follow Avi: https://x.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://x.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://x.com/1000xPod

Join the 1000x Telegram: https://t.me/+fz-2f0cwC6o0MWNh

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:45) Active vs Passive Trading

(8:45) Fed Rate Cuts

(18:47) Bitcoin To Alt Rotation

(29:41) Surviving As A Trader

(34:12) Finding Trades In Crypto

(43:28) DeFi Renaissance

(48:30) ETH Is The XRP Of This Cycle

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed

Are We Overhyping AI in Crypto? | Casey Caruso & Mohamed Baioumy Sep 17, 2024

In this episode, we explore the critical intersection of AI and crypto with Casey Caruso and Mohamed Baioumy. They delve into why decentralization could be the key to democratizing AI, unpack edge computing, local AI models, and the potential for crypto and AI. We also tackle the challenges of privacy, the importance of solving real-world problems, and the broader implications of AI development on society. Thanks for tuning in!

Resources

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Casey: https://x.com/caseykcaruso

Follow Mohamed: https://x.com/mo_baioumy

https://x.com/realallenng/status/1831271083926053013?s=46&t=jvYd6ynEZAVc6kvMtila9g

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7ww

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

The 6th edition of Meridian, a web3 conference hosted by the Stellar Development Foundation is happening in London, England October 15-17, 2024.

Learn more and get your early-bird priced tickets now at meridian.stellar.org by using the code BLOCKWORKSPOD.

- -

Harpie sets the standard in on-chain security, actively monitoring and safeguarding your crypto wallet against theft in real time. It detects, blocks, and recovers stolen assets from risky transactions before they execute, shielding you from even the most advanced hacks and scams. Harpie is free to use and compatible with all Ethereum, Base, Polygon, and Arbitrum wallets.

Protect your crypto today at harpie.io.

- -

Polygon Labs is developing the next generation of open source zero-knowledge tech to aggregate crypto liquidity and user bases with the AggLayer. To support the aggregated future, the Polygon Community Grants Program was launched with 1 billion tokens — all for Polygon builders.

Season One of the community grants program is live now, and features 35 million in MATIC to support the next generation of Polygon projects!

Join the aggregated future today by applying at https://polygon.technology/grants

- -

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:00 What's Happening in Crypto AI

10:21 What is Possible with Crypto & AI

16:28 Usecase of Privacy in AI

21:45 Privacy & Local AI Models

32:11 Stellar Ad

33:02 Polygon Ad

34:09 Harpie Ad

35:24 Overrated AI

46:11 Inevitability of AI Agents Using Crypto

01:05:23 Is AI & Crypto Inevitable

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

All-In Summit, Inevitable Superintelligence, and Crypto's Role | Hivemind Sep 14, 2024

In this episode, the Delphi team dives deep into the real impact of AI on the global economy and job market. They explore the potential for AI to create a deflationary environment and discuss how this might affect various industries. The conversation then shifts to the intersection of AI and crypto, examining potential investment opportunities and the role of open-source models. The team also touches on the All-In Summit, the lull in crypto, and Delphi's upcoming CryptoAI accelerator program.

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Ceteris: https://x.com/ceterispar1bus

Follow Jose: https://x.com/ZeMariaMacedo

Follow Yan: https://x.com/YanLiberman

Follow Duncan: https://x.com/FloodCapital

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:38) All In Summit

(11:31) Inevitability of Compute Increase

(17:41) Impact of AI Adoption

(29:31) Investing in AI

(35:13) Best AI Chatbots

(42:22) What's Real in Crypto & AI

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

What the West Misunderstands about Crypto in Asia | Allen Ng, Everest Venture Group Sep 13, 2024

In this episode, Allen, of Everest Ventures Group (EVG), dives deep into the crypto landscape in Asia. He discusses the cultural nuances of doing business in Asia, the power dynamics between exchanges, developers, and "crypto gangs," and the unique characteristics of various Asian markets. Allen shares insights on enterprise adoption, the impact of major events like FTX and Terra, and offers valuable advice for Western companies looking to expand into Asia. Thanks for tuning in!

Resources

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Allen: https://x.com/realallenng

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Anoma is the universal intent machine, introducing a new era of applications where you define the outcomes you want. Anoma’s intent-centric architecture provides a universal operating system for building intent-centric apps compatible with any blockchain. Anoma vastly improves blockchain UX, enables novel applications, and promotes a more human-centric future for decentralized technology.

Follow Anoma at x.com/anoma and signup for the newsletter at anoma.net

- -

re.al is the permissionless L2 for tokenized RWAs built on Arbitrum Orbit and the first L2 to return chain and protocol fees back to users, in reETH, ensuring they benefit from ecosystem growth. re.al has just launched a fully-transparent rewards (points) program returning 10% of $RWA supply to early users.

Not investment advice or product solicitation and not aimed at US persons. https://re.al/rewards/airdrop/O4UNU

- -

FBTC is now available on both Ethereum and Mantle Network, and its points-inspired campaign “Sparkle” has officially started, with lucrative and sustainable yields, plus points and token airdrop from Babylon, Mantle’s new token $COOK, and more.

Learn more: https://fbtc.com/ongoing-campaign

- -

Polygon Labs is developing the next generation of open source zero-knowledge tech to aggregate crypto liquidity and user bases with the AggLayer. To support the aggregated future, the Polygon Community Grants Program was launched with 1 billion tokens — all for Polygon builders.

Season One of the community grants program is live now, and features 35 million in MATIC to support the next generation of Polygon projects!

Join the aggregated future today by applying at https://polygon.technology/grants

--

Timestamp:

01:39 EVG Background

11:01 Regulatory Impact of FTX & Terra

20:24 Who has Power in Asia?

32:02 Anoma ad

33:04 Mantle Ad

34:03 Polygon ad

35:11 Re.al Ad

36:12 Crypto Community Differences

45:03 Exchange Wars

53:43 Conferences in Asia

01:02:07 App Scene in Asia

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How Crypto Fixes the Internet Monopoly | Neil Chatterjee, DAWN & Andrena Sep 10, 2024

In this episode, we dive deep into decentralized internet with Neil Chatterjee, the founder of DAWN. Neil explains the current state of internet infrastructure, the hidden costs behind ISP pricing, and how Dawn aims to disrupt this model using crypto. We explore the concept of Decentralized Autonomous Wireless Networks (DAWNs), discussing its potential to dramatically reduce internet costs for consumers while empowering households to become part of the network. The conversation also touches on the challenges of building a decentralized internet infrastructure, the role of Solana in Dawn's ecosystem, and the broader vision for the future of deepin projects. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Neil: https://x.com/neilc_dawn

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7ww

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

The 6th edition of Meridian, a web3 conference hosted by the Stellar Development Foundation is happening in London, England October 15-17, 2024.

Learn more and get your early-bird priced tickets now at meridian.stellar.org by using the code BLOCKWORKSPOD.

- -

Cronos zkEVM has launched its Pioneer Program,offering early users loyalty points for engaging with Cronos zkEVM & its dapps.

Join the first quest by depositing CRO in the Cronos zkEVM bridge to receive zkCRO & loyalty points at mainnet launch, as well as a chance to win a part of a $30,000 zkCRO giveaway by depositing in the bridge.

Visit zkevm.cronos.org/bridge for more info

- -

Harpie sets the standard in on-chain security, actively monitoring and safeguarding your crypto wallet against theft in real time. It detects, blocks, and recovers stolen assets from risky transactions before they execute, shielding you from even the most advanced hacks and scams. Harpie is free to use and compatible with all Ethereum, Base, Polygon, and Arbitrum wallets.

Protect your crypto today at harpie.io.

- -

Polygon Labs is developing the next generation of open source zero-knowledge tech to aggregate crypto liquidity and user bases with the AggLayer. To support the aggregated future, the Polygon Community Grants Program was launched with 1 billion tokens — all for Polygon builders.

Season One of the community grants program is live now, and features 35 million in MATIC to support the next generation of Polygon projects!

Join the aggregated future today by applying at https://polygon.technology/grants

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) intro

(02:23) Internet Infra of Today

(06:12) Whats Wrong with Internet Today?

(10:44) Andrena Business Model

(13:01) Unique Unit Economics of Internet

(23:28) Why Crypto?

(36:58) Stellar Ad

(37:48) Cronos Ad

(38:46) Polygon Ad

(39:54) Harpie Ad

(41:09) Scale of Dawn & Adoption

(48:23) Biggest Risks?

(54:07) Token Incentives & Design

(59:40) Vision of Internet & Broadband

(01:07:19) Why Solana?

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Is Crypto Quietly Quitting? | Roundup Sep 06, 2024

In this episode, we dive deep into the current state of the crypto, unpacking the phenomenon of "quiet quitting" and the shifting landscape of adoption. We examine the regulatory challenges facing OpenSea and Binance, and shed light on the often-overlooked dominance of Asian crypto markets. The conversation then turns to the concept of "time billionaires" and the true value of our most precious resource. Finally, we address the recent Maker rebrand and discuss the future of DeFi and stablecoins in an increasingly competitive market. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7ww

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Anoma is the universal intent machine, introducing a new era of applications where you define the outcomes you want. Anoma’s intent-centric architecture provides a universal operating system for building intent-centric apps compatible with any blockchain. Anoma vastly improves blockchain UX, enables novel applications, and promotes a more human-centric future for decentralized technology.

Follow Anoma at x.com/anoma and signup for the newsletter at anoma.net

- -

FBTC is now available on both Ethereum and Mantle Network, and its points-inspired campaign “Sparkle” has officially started, with lucrative and sustainable yields, plus points and token airdrop from Babylon, Mantle’s new token $COOK, and more.

Learn more: https://fbtc.com/ongoing-campaign

- -

re.al is the permissionless L2 for tokenized RWAs built on Arbitrum Orbit and the first L2 to return chain and protocol fees back to users, in reETH, ensuring they benefit from ecosystem growth. re.al has just launched a fully-transparent rewards (points) program returning 10% of $RWA supply to early users.

Not investment advice or product solicitation and not aimed at US persons. https://re.al/rewards/airdrop/O4UNU

- -

Polygon Labs is developing the next generation of open source zero-knowledge tech to aggregate crypto liquidity and user bases with the AggLayer. To support the aggregated future, the Polygon Community Grants Program was launched with 1 billion tokens — all for Polygon builders.

Season One of the community grants program is live now, and features 35 million in MATIC to support the next generation of Polygon projects!

Join the aggregated future today by applying at https://polygon.technology/grants

- -

Timestamps:

00:00 intro

02:00 Historic Empire Month

04:00 Korean Blockchain Week

07:44 Asia Startup Ecosystem

18:54 Social Growth

23:50 Wells Notice & CFTC

36:00 Anoma ad

37:02 Mantle Ad

38:02 Polygon Ad

39:10 Re.al Ad

40:11 Is Crypto Good?

54:16 Quiet Quitting in Crypto

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

--

Why Is Crypto Dumping? | 1000x Live Sep 05, 2024

1000x livestreams are your chance to get Avi and Jonah to answer your crypto market questions in real time.

--

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Join the 1000x Telegram: https://t.me/+fz-2f0cwC6o0MWNh

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed

Is MegaETH the AWS of Crypto Infrastructure? | Namik and Shuyao Sep 03, 2024

In this episode, we dive deep into MegaETH. Namik and Shuyao discuss their unique approach of centralized sequencing and decentralized validation, their commitment to Ethereum, and their vision for enabling truly innovative Web3 applications. They explain the technical aspects of their solution, including extreme node specialization and hardware requirements. The conversation also touches on ecosystem building, the challenges of the current crypto landscape, and the urgent need for meaningful adoption of blockspace. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Shuyao: https://x.com/hotpot_dao

Follow Namik: https://x.com/NamikMuduroglu

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

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Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7ww

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

The 6th edition of Meridian, a web3 conference hosted by the Stellar Development Foundation is happening in London, England October 15-17, 2024.

Learn more and get your early-bird priced tickets now at meridian.stellar.org by using the code BLOCKWORKSPOD.

- -

Harpie sets the standard in on-chain security, actively monitoring and safeguarding your crypto wallet against theft in real time. It detects, blocks, and recovers stolen assets from risky transactions before they execute, shielding you from even the most advanced hacks and scams. Harpie is free to use and compatible with all Ethereum, Base, Polygon, and Arbitrum wallets.

Protect your crypto today at harpie.io.

- -

Timestamps:

(02:11) Origin Story of MegaEth

(07:43) What Needs to Be Decentralized?

(16:47) Hardware Specialization

(29:30) Stellar Ad

(30:20) Cronos Ad

(31:15) Polygon Ad

(31:52) Harpie Ad

(32:45) Building an App Ecosystem

(47:34) L2 Exodus of Ethereum

(53:09) Roadmap

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Gasless Crypto, Finding Narrative Market Fit, and Surviving Hype Cycles | Jack O'Holleran, Skale Sep 02, 2024

In this episode, we are joined back Jack O'Holleran to unpack the potential of gas-free blockchains and why these are necessary for mass adoption. We also explore the double-edged sword of "narrative market fit" in crypto, discussing how hype can both help and hinder true innovation. The conversation then shifts to the importance of building for crypto's endgame, the challenges of building in crypto, and how macroeconomic and political factors could shape the industry's trajectory. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Jack: https://x.com/jackoholleran

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

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Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:35) Skale's Origin Story

(12:52) What is Skale Building For?

(18:18) Crypto's Change to Fundamentalism

(24:13) Gas Free Blockchains

(29:40) Ecosystem Growth

(41:12) Running a Crypto Company Today

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

What Durov's Arrest Means, Maker's Sky Money Pivot and Crypto's Censorship Bull Case | Hivemind Aug 31, 2024

In this episode of Hivemind we dive into the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov and its implications for digital freedom. The team explores Maker's rebranding to Skynet and what this means for DeFi. We also debate whether increasing censorship could actually be bullish for crypto, examining the push towards decentralized platforms. The conversation touches on market movements, the ETH/BTC ratio, and the evolving landscape of stablecoins. Throughout, the panel wrestles with the tension between innovation, regulation, and crypto's original ethos.

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Ceteris: https://x.com/ceterispar1bus

Follow Jose: https://x.com/ZeMariaMacedo

Follow Yan: https://x.com/YanLiberman

Follow Duncan: https://x.com/FloodCapital

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

00:58 Why is Crypto Not Moving?

05:40 Is ETH the XRP this Cycle?

10:23 ETH Bull Case

12:33 Pavel Djurov of Telegram Arrested

27:17 Censorship & Crypto's Usecase

38:43 Maker Rebrand to Skynet

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Why the Dollar's Stablecoin Update is Inevitable | Jeremy Allaire, Circle Aug 30, 2024

In this episode, Jeremy Allaire, CEO of Circle, discusses the future of money. He explains how stablecoins are transforming global finance by increasing the velocity of money transfers and reducing friction in transactions. Allaire shares insights on the regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies, Circle's journey to become a publicly traded company, and his vision for a more efficient and accessible financial system. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Anoma is the universal intent machine, introducing a new era of applications where you define the outcomes you want. Anoma’s intent-centric architecture provides a universal operating system for building intent-centric apps compatible with any blockchain. Anoma vastly improves blockchain UX, enables novel applications, and promotes a more human-centric future for decentralized technology.

Follow Anoma at x.com/anoma and signup for the newsletter at anoma.net

- -

re.al is the permissionless L2 for tokenized RWAs built on Arbitrum Orbit and the first L2 to return chain and protocol fees back to users, in reETH, ensuring they benefit from ecosystem growth. re.al has just launched a fully-transparent rewards (points) program returning 10% of $RWA supply to early users.

Not investment advice or product solicitation and not aimed at US persons. https://re.al/rewards/airdrop/O4UNU

- -

Renaud Partners has built the most elite network of native crypto marketers globally.

They create custom, expert teams to support founders with transformative strategy work.

If you’re a founder or a VC looking for support for your teams, head on over to RenaudPartners.com or give their co-founder Geoff a follow on x at https://x.com/ReoffGenaud

- -

Timestamps:

(01:53) The US Dollar Architecture

(17:24) Regulatory Efforts for Stablecoin Money

(21:41) Transitioning Money to Stablecoins

(28:59) CBDC Endgame

(51:36) Anoma ad

(52:38) Re.al Ad

(53:37) Invisible North Ad

(54:34) Impact of Transparency in Financial Systems

(58:18) Value of Decentralized Systems

(01:02:11) Impact of Interest Rates

(01:07:19) Stablecoin Innovation

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Can Bitcoin Break Through $70k, Or Lower? | 1000x Live Aug 28, 2024

1000x livestreams are your chance to get Avi and Jonah to answer your crypto market questions in real time. We deep dive into what's next for crypto, Telegram/TON, is ETH this cycles XRP, how to improve trade execution & more before ending the episode with a live Q&A segment. Enjoy!

--

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Join the 1000x Telegram: https://t.me/+fz-2f0cwC6o0MWNh

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:06) BTC Is Rangebound

(6:53) Telegram

(18:19) Is ETH The XRP Of This Cycle?

(28:45) ETH Pair Trades

(31:45) Trade Execution

(40:48) Q&A

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed

How Global Liquidity Cycles Drive Crypto's $100T Target | Raoul Pal & Dan Tapiero Aug 27, 2024

In this episode, Raoul Pal and Dan Tapiero explain how global liquidity cycles could propel crypto to a staggering $100 trillion market. They break down the "Everything Code" concept, explaining how broader economic trends are setting the stage for crypto's explosive growth. Pal and Tapiero unpack China's economic challenges, debate AI's impact on employment, and share their strategies for portfolio allocations. From Bitcoin's potential million-dollar valuation to the emergence of new layer-1 blockchains, you don't want to miss this one!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Raoul: https://x.com/RaoulGMI?

Follow Dan: https://x.com/DTAPCAP

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

The 6th edition of Meridian, a web3 conference hosted by the Stellar Development Foundation is happening in London, England October 15-17, 2024.

Learn more and get your early-bird priced tickets now at meridian.stellar.org by using the code BLOCKWORKSPOD.

- -

Harpie sets the standard in on-chain security, actively monitoring and safeguarding your crypto wallet against theft in real time. It detects, blocks, and recovers stolen assets from risky transactions before they execute, shielding you from even the most advanced hacks and scams. Harpie is free to use and compatible with all Ethereum, Base, Polygon, and Arbitrum wallets.

Protect your crypto today at harpie.io.

- -

Renaud Partners has built the most elite network of native crypto marketers globally.

They create custom, expert teams to support founders with transformative strategy work.

If you’re a founder or a VC looking for support for your teams, head on over to RenaudPartners.com or give their co-founder Geoff a follow on x at https://x.com/ReoffGenaud

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:16) Dan & Raoul Origin Story

(05:21) The Global Macro Liquidity Cycle

(15:14) Who Drives the Cycle?

(20:14) Do US Presidents Impact Cycles?

(23:46) Why We are Not in a Recession

(28:28) Best Portfolio Today

(34:39) Stellar Ad

(35:29) Invisible North Ad

(36:24) MyPrize

(37:00) Harpie Ad

(38:15) Trading Cycles

(48:21) Pitch for LPs

(01:01:04) 12-Month Predictions

(01:04:44) Election Impact

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Untold Story of Delphi Digital's Rise | Jose, Yan, Anil Aug 23, 2024

In this episode, Jason is joined by the founders of Delphi Digital to talk about their journey from a small research firm to an investing, research, and consulting juggernaut. They unpack their unique "umbrella thinking" approach to decision-making, the challenges of managing a rapidly growing organization and portfolio, and their insights into the current state of the crypto market They also explore emerging trends in crypto including AI, gaming and potential impact on political changes in the industry. Finally, they share their bullish views on the future of crypto and the infrastructure needed to support its growth. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Jose: https://x.com/zemariamacedo

Follow Yan: https://x.com/yanliberman

Follow Anil: https://x.com/anildelphi

Follow Delphi Digital: https://x.com/Delphi_Digital

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Anoma is the universal intent machine, introducing a new era of applications where you define the outcomes you want. Anoma’s intent-centric architecture provides a universal operating system for building intent-centric apps compatible with any blockchain. Anoma vastly improves blockchain UX, enables novel applications, and promotes a more human-centric future for decentralized technology.

Follow Anoma at x.com/anoma and signup for the newsletter at anoma.net

- -

re.al is the permissionless L2 for tokenized RWAs built on Arbitrum Orbit and the first L2 to return chain and protocol fees back to users, in reETH, ensuring they benefit from ecosystem growth. re.al has just launched a fully-transparent rewards (points) program returning 10% of $RWA supply to early users.

Not investment advice or product solicitation and not aimed at US persons. https://re.al/rewards/airdrop/O4UNU

- -

Renaud Partners has built the most elite network of native crypto marketers globally.

They create custom, expert teams to support founders with transformative strategy work.

If you’re a founder or a VC looking for support for your teams, head on over to RenaudPartners.com or give their co-founder Geoff a follow on x at https://x.com/ReoffGenaud

- -

Timestamps

(00:00) Introduction

(01:21) Delphi Origin Story

(12:25) Birth of Fat Protocol Thesis

(16:08) Pivoting from Research to Investing

(20:40) Portfolio Growth

(25:08) Decision Making Process

(30:10) Operations & Team Structure

(35:55) Selling Tokens

(40:02) Anoma ad

(41:03) Re.al Ad

(42:03) Invisible North Ad

(43:00) Delphi 10 Year Vision

(48:26) Making Money this Cycle

(54:15) Where are We in the Cycle?

(01:01:35) Hottest Narratives this Cycle

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Can Crypto Bounce? | 1000x Aug 21, 2024

In this episode, we try to figure out how to use Twitch. We discuss Pump.fun, can crypto bounce & catch up to equities, finding crypto's next big trade, BTC miners, the AI narrative & more. Enjoy!

--

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:23) Pump.fun & Memes

(11:09) Time To Be Bullish?

(16:51) Tron & The L1 Trade

(20:46) Portfolio Structure & Pair Trading

(25:52) Bitcoin Miners & AI

(36:41) L2s Are Cannibalizing ETH

(41:42) Macro Tailwinds For Bitcoin

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed

Building the Perfect Crypto Ecosystem in 2024 | Keone & Smokeythebera Aug 20, 2024

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of Layer 1 ecosystems with the founders of Monad and Berachain. The conversation explores the intricacies of community building, brand development, and the challenges of attracting developers. Keone and Smokey share their strategies for ecosystem growth, discuss the importance of interoperability, and offer their vision for the future of decentralized applications. To close out we discuss the role of tokens in project development and the delicate balance between technical innovation and user adoption. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Keone: https://x.com/keoneHD

Follow Smokey: https://x.com/SmokeyTheBera

https://x.com/rushimanche/status/1823412883922841699

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

The 6th edition of Meridian, a web3 conference hosted by the Stellar Development Foundation is happening in London, England October 15-17, 2024.

Learn more and get your early-bird priced tickets now at meridian.stellar.org by using the code BLOCKWORKSPOD.

- -

Step into MyPrize—the online multiplayer casino that lets you battle your friends and play alongside creators. On MyPrize, you're invited to get rowdy and share every victory and defeat with your pals. Because we know the only thing more fun than beating the house is beating your friends.

Get started with $20 free when you deposit or purchase of $10 or more: https://myprize.com/invite/Empire

- -

Harpie sets the standard in on-chain security, actively monitoring and safeguarding your crypto wallet against theft in real time. It detects, blocks, and recovers stolen assets from risky transactions before they execute, shielding you from even the most advanced hacks and scams. Harpie is free to use and compatible with all Ethereum, Base, Polygon, and Arbitrum wallets.

Protect your crypto today at harpie.io.

- -

Renaud Partners has built the most elite network of native crypto marketers globally.

They create custom, expert teams to support founders with transformative strategy work.

If you’re a founder or a VC looking for support for your teams, head on over to RenaudPartners.com or give their co-founder Geoff a follow on x at https://x.com/ReoffGenaud

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:19) Community & Culture of L1s

(09:55) Ecosystem Exclusivity

(13:33) Risk of Mercenary Devs

(21:21) Founder Brand Building

(27:51) Advice to App Builders

(32:49) Differentiation in L1 Space

(38:18) Crypto BD Today

(46:09) Stellar Ad

(47:00) Invisible North Ad

(47:54) MyPrize

(48:31) Harpie Ad

(49:45) Future of Eco Apps

(58:28) Role of Interop

(01:03:12) What is App Success?

(01:07:28) Monad & Berachain Competitors

(01:19:28) Price & Tokens

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Market Dynamics, Token Valuations, Eth vs Sol Scaling, and Crypto Politics | The Hivemind Aug 17, 2024

In this episode of The Hivemind, the team dives deep into the current state of crypto markets, discussing the market chop. They explore the evolving landscape of Ethereum's L2 ecosystem, comparing it to Solana's approach and debating the future of DeFi. The conversation shifts to the political implications for crypto, analyzing recent advisor selections by Kamala Harris. Finally, they touch on the Eigen Layer controversy and the concept of restaking, questioning its true value in the ecosystem.

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Ceteris: https://x.com/ceterispar1bus

Follow Jose: https://x.com/ZeMariaMacedo

Follow Yan: https://x.com/YanLiberman

Follow Duncan: https://x.com/FloodCapital

Follow Delphi: https://x.com/Delphi_Digital

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:56) Surviving Market Chop

(8:44) Token Unlock Expectations

(14:43) Token Valuations & Revenue

(23:24) ETH Roadmap Disconnect

(29:48) Is the L2 Roadmap Good?

(40:36) Is Kamala Impacting Prices?

(45:07) Eigen Layer Airdrop Scandal

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

wBTC Concerns, EigenLayer Ethics, and Kamala's New Advisors | Roundup Aug 16, 2024

In today's episode, Santi and Jason dive deep into the recent WBTC drama involving BitGo and Justin Sun, exploring its implications for the crypto industry. We discuss the potential impact of Kamala Harris's advisors on crypto regulation and debate the manipulation of prediction markets in politics. We also discuss whether crypto regulatory crackdown might have peaked. The conversation then shifts to the Eigen Layer airdrop scandal, examining the ethical considerations in crypto startups. Finally, we explore the future of shared sequencing and touch on the importance of transparency in the crypto space. Thanks for tuning in!

Resources

https://x.com/JasonYanowitz/status/1823484121253110015

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Anoma is the universal intent machine, introducing a new era of applications where you define the outcomes you want. Anoma’s intent-centric architecture provides a universal operating system for building intent-centric apps compatible with any blockchain. Anoma vastly improves blockchain UX, enables novel applications, and promotes a more human-centric future for decentralized technology.

Follow Anoma at x.com/anoma and signup for the newsletter at anoma.net

- -

Avalanche is a smart contracts platform that scales infinitely and regularly finalizes transactions in less than one second. Its novel consensus protocol, Subnet infrastructure, and HyperSDK toolkit enable Web3 developers to easily launch powerful, custom blockchain solutions.

Build anything you want, any way you want, on the eco-friendly blockchain designed for Web3 devs.

Start building today at https://www.avax.network/

- -

re.al is the permissionless L2 for tokenized RWAs built on Arbitrum Orbit and the first L2 to return chain and protocol fees back to users, in reETH, ensuring they benefit from ecosystem growth. re.al has just launched a fully-transparent rewards (points) program returning 10% of $RWA supply to early users.

Not investment advice or product solicitation and not aimed at US persons. https://re.al/rewards/airdrop/O4UNU

- -

Step into MyPrize—the online multiplayer casino that lets you battle your friends and play alongside creators. On MyPrize, you're invited to get rowdy and share every victory and defeat with your pals. Because we know the only thing more fun than beating the house is beating your friends.

Get started with $20 free when you deposit or purchase of $10 or more: https://myprize.com/invite/Empire

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:45) Educational Tracks

(12:09) WBTC History & Drama

(26:05) Coinbase cbBTC Launch

(30:31) Are Prediction Markets Manipulated?

(38:41) Anoma ad

(39:43) Re.al Ad

(40:43) Ava Labs Ad

(41:41) MyPrize

(42:19) Kamala Advisors

(48:48) Is Crypto Crackdown Over?

(53:47) Eigen Layer Airdrop Scandal

(01:05:09) Financial Disclosures

(01:10:03) Death of Shared Sequencing

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Unlocking Modular Solana: The End of L2 Tradeoffs? | Anil Kumar Aug 13, 2024

In this episode, Anil from Rome Protocol unpacks using Solana's infrastructure for Ethereum L2 sequencing. The discussion covers the challenges of centralized sequencers, the importance of MEV in the L2 ecosystem, and the potential for crosschain atomic transactions. The conversation delves into how combining elements from different blockchains might address scalability issues without sacrificing decentralization or security. The episode also touches on the broader implications of this approach for blockchain interoperability and the future of modular blockchain architecture.scalability.

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Anil: https://x.com/anilkumar827/

https://x.com/ceterispar1bus/status/1820837865875497188

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

The 6th edition of Meridian, a web3 conference hosted by the Stellar Development Foundation is happening in London, England October 15-17, 2024.

Learn more and get your early-bird priced tickets now at meridian.stellar.org by using the code BLOCKWORKSPOD.

- -

Avalanche is a smart contracts platform that scales infinitely and regularly finalizes transactions in less than one second. Its novel consensus protocol, Subnet infrastructure, and HyperSDK toolkit enable Web3 developers to easily launch powerful, custom blockchain solutions.

Build anything you want, any way you want, on the eco-friendly blockchain designed for Web3 devs.

Start building today at https://www.avax.network/

- -

Harpie sets the standard in on-chain security, actively monitoring and safeguarding your crypto wallet against theft in real time. It detects, blocks, and recovers stolen assets from risky transactions before they execute, shielding you from even the most advanced hacks and scams. Harpie is free to use and compatible with all Ethereum, Base, Polygon, and Arbitrum wallets.

Protect your crypto today at harpie.io.

- -

Renaud Partners has built the most elite network of native crypto marketers globally.

They create custom, expert teams to support founders with transformative strategy work.

If you’re a founder or a VC looking for support for your teams, head on over to RenaudPartners.com or give their co-founder Geoff a follow on x at https://x.com/ReoffGenaud

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:55) Modularization of Solana

(12:37) Why Solana?

(17:55) Why Offer Sequencing to a 3rd Party

(25:56) Future of Blockchain Architecture

(28:41) Stellar Ad

(29:32) Invisible North Ad

(30:27) Ava Labs Ad

(31:25) Harpie Ad

(32:40) Is MEV the Most Valuable?

(39:29) L2 Decision Making

(47:19) Why Build in Crypto?

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Are We Actually in a New Cycle? | Roundup Aug 09, 2024

In today's episode, Santi, Jason, and special guest Pranav debate if we are we truly in a new crypto cycle. They analyze the uneven market recovery, with Solana and meme coins outperforming while other assets struggle. The conversation explores potential hidden leverage, the impact of the upcoming U.S. presidential election, and strategies for navigating market uncertainty. They also discuss the evolving dApp ecosystem and make predictions about future dominant crypto assets, all while questioning whether the current market represents a genuine new cycle or merely a false start. You don't want to miss this episode!

Resources

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Anoma is the universal intent machine, introducing a new era of applications where you define the outcomes you want. Anoma’s intent-centric architecture provides a universal operating system for building intent-centric apps compatible with any blockchain. Anoma vastly improves blockchain UX, enables novel applications, and promotes a more human-centric future for decentralized technology.

Follow Anoma at x.com/anoma and signup for the newsletter at anoma.net

- -

Avalanche is a smart contracts platform that scales infinitely and regularly finalizes transactions in less than one second. Its novel consensus protocol, Subnet infrastructure, and HyperSDK toolkit enable Web3 developers to easily launch powerful, custom blockchain solutions.

Build anything you want, any way you want, on the eco-friendly blockchain designed for Web3 devs.

Start building today at https://www.avax.network/

- -

re.al is the permissionless L2 for tokenized RWAs built on Arbitrum Orbit and the first L2 to return chain and protocol fees back to users, in reETH, ensuring they benefit from ecosystem growth. re.al has just launched a fully-transparent rewards (points) program returning 10% of $RWA supply to early users.

Not investment advice or product solicitation and not aimed at US persons. https://re.al/rewards/airdrop/O4UNU

- -

Step into MyPrize—the online multiplayer casino that lets you battle your friends and play alongside creators. On MyPrize, you're invited to get rowdy and share every victory and defeat with your pals. Because we know the only thing more fun than beating the house is beating your friends.

Get started with $20 free when you deposit or purchase of $10 or more: https://myprize.com/invite/Empire

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:28) What's Outperforming?

(15:43) Impact of Token Unlocks

(27:52) Scaling into Trades

(37:18) Anoma Ad

(38:19) Re.al Ad

(39:18) MyPrize Ad

(39:54) Ava Labs Ad

(40:52) Value of Cash

(49:04) Trading Presidential Election

(57:25) Why is Jump Selling?

(01:06:10) Cycle outlook

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Mastering the Psychology of Crypto Cycles | David Kalk & Jeff Park Aug 07, 2024

In this episode, David Kalk of Reflexive Capital and Jeff Park of Bitwise explore the critical role of psychology in crypto trading. They argue that mastering one's emotions and biases is the key to outperforming in the highly volatile and reflexive crypto markets. They unpack the limitations of traditional venture approaches, the potential for liquid strategies, and why psychological resilience may be the most valuable edge in today's crypto landscape. They share their perspectives on managing trading psychology, adapting to market regimes, and the future of institutional crypto investing.

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidkalk/

Follow Jeff: https://x.com/dgt10011

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

The 6th edition of Meridian, a web3 conference hosted by the Stellar Development Foundation is happening in London, England October 15-17, 2024.

Learn more and get your early-bird priced tickets now at meridian.stellar.org by using the code BLOCKWORKSPOD.

- -

Avalanche is a smart contracts platform that scales infinitely and regularly finalizes transactions in less than one second. Its novel consensus protocol, Subnet infrastructure, and HyperSDK toolkit enable Web3 developers to easily launch powerful, custom blockchain solutions.

Build anything you want, any way you want, on the eco-friendly blockchain designed for Web3 devs.

Start building today at https://www.avax.network/

- -

Harpie sets the standard in on-chain security, actively monitoring and safeguarding your crypto wallet against theft in real time. It detects, blocks, and recovers stolen assets from risky transactions before they execute, shielding you from even the most advanced hacks and scams. Harpie is free to use and compatible with all Ethereum, Base, Polygon, and Arbitrum wallets.

Protect your crypto today at harpie.io.

- -

Renaud Partners has built the most elite network of native crypto marketers globally.

They create custom, expert teams to support founders with transformative strategy work.

If you’re a founder or a VC looking for support for your teams, head on over to RenaudPartners.com or give their co-founder Geoff a follow on x at https://x.com/ReoffGenaud

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:58) David & Jeff Intros

(06:03) Crypto's Liquid Inefficient Market

(25:07) LP Priorities

(29:24) Liquid vs Private Markets

(31:57) Value of Psychological Edge

(44:29) Stellar Ad

(45:17) Invisible North Ad

(46:12) Avalanche Ad

(47:09) Harpie Ad

(48:01) Navigating Market Environment

(01:03:37) Managing Emotions in Markets

(01:12:29) Is Crypto Worth it?

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Crypto's Flash Crash, What Next? | 1000x Aug 06, 2024

In this episode, we discuss the sudden market unwind that sent crypto cascading over the weekend. We deep dive into the short vs long term setup for crypto as markets try to rebound. Stay safe out there & enjoy!

--

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Perennial is an on-chain derivatives protocol built from first principles to be a DeFi primitive. The core protocol is minimalist, flexible, and efficient, allowing Perennial to mold to the needs of many different users & use cases.

Perennial has a super efficient core protocol that lets LPs use native maker leverage — allowing $1mn in TVL to back to $5-10mn in Open interest.

Trade and LP at: https://perennial.finance/1000x

Social: https://x.com/perenniallabs

--

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:08) Why Are Markets Unwinding?

(12:49) Should You Catch A Falling Knife?

(20:43) Perennial Ad

(22:14) Will The Fed Intervene?

(29:02) Is Crypto A Safe Haven?

(34:50) Bitcoin vs Alt's

(52:16) Q&A

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed

ETFs: Crypto's Path to ATHs in 2024 | Matt Hougan Aug 02, 2024

Matt Hogan of Bitwise breaks down why crypto ETFs could be the catalyst for new all-time highs in 2024. He dissects institutional adoption trends, the potential impact of the U.S. election on crypto regulations, and strategies for positioning a portfolio this cycle. Discover why Bitcoin might hit $100K by the end of 2024, Ethereum could reach new heights, and how the crypto landscape is transforming with Wall Street's embrace. You don't want to miss this one!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/Matt_Hougan

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Anoma is the universal intent machine, introducing a new era of applications where you define the outcomes you want. Anoma’s intent-centric architecture provides a universal operating system for building intent-centric apps compatible with any blockchain. Anoma vastly improves blockchain UX, enables novel applications, and promotes a more human-centric future for decentralized technology.

Follow Anoma at x.com/anoma and signup for the newsletter at anoma.net

- -

Avalanche is a smart contracts platform that scales infinitely and regularly finalizes transactions in less than one second. Its novel consensus protocol, Subnet infrastructure, and HyperSDK toolkit enable Web3 developers to easily launch powerful, custom blockchain solutions.

Build anything you want, any way you want, on the eco-friendly blockchain designed for Web3 devs.

Start building today at https://www.avax.network/

- -

re.al is the permissionless L2 for tokenized RWAs built on Arbitrum Orbit and the first L2 to return chain and protocol fees back to users, in reETH, ensuring they benefit from ecosystem growth. re.al has just launched a fully-transparent rewards (points) program returning 10% of $RWA supply to early users.

Not investment advice or product solicitation and not aimed at US persons. https://re.al/rewards/airdrop/O4UNU

- -

Cronos zkEVM has launched its Pioneer Program,offering early users loyalty points for engaging with Cronos zkEVM & its dapps.

Join the first quest by depositing CRO in the Cronos zkEVM bridge to receive zkCRO & loyalty points at mainnet launch, as well as a chance to win a part of a $30,000 zkCRO giveaway by depositing in the bridge.

Visit zkevm.cronos.org/bridge for more info

—

Timestamps:

(02:060 ETH ETF Expectations

(06:24) ETF Demand & Interests

(14:32) Diversified Crypto Portfolio

(20:24) When Institutions Buy BTC?

(25:31) What's Next for ETFs?

(29:04) Anoma ad

(30:05) Re.al Ad

(31:05) Cronos Ad

(32:03) Ava Labs Ad

(33:02) Election Impact on Crypto

(37:18) The Crypto Native Portfolio

(39:08) Ethereum's NASDAQ Trojan Horse

(48:18) Why aren't Prices at ATH

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Trading Crypto's Election Year | 1000x Jul 31, 2024

In this episode, Avi and Jonah dive deep into the current state of the crypto market, analyzing the impact of political events like Trump's potential re-election, a potential Kamala victory, and regulatory shifts. They discuss trading strategies, the future of Ethereum and DeFi, and the potential end of four-year market cycles. The conversation also touches on institutional adoption, the role of ETFs, and the long-term outlook for various tokens. Thanks for tuning in!

We'll drop a new 1000x episode on Empire's RSS feed and the 1000x YouTube channel every week. Hit the links below and give us a follow!

- -

Perennial is an on-chain derivatives protocol built from first principles to be a DeFi primitive. The core protocol is minimalist, flexible, and efficient, allowing Perennial to mold to the needs of many different users & use cases.

Perennial has a super efficient core protocol that lets LPs use native maker leverage — allowing $1mn in TVL to back to $5-10mn in Open interest.

Trade and LP at: https://perennial.finance/1000x

Social: https://x.com/perenniallabs

- -

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:54) Range Trading Dominance

(13:49) Buying an Uncertain Market

(23:28) Momentum vs Catalyst Trading

(31:13) Perennial Ad

(32:45) Trading Election Outcomes

(46:24) End Game of Cycles

- -

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3FuSarX

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed

Why Air Rights are Trading on Crypto Rails | Jonathan Dockrell, SkyTrade Jul 30, 2024

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of air rights and blockchain with Jonathan Dockrell, co-founder and CEO of SkyTrade. Jonathan explains the concept of air rights, their current market status, and why blockchain technology is the perfect solution for this untapped trillion-dollar industry. We explore the potential applications of tokenized air rights in real estate development, drone operations, and urban planning. The conversation also covers SkyTrade's journey, from inception to recent fundraising, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in this innovative space.

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Jonathan: https://x.com/droneevtol

https://x.com/_ryanrconnor/status/1807878422950998476

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

The 6th edition of Meridian, a web3 conference hosted by the Stellar Development Foundation is happening in London, England October 15-17, 2024.

Learn more and get your early-bird priced tickets now at meridian.stellar.org by using the code BLOCKWORKSPOD.

- -

Avalanche is a smart contracts platform that scales infinitely and regularly finalizes transactions in less than one second. Its novel consensus protocol, Subnet infrastructure, and HyperSDK toolkit enable Web3 developers to easily launch powerful, custom blockchain solutions.

Build anything you want, any way you want, on the eco-friendly blockchain designed for Web3 devs.

Start building today at https://www.avax.network/

- -

Harpie sets the standard in on-chain security, actively monitoring and safeguarding your crypto wallet against theft in real time. It detects, blocks, and recovers stolen assets from risky transactions before they execute, shielding you from even the most advanced hacks and scams. Harpie is free to use and compatible with all Ethereum, Base, Polygon, and Arbitrum wallets.

Protect your crypto today at harpie.io.

- -

Step into MyPrize—the online multiplayer casino that lets you battle your friends and play alongside creators. On MyPrize, you're invited to get rowdy and share every victory and defeat with your pals. Because we know the only thing more fun than beating the house is beating your friends.

Get started with $20 free when you deposit or purchase of $10 or more: https://myprize.com/invite/Empire

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:39) Air Rights Marketplace

(14:50) Ideal Market of Air Rights

(25:09) Skytrade's UX vs Web2

(30:55) RWAs & Transaction Opportunities

(35:00) Fundraising Experience

(41:42) Stallar Ad

(42:33) Harpie Ad

(43:25) Ava Labs Ad

(44:22) MyPrize Ad

(45:00) Why Crypto o& Blockchain?

(58:13) Skytrade Roadmap

(01:01:36) CT Feedback

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

--

How Bitcoin Entering the Fed Changes Crypto Forever | Roundup Jul 26, 2024

In today's episode Jason and Santi dive into the performance of Ethereum ETFs, analyzing their impact and implications for crypto. They discuss Solana's milestone in surpassing Ethereum in DEX volume and explore the potential influence of crypto voters in the 2024 U.S. election. The conversation covers Senator Lummis' plan to make Bitcoin a reserve asset, the rise of AI-related cryptocurrencies, and the future of prediction markets post-election. Lastly, they touch on Santi's ongoing search for analysts and the upcoming Permissionless event.

Resources

https://x.com/JSeyff/status/1816108797435232623/photo/1

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Anoma is the universal intent machine, introducing a new era of applications where you define the outcomes you want. Anoma’s intent-centric architecture provides a universal operating system for building intent-centric apps compatible with any blockchain. Anoma vastly improves blockchain UX, enables novel applications, and promotes a more human-centric future for decentralized technology.

Follow Anoma at x.com/anoma and signup for the newsletter at anoma.net

- -

Avalanche is a smart contracts platform that scales infinitely and regularly finalizes transactions in less than one second. Its novel consensus protocol, Subnet infrastructure, and HyperSDK toolkit enable Web3 developers to easily launch powerful, custom blockchain solutions.

Build anything you want, any way you want, on the eco-friendly blockchain designed for Web3 devs.

Start building today at https://www.avax.network/

- -

re.al is the permissionless L2 for tokenized RWAs built on Arbitrum Orbit and the first L2 to return chain and protocol fees back to users, in reETH, ensuring they benefit from ecosystem growth. re.al has just launched a fully-transparent rewards (points) program returning 10% of $RWA supply to early users.

Not investment advice or product solicitation and not aimed at US persons. https://re.al/rewards/airdrop/O4UNU

- -

Step into MyPrize—the online multiplayer casino that lets you battle your friends and play alongside creators. On MyPrize, you're invited to get rowdy and share every victory and defeat with your pals. Because we know the only thing more fun than beating the house is beating your friends.

Get started with $20 free when you deposit or purchase of $10 or more: https://myprize.com/invite/Empire

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:05) Santi's Public Market Buys

(14:39) Eth ETF Performance

(20:58) Who's Winning ETF War

(26:07) Solana's Converging on Eth

(33:19) Anoma Ad

(34:20) Re.al Ad

(35:20) Ava labs Ad

(36:17) MyPrize Ad

(36:55) Rise of AI Coins

(40:21) Bitcoin Reserve

(44:40) Ryan Selkis Steps Down

(46:03) Competitive Election?

(52:28) Polymarket's Permenance

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Death of Crypto Venture? Rethinking Crypto Fund Strategies | Tushar Jain & Ray Hindi Jul 23, 2024

In this episode, Ray Hindi of L1D and Tushar Jain of MultiCoin Capital share their thoughts on the evolving landscape of crypto fund management. They discuss the shift from venture to liquid investments, the challenges of timing market cycles, and the importance of maintaining a clear investment edge. The conversation delves into the changing dynamics of token launches, the potential impact of political outcomes on the crypto industry, and valuable advice for emerging fund managers. This episode provides a comprehensive look at the current state and future prospects of crypto fund

- -

Follow Ray: https://x.com/HindiRay

Follow Tushar: https://x.com/TusharJain_

https://x.com/BillHughesDC/status/1762547166348775770

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

The 6th edition of Meridian, a web3 conference hosted by the Stellar Development Foundation is happening in London, England October 15-17, 2024.

Learn more and get your early-bird priced tickets now at meridian.stellar.org by using the code BLOCKWORKSPOD.

- -

Avalanche is a smart contracts platform that scales infinitely and regularly finalizes transactions in less than one second. Its novel consensus protocol, Subnet infrastructure, and HyperSDK toolkit enable Web3 developers to easily launch powerful, custom blockchain solutions.

Build anything you want, any way you want, on the eco-friendly blockchain designed for Web3 devs.

Start building today at https://www.avax.network/

- -

Harpie sets the standard in on-chain security, actively monitoring and safeguarding your crypto wallet against theft in real time. It detects, blocks, and recovers stolen assets from risky transactions before they execute, shielding you from even the most advanced hacks and scams. Harpie is free to use and compatible with all Ethereum, Base, Polygon, and Arbitrum wallets.

Protect your crypto today at harpie.io.

- -

Step into MyPrize—the online multiplayer casino that lets you battle your friends and play alongside creators. On MyPrize, you're invited to get rowdy and share every victory and defeat with your pals. Because we know the only thing more fun than beating the house is beating your friends.

Get started with $20 free when you deposit or purchase of $10 or more: https://myprize.com/invite/Empire

- -

Timestamps

(00:00) Introduction

(02:14) State of Raising Ecosystem

(16:54) Crypto Venture Evolution

(29:18) Liquid Market Edge

(37:45) Staller Ad

(38:35) MyPrize Ad

(39:11) Ava labs ad

(40:09) Harpie Ad

(41:02) Liquid vs Venture Difference

(54:37) Token Launch Meta Shift

(59:22) Fund Specialization

(01:05:21) Liquid Investment Timing

(01:12:54) The Rise of Apps

(01:18:12) Where are we in this Cycle?

(01:23:27) Impact of Trump or Biden Victory

(01:28:45) Advice to Fund Managers

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How Politics is Reshaping Crypto's Future | Roundup Jul 19, 2024

In today's episode we explore the shift in crypto's landscape driven by political forces. We dive into JD Vance's nomination as Trump's running mate and its implications for the industry. The conversation examines how figures like Larry Fink and Jamie Dimon are changing their tune on Bitcoin, potentially influencing policy. We debate Vitalik Buterin's controversial stance on crypto voting and consider how these political dynamics are intersecting with ETF approvals and fears of currency debasement to shape crypto's trajectory. Thanks for tuning in!

Resources

JD Vance's Tech Take

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Sei Labs believes the EVM is here to stay.

By providing the fastest time to finality of any chain, thousands of transactions per second and full backwards compatibility with the EVM, Ethereum developers can try out a brand new design space for their applications.

Try out sei v2 devnet - visit the new sei.io to find out more.

- -

Harpie sets the standard in on-chain security, actively monitoring and safeguarding your crypto wallet against theft in real time. It detects, blocks, and recovers stolen assets from risky transactions before they execute, shielding you from even the most advanced hacks and scams. Harpie is free to use and compatible with all Ethereum, Base, Polygon, and Arbitrum wallets. Protect your crypto today at harpie.io.

- -

Polygon Labs is developing the next generation of open source zero-knowledge tech to aggregate crypto liquidity and user bases with the AggLayer. To support the aggregated future, the Polygon Community Grants Program was launched with 1 billion tokens — all for Polygon builders.

Season One of the community grants program is live now, and features 35 million in MATIC to support the next generation of Polygon projects!

Join the aggregated future today by applying at https://polygon.technology/grants

- -

Step into MyPrize—the online multiplayer casino that lets you battle your friends and play alongside creators. On MyPrize, you're invited to get rowdy and share every victory and defeat with your pals. Because we know the only thing more fun than beating the house is beating your friends.

Get started with $20 free when you deposit or purchase of $10 or more: https://myprize.com/invite/Empire

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:22) Is the Narrative Intact?

(11:09) Crypto Native Metrics

(14:56) Do Memecoins Keep Outperforming?

(24:21) Trump's JD Vance VP Pick

(36:46) Rise of Private Blockchains

(40:16) SEI Ad

(41:03) Polygon Ad

(42:21) Harpie Ad

(43:03) MyPrize Ad

(43:41) Larry Fink's Bitcoin Bull Thesis

(50:52) Mark Cuban's BTC Thesis

(54:59) Vitalik's Political Take

(01:06:12) Empire's Content

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Chief’s ETH & AI Bull Bet | 1000x Jul 18, 2024

In this episode, we dive deep into the current state of the crypto market with ChiefingZa, often the #1 rated trader on Bybit. The conversation covers the recent market volatility, the potential impact of a Bitcoin ETF, and the bull case for Ethereum. Chiefing shares his insights on the intersection of AI and crypto, particularly focusing on projects like BitTensor. The discussion also touches on the challenges of trading altcoins, the future of L2 solutions, and how to find alpha in the noisy world of crypto Discord channels.

We'll drop a new 1000x episode on Empire's RSS feed and the 1000x YouTube channel every two weeks. Hit the links below and give us a follow!

- -

Perennial is an on-chain derivatives protocol built from first principles to be a DeFi primitive. The core protocol is minimalist, flexible, and efficient, allowing Perennial to mold to the needs of many different users & use cases.

Perennial has a super efficient core protocol that lets LPs use native maker leverage — allowing $1mn in TVL to back to $5-10mn in Open interest.

Trade and LP at: https://perennial.finance/1000x

Social: https://x.com/perenniallabs

- -

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:23) ChiefingZa Trading Origin

(6:21) Are we Back?

(16:09) Perennial Ad

(17:40) Ethereum's Return & Religion

(34:15) WorldCoin's Bull Case

(39:55) The AI Narrative

(50:28) Is AI at the Top?

(54:02) Discord's Alpha Use case

- -

Follow ChiefingZa: https://x.com/chiefingza

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3FuSarX

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed

How Crypto Solves the Global Money Problem | Paul Bances, PayPal Jul 16, 2024

In this episode, Paul Bances, VP of Market and Business Development at PayPal Crypto, discusses the evolution of global money movement and PayPal's stablecoin answer. He explains the inefficiencies in traditional payment systems and how stablecoins can address these issues. Bances also delves into PayPal's strategy behind launching pyUSD, its potential impact on various payment scenarios, and the company's vision for the future of digital payments. The conversation also covers the regulatory landscape, the choice of blockchain platforms, and the broader implications for global commerce and financial inclusion. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

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Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

The 6th edition of Meridian, a web3 conference hosted by the Stellar Development Foundation is happening in London, England October 15-17, 2024.

Learn more and get your early-bird priced tickets now at meridian.stellar.org by using the code BLOCKWORKSPOD.

- -

Polygon Labs is developing the next generation of open source zero-knowledge tech to aggregate crypto liquidity and user bases with the AggLayer. To support the aggregated future, the Polygon Community Grants Program was launched with 1 billion tokens — all for Polygon builders.

Season One of the community grants program is live now, and features 35 million in MATIC to support the next generation of Polygon projects!

Join the aggregated future today by applying at https://polygon.technology/grants

- -

Harpie sets the standard in on-chain security, actively monitoring and safeguarding your crypto wallet against theft in real time. It detects, blocks, and recovers stolen assets from risky transactions before they execute, shielding you from even the most advanced hacks and scams. Harpie is free to use and compatible with all Ethereum, Base, Polygon, and Arbitrum wallets.

Protect your crypto today at harpie.io.

- -

Step into MyPrize—the online multiplayer casino that lets you battle your friends and play alongside creators. On MyPrize, you're invited to get rowdy and share every victory and defeat with your pals. Because we know the only thing more fun than beating the house is beating your friends.

Get started with $20 free when you deposit or purchase of $10 or more: https://myprize.com/invite/Empire

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:33) How Does Money Move?

(07:00) Delayed Settlement Risk

(10:30) Cross Border Stablecoin Unlock

(17:53) History of Paypal Crypto Strategy

(26:14) Stellar Ad

(27:04) Polygon Ad

(28:15) pyUSD Design Decisions

(34:24) Stablecoin Landscape

(37:07) Global & Market Opportunity

(47:31) Why Solana Over L2s or Alt L1s

(50:34) Political Climate Impact

(55:42) Optimistic pyUSD Endgame

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

What Makes Crypto Conferences Valuable | Roundup Jul 12, 2024

Today's episode dives deep into the world of crypto conferences, exploring their evolving role in the industry. Santi unpacks his recent EthCC Brussels experience, while Jason unearths the rise of side events at crypto conferences. They debate the true value of these gatherings for networking, deal-making, and industry progress. The conversation also touches on market dynamics, VC scandals, and future predictions, providing a comprehensive view of the current state of the crypto ecosystem.

Resources

GasApp

https://x.com/gasappteam

https://x.com/nikitabier

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Sei Labs believes the EVM is here to stay.

By providing the fastest time to finality of any chain, thousands of transactions per second and full backwards compatibility with the EVM, Ethereum developers can try out a brand new design space for their applications.

Try out sei v2 devnet - visit the new sei.io to find out more.

- -

Polygon Labs is developing the next generation of open source zero-knowledge tech to aggregate crypto liquidity and user bases with the AggLayer. To support the aggregated future, the Polygon Community Grants Program was launched with 1 billion tokens — all for Polygon builders.

Season One of the community grants program is live now, and features 35 million in MATIC to support the next generation of Polygon projects!

Join the aggregated future today by applying at https://polygon.technology/grants

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Surviving Brussels

(06:24) Conference Dynamics

(14:56) Social Incentive Layer

(25:01) Funny YouTube Comments & Fear of Sharks

(28:47) Germany BTC Selling

(32:07) Sei Ad

(33:04) Polygon Ad

(34:13) NVIDIA vs Coinbase Stock

(38:29) Eclipse Adviser Token Debacle

(44:56) Where are we in the Cycle

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Why Crypto Needs Better Insurance Models | Drew Patel, Karak Jul 09, 2024

In this episode, Drew, co-founder of Karak, discusses the evolution of crypto security from DeFi insurance to restaking. He explains Karak's multi-chain support and diverse collateral types. The conversation also covers the challenges of DeFi insurance, the potential of restaking to lower security costs for projects, and the importance of creating sustainable yield sources. Drew also shares insights on Karak's development philosophy, the risks associated with restaking, and his vision for the future of crypto risk management. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Follow Drew: https://x.com/Dewpey

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Sei Labs believes the EVM is here to stay.

By providing the fastest time to finality of any chain, thousands of transactions per second and full backwards compatibility with the EVM, Ethereum developers can try out a brand new design space for their applications.

Try out sei v2 devnet - visit the new sei.io to find out more.

- -

Polygon Labs is developing the next generation of open source zero-knowledge tech to aggregate crypto liquidity and user bases with the AggLayer. To support the aggregated future, the Polygon Community Grants Program was launched with 1 billion tokens — all for Polygon builders.

Season One of the community grants program is live now, and features 35 million in MATIC to support the next generation of Polygon projects!

Join the aggregated future today by applying at https://polygon.technology/grants

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:23) Insurance Security in Crypto

(12:32) Onchain Insurance Bull Case

(22:09) Karak Restaking PMF

(26:24) Risks of Restaking

(31:02) Size of the Restaking Market

(41:04) Sei Ad

(42:02) Polygon Ad

(43:12) Free Market Restaking

(49:17) DSS Curation & Risks

(55:17) Karak Traction

(01:11:14) Measuring Karak Success

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Crypto's Next Layer 1 With Smokey The Bera | 1000x Jul 05, 2024

This week, we invite Smokey The Bera to the show for a discussion on one of crypto's most anticipated Layer 1's... Berachain. We deep dive into building through the bear market, infra vs apps, proof of liquidity & much more. Enjoy!

--

Perennial is an on-chain derivatives protocol built from first principles to be a DeFi primitive. The core protocol is minimalist, flexible, and efficient, allowing Perennial to mold to the needs of many different users & use cases.

Perennial has a super efficient core protocol that lets LPs use native maker leverage — allowing $1mn in TVL to back to $5-10mn in Open interest.

Trade and LP at: https://perennial.finance/1000x

Social: https://x.com/perenniallabs

--

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3FuSarX

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:46) The Berachain Origin Story

(9:58) Base Layer Apps & Chain Security

(13:58) Perennial Ad

(15:30) Infra vs Apps

(24:54) Building Berachain In The Bear Market

(32:58) What Defines Success?

(43:42) Proof Of Liquidity

(51:19) Crypto Fatigue

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Why GPS Needs Crypto to Evolve | Mike & Christopher, GEODNET Jul 05, 2024

This episode explores GeodNet, a DePIN project aiming to enhance GPS accuracy from meters to centimeters. Founder Mike Horton and investor Christopher Perkins discuss how GeodNet leverages blockchain to build a global network of satellite miners, providing high-precision location data for various industries. They delve into the project's tokenomics, potential use cases ranging from precision agriculture to autonomous vehicles, and the challenges of bridging Web2 and Web3 in infrastructure development. The conversation also touches on the future of DePIN projects and the importance of community building in the crypto space. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Follow Christopher: https://x.com/perkinscr97

Follow Mike: https://x.com/mikeahorton

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

- -

Polygon Labs is developing the next generation of open source zero-knowledge tech to aggregate crypto liquidity and user bases with the AggLayer. To support the aggregated future, the Polygon Community Grants Program was launched with 1 billion tokens — all for Polygon builders.

Season One of the community grants program is live now, and features 35 million in MATIC to support the next generation of Polygon projects!

Join the aggregated future today by applying at https://polygon.technology/grants

- -

Mantle recently launched their airdrop program "Rewards Station" to holders of its native token, $MNT. The Rewards Station program distributes pre-sale token allocations or listed token to $MNT holders who stake their $MNT.

Check out the rewards station: https://www.mantle.xyz/rewards-station

- -

Marinade is the leading Solana staking service that spreads your stake across 100+ top validators, distributes MEV rewards, and provides automatic downside protection with new Protected Staking Rewards. Choose to liquid stake for mSOL for use in DeFi, or delegate your stake through Marinade Native, which gives you full custody of your SOL and no smart contract risk.

Max performance for you, max performance for Solana.

https://x.com/_charlienoyes/status/1806097184951320689

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:00) What is GEODNET?

(10:07) Why Web3 & Not Web2

(15:24) Coinfund Investment Thesis

(25:040 Adoption at Scale

(33:51) Marinade Ad

(34:56) Polygon Ad

(36:05) Mantle Ad

(36:54) Geodnet End Game

(41:59) Market Demand

(50:16) Future of DePin Valuation

(55:58) Importance of Chain Selection

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Ryan Selkis on the Existential Struggle for Crypto in the U.S. Jul 02, 2024

In this episode, Jason and Mike are joined by Ryan Selkis, Founder and CEO of Messari Crypto, for a discussion on the intersection of crypto and US politics. They discuss the recent presidential debate, Ryan’s journey into the political arena, and Sam Bankman-Fried’s impact on crypto regulatory policy. They also dive into the importance of political engagement from the crypto community, and Selkis’ strategic initiatives. Finally, they cover why Democrats took an anti-crypto stance, the best case outcome for crypto regulatory policy, and how U.S. political parties evolve over time.

Thanks for tuning in!

--

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Ryan: https://x.com/twobitidiot

Follow Michael: https://x.com/MikeIppolito_

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

—-

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

portal.arbitrum.io

—--

Marinade is the leading Solana staking service that spreads your stake across 100+ top validators, distributes MEV rewards, and provides automatic downside protection with new Protected Staking Rewards. Choose to liquid stake for mSOL for use in DeFi, or delegate your stake through Marinade Native, which gives you full custody of your SOL and no smart contract risk.

Max performance for you, max performance for Solana.

https://blckwrks.co/Marinade

—-

Polygon Labs is developing the next generation of open source zero-knowledge tech to aggregate crypto liquidity and user bases with the AggLayer. To support the aggregated future, the Polygon Community Grants Program was launched with 1 billion tokens — all for Polygon builders.

Season One of the community grants program is live now, and features 35 million in MATIC to support the next generation of Polygon projects!

Join the aggregated future today by applying at https://polygon.technology/grants

—

Stay up to date with Mantle campaigns!

https://meth.mantle.xyz/campaigns

Eligible $mETH holders will accumulate EigenLayer points on Mantle for as long as EigenLayer’s point initiatives are still ongoing

—--

(00:00) Intro

(02:18) The Presidential Debate

(11:37) Focusing on Politics as a Crypto Founder

(27:19) SBF's Impact on Regulatory Policy

(33:15) How Important is Crypto in the Presidential Election?

(36:200 Lead up to Ryan's Mar-a-Lago Visit

(43:37) Marinade Ad

(44:43) Polygon Ad

(45:52) Mantle Ad

(46:41) Ryan's Perspective on the Blockworks Op-ed

(54:39) Should Crypto Be Apolitical?

(01:05:29) The Democrats Motivation for Being Anti Crypto

(01:21:05) What's the Best Case Outcome for Crypto Regulatory Policy?

(01:32:09) Addressing Common Issues Voters Have With Trump

(01:38:02) How U.S. Political Parties Change Over Time

(01:45:33) Why RFK Jr. Should Drop Out and Endorse Trump

—--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Debating Ethereum’s Big Decision | Roundup Jun 28, 2024

This episode dives deep into the current state and future of Ethereum, Solana, and Bitcoin. Michael Ippolito and Marc Arjoon join us to discuss Bitcoin L2s, Solana Blinks, and debate the importance of user experience versus decentralization. They analyze whether blockchains are truly converging, the impact of cultural differences between chains, and what might drive mainstream crypto adoption. Thanks for tuning in!

Resources

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Michael: https://x.com/MikeIppolito_

Follow Marc: https://x.com/marcarjoon

https://meth.mantle.xyz/campaigns

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Sei Labs believes the EVM is here to stay.

By providing the fastest time to finality of any chain, thousands of transactions per second and full backwards compatibility with the EVM, Ethereum developers can try out a brand new design space for their applications.

Try out sei v2 devnet - visit the new sei.io to find out more.

- -

Polygon Labs is developing the next generation of open source zero-knowledge tech to aggregate crypto liquidity and user bases with the AggLayer. To support the aggregated future, the Polygon Community Grants Program was launched with 1 billion tokens — all for Polygon builders.

Season One of the community grants program is live now, and features 35 million in MATIC to support the next generation of Polygon projects!

Join the aggregated future today by applying at https://polygon.technology/grants

- -

Stay up to date with Mantle campaigns!

Eligible $mETH holders will accumulate EigenLayer points on Mantle for as long as EigenLayer’s point initiatives are still ongoing

- -

Marinade is the leading Solana staking service that spreads your stake across 100+ top validators, distributes MEV rewards, and provides automatic downside protection with new Protected Staking Rewards. Choose to liquid stake for mSOL for use in DeFi, or delegate your stake through Marinade Native, which gives you full custody of your SOL and no smart contract risk.

Max performance for you, max performance for Solana.

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction & Vampire Yano

(04:41) Santi Invests in Mega ETH

(07:29) Is ETH Capitulating?

(21:10) Is Ethereum Actually Decentralized?

(30:56) Most Important Things of Blockchains

(36:25) Sei Ad

(37:22) Marinade Ad

(38:26) Polygon Ad

(39:35) Mantle Ad

(40:24) L2 User Acquisition Sta

(53:37) Future of Bitcoin

(01:00:30) Convergence of Blockchains

(01:12:48) Biggest Blockchain Apps

(01:17:52) Solana Blinks

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Surviving Crypto's Summer Chop | 1000x Jun 27, 2024

In this episode, Avi and Jonah dissect the summer's choppy market. They reveal strategies for surviving range-bound trading, discuss the impact of upcoming ETFs, and debate the future of altcoins. The duo shares personal trading experiences, psychological tips, and unexpected insights - from institutional flows to clicking digital hamsters. Learn how to find alpha in a sideways market and prepare for potential moves ahead. Thanks for tuning in!

We'll drop a new 1000x episode on Empire's RSS feed and the 1000x YouTube channel every two weeks. Hit the links below and give us a follow!

- -

Perennial is an on-chain derivatives protocol built from first principles to be a DeFi primitive. The core protocol is minimalist, flexible, and efficient, allowing Perennial to mold to the needs of many different users & use cases.

Perennial has a super efficient core protocol that lets LPs use native maker leverage — allowing $1mn in TVL to back to $5-10mn in Open interest.

Trade and LP at: https://perennial.finance/1000x

Social: https://x.com/perenniallabs

- -

Timestamps:

(0:00) Are We Back?

(9:59) Perennial Ad

(11:31) Why Avoid Overtrading

(17:45) Timing Market Re-entry

(28:13) Is ETH ETF Priced?

(32:20) Altcoin Season Odds

(42:28) What to Trade Now?

- -

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3FuSarX

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Why Retail Can't Win | Regan & Mike, Lattice Fund Jun 25, 2024

In this episode, Mike and Regan from Lattice Fund dive deep into the structural issues shaping this cycle. They discuss why retail investors are struggling to make significant gains, the evolution of token distribution methods, and the impact of venture capital on market dynamics. The conversation then shifts to emerging opportunities in DePin and the changing landscape of L1s and L2s. Finally, they explore the increasing importance of distribution and built-in audiences for new blockchain projects. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Follow Regan: https://x.com/reganbozman

Follow Mike: https://x.com/mikezajko

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

- -

Avalanche is a smart contracts platform that scales infinitely and regularly finalizes transactions in less than one second. Its novel consensus protocol, Subnet infrastructure, and HyperSDK toolkit enable Web3 developers to easily launch powerful, custom blockchain solutions.

Build anything you want, any way you want, on the eco-friendly blockchain designed for Web3 devs.

Start building today at https://www.avax.network/

- -

Mantle recently launched their airdrop program "Rewards Station" to holders of its native token, $MNT. The Rewards Station program distributes pre-sale token allocations or listed token to $MNT holders who stake their $MNT.

Check out the rewards station: https://www.mantle.xyz/rewards-station

- -

Marinade is the leading Solana staking service that spreads your stake across 100+ top validators, distributes MEV rewards, and provides automatic downside protection with new Protected Staking Rewards. Choose to liquid stake for mSOL for use in DeFi, or delegate your stake through Marinade Native, which gives you full custody of your SOL and no smart contract risk.

Max performance for you, max performance for Solana.

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Who is Lattice Fund?

(01:55) Why is this Cycle Cooked?

(08:13) Why Can't Retail Make Money?

(15:27) Capped Market Upside

(19:46) Lattice's Approach

(25:30) Surviving this Cycle

(32:32) Marinade Ad

(33:37) Ava labs Ad

(34:34) Mantle Ad

(35:32) Low Float, High FDV

(41:41) Airdrops

(45:40) Unique GTMs & Fund Raising

(57:14) DePin

(01:03:37) L1s & L2 Landscape

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Managing Emotions in Crypto Cycles Jun 21, 2024

In this episode, Jason and Santi discuss surviving crypto market cycles. They discuss current market conditions, the psychology behind decision-making during downturns, and strategies for portfolio management. The conversation covers Coinbase's evolving strategy, the surprising demographics of ETF buyers, and the shift towards consumer applications in crypto. They also touch on the future of airdrops and the recent Kraken security incident. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

https://x.com/JasonYanowitz/status/1801386829415125376 https://x.com/CertiK/status/1803450205389402215

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

- -

Sei Labs believes the EVM is here to stay.

By providing the fastest time to finality of any chain, thousands of transactions per second and full backwards compatibility with the EVM, Ethereum developers can try out a brand new design space for their applications.

Try out sei v2 devnet - visit the new sei.io to find out more.

- -

Avalanche is a smart contracts platform that scales infinitely and regularly finalizes transactions in less than one second. Its novel consensus protocol, Subnet infrastructure, and HyperSDK toolkit enable Web3 developers to easily launch powerful, custom blockchain solutions.

Build anything you want, any way you want, on the eco-friendly blockchain designed for Web3 devs.

Start building today at https://www.avax.network/

- -

Mantle recently launched their airdrop program "Rewards Station" to holders of its native token, $MNT. The Rewards Station program distributes pre-sale token allocations or listed token to $MNT holders who stake their $MNT.

Check out the rewards station: https://www.mantle.xyz/rewards-station

- -

Marinade is the leading Solana staking service that spreads your stake across 100+ top validators, distributes MEV rewards, and provides automatic downside protection with new Protected Staking Rewards. Choose to liquid stake for mSOL for use in DeFi, or delegate your stake through Marinade Native, which gives you full custody of your SOL and no smart contract risk.

Max performance for you, max performance for Solana.

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:09) Sweaters & Down Only Marets

(10:49) Portfolio Decision Making

(21:02) Private Market Conditions

(23:48) Where are Devs Building?

(27:22) Santi's Intern

(39:23) Sei Ad

(40:21) Marinade Ad

(41:24) Ava labs Ad

(42:22) Mantle Ad

(43:19) What's Wrong with Airdrops

(52:46) Coinbase Event Reflection

(01:00:58) Kraken Hack

(01:05:33) Reading List & Lifting

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Is Arweave Crypto's Darkhorse L1? | 1000x Jun 19, 2024

In today's episode of 1000x Jonah and Avi are joined by Sam Williams, founder of Arweave, to dive deep into the decentralized data storage protocol that is quickly becoming the backbone of Web3. Sam explains Arweave's unique approach to permanent, low-cost storage, its scalability, and the new possibilities it enables. He discusses the evolution of the Arweave ecosystem, from NFT storage to decentralized social apps, composable data, and AI-driven smart contracts on the Arweave Operating System (AO). Sam also shares his vision for the "perm web", a revolutionized internet where users truly own their data, and the potential of an "agent economy" powered by autonomous, AI-based financial agents. Enjoy!

We'll drop a new 1000x episode on Empire's RSS feed and the 1000x YouTube channel every two weeks. Hit the links below and give us a follow!

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Follow Sam: https://x.com/samecwilliams

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Perennial is an on-chain derivatives protocol built from first principles to be a DeFi primitive. The core protocol is minimalist, flexible, and efficient, allowing Perennial to mold to the needs of many different users & use cases.

Perennial has a super efficient core protocol that lets LPs use native maker leverage — allowing $1mn in TVL to back to $5-10mn in Open interest.

Trade and LP at: https://perennial.finance/1000x

Social: https://twitter.com/perenniallabs

- -

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:19) What is Arweave?

(9:20) Long Term Evolution Mindset

(18:05) Perennial Ad

(19:37) Arweave's Resilience & Adaptation

(25:42) Arweave vs Filecoin Tokenomics

(33:16) The World Computer

(48:32) Benchmark L1 for AI

(52:09) Arweave's Mainstream Moment

(59:46) Arweave's Performance

(1:06:50) Next Gen L1 Design

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Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Is Blended Execution the Missing Link for dApps? | Dino & Stephy Jun 18, 2024

In this episode, Stephy and Dino from Fluent join Santi to discuss blended execution environments. They explain how Fluent's approach enables native composability between apps built on different virtual machines like EVM, WASM and SVM, all in a shared state environment. They also explore the benefits this brings for developers and end users, the challenges involved in implementation, and how blended execution could reshape crypto. Enjoy!

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Follow Stephy: https://x.com/sunnydece

Follow Dino: https://x.com/0xdinoeggs

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Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

- -

Avalanche is a smart contracts platform that scales infinitely and regularly finalizes transactions in less than one second. Its novel consensus protocol, Subnet infrastructure, and HyperSDK toolkit enable Web3 developers to easily launch powerful, custom blockchain solutions.

Build anything you want, any way you want, on the eco-friendly blockchain designed for Web3 devs.

Start building today at https://www.avax.network/

- -

Mantle recently launched their airdrop program "Rewards Station" to holders of its native token, $MNT. The Rewards Station program distributes pre-sale token allocations or listed token to $MNT holders who stake their $MNT.

Check out the rewards station: https://www.mantle.xyz/rewards-station

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Marinade is the leading Solana staking service that spreads your stake across 100+ top validators, distributes MEV rewards, and provides automatic downside protection with new Protected Staking Rewards. Choose to liquid stake for mSOL for use in DeFi, or delegate your stake through Marinade Native, which gives you full custody of your SOL and no smart contract risk.

Max performance for you, max performance for Solana.

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(03:01) State of VMs

(09:08) VMs & Execution Environments

(13:01) Blended Execution Environment Origin

(22:05) dApp Unlock

(27:52) Compatibility Contracts

(34:28) Execution Environment End Game

(37:34) Marinade Ad

(38:40) Ava labs Ad

(39:27) Mantle Ad

(40:35) Why Blended Execution?

(01:03:00) Fluent Roadmap

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Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Why Self-Custody Still Matters | Pascal & Ian Jun 14, 2024

In this episode Jason dives deep into the world of digital ownership and security with Pascal Gauthier, CEO, and Ian Rogers, CXO of Ledger. They explore the importance of self-custody in an increasingly digital world and how Ledger's products empower individuals to securely own and interact with their crypto assets. Ian shares his fascinating journey from working with the Beastie Boys to shaping digital experiences at Ledger, while Pascal provides insights into the company's mission, business lines, and the challenges of navigating regulation. The conversation also touches on the future of luxury in a world of digital ownership and the potential for crypto adoption in the coming years. Enjoy!

- -

Story of Ledger Stax

https://x.com/Ledger/status/1795766883427160181

- -

Follow Pascal: https://x.com/_pgauthier

Follow Ian: https://x.com/iancr

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Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Sei Labs believes the EVM is here to stay.

By providing the fastest time to finality of any chain, thousands of transactions per second and full backwards compatibility with the EVM, Ethereum developers can try out a brand new design space for their applications.

Try out sei v2 devnet - visit the new sei.io to find out more.

- -

Avalanche is a smart contracts platform that scales infinitely and regularly finalizes transactions in less than one second. Its novel consensus protocol, Subnet infrastructure, and HyperSDK toolkit enable Web3 developers to easily launch powerful, custom blockchain solutions.

Build anything you want, any way you want, on the eco-friendly blockchain designed for Web3 devs.

Start building today at https://www.avax.network/

- -

Mantle recently launched their airdrop program "Rewards Station" to holders of its native token, $MNT. The Rewards Station program distributes pre-sale token allocations or listed token to $MNT holders who stake their $MNT.

Check out the rewards station: https://www.mantle.xyz/rewards-station

- -

Marinade is the leading Solana staking service that spreads your stake across 100+ top validators, distributes MEV rewards, and provides automatic downside protection with new Protected Staking Rewards. Choose to liquid stake for mSOL for use in DeFi, or delegate your stake through Marinade Native, which gives you full custody of your SOL and no smart contract risk. Max performance for you, max performance for Solana.

https://blckwrks.co/Marinade

- -

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(02:18) Founder Dynamic

(07:22) Digital Ownership Vision

(17:12) Ledger PMF

(31:25) Ledger Stax Vision

(35:13) Sei Ad

(36:11) Marinade Ad

(37:15) Avalanche Ad

(38:12) Mantle Ad

(39:10) First Secure Touchscreen

(56:56) Ledger Business Lines

(01:02:43) IPOs in 2024

(01:14:48) Future of Brands in Crypto

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Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How ZK Will Shatter Social Media Monopolies | Alex & Stani Jun 11, 2024

In this episode, Stani from Aave and Lens Protocol and Alex from Matter Labs and ZK Sync join us to discuss the future of decentralized social networks and blockchain scaling. They dive into Lens Protocol's mission to create open and fair social spaces by leveraging zero-knowledge proofs and progressive security models. They also touch on the inevitable intersection of AI and blockchains, the evolving regulatory landscape for crypto in the US, and the importance of empowering users through data ownership and monetization. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Follow Alex: https://x.com/gluk64

Follow Stani: https://x.com/StaniKulechov

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

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Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

portal.arbitrum.io

- -

Avalanche is a smart contracts platform that scales infinitely and regularly finalizes transactions in less than one second. Its novel consensus protocol, Subnet infrastructure, and HyperSDK toolkit enable Web3 developers to easily launch powerful, custom blockchain solutions.

Build anything you want, any way you want, on the eco-friendly blockchain designed for Web3 devs.

Start building today at https://www.avax.network/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Aura, the AI-powered digital security protection app that keeps your personal information, passwords, online activity, and tech safe from digital threats. It’s all-in-one protection from identity theft, financial fraud, malware, scams, and more.

For a limited time, Aura is offering our listeners a 14-day FREE trial plus up to 55% off an Aura subscription.

Visit aura.com/blockworks to sign up for your free trial.

- -

SKALE is a modular, AppChain network that offers zero gas fee transactions and instant finality. Tailored for ease of development and onboarding, SKALE's configurable EVM chains enable next-gen use cases in gaming, AI, DePin, and others. With over 20,000,000 users having saved over $6 Billion on gas fees, SKALE is the blockchain for mass adoption.

Bridge to SKALE at portal.skale.space and stay up to date with the gasless blockchain at @skalenetwork

- -

Timestamps:

00:00 Lens Network Origin Story

08:24 End Game Scalability is ZK

21:18 ZK Landscape

29:33 Aura Ad

30:23 Avalanche Ad

31:20 Skale Ad

32:36 Crosschain is Matter Labs

42:27 Aave on ZK Sync?

47:31 Crypto AI Intersection

53:06 Crypto's Product Market Fit

01:00:42 Best Crypto Policy Areas

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Solana's Crypto Native Next-Gen CEX | Armani Ferrante Jun 07, 2024

In this episode, Armani, the founder of Backpack, dives into the technical and regulatory hurdles of running an exchange, the vision behind Backpack's product offerings, and the valuable lessons learned from the rise and fall of FTX. He discusses the importance of focusing on the Solana ecosystem, the challenges of expanding into Japan, and the keys to long-term success in crypto. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Follow Armani: https://x.com/armaniferrante

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

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Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

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Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Sei Labs believes the EVM is here to stay.

By providing the fastest time to finality of any chain, thousands of transactions per second and full backwards compatibility with the EVM, Ethereum developers can try out a brand new design space for their applications.

Try out sei v2 devnet - visit the new sei.io to find out more.

- -

Avalanche is a smart contracts platform that scales infinitely and regularly finalizes transactions in less than one second. Its novel consensus protocol, Subnet infrastructure, and HyperSDK toolkit enable Web3 developers to easily launch powerful, custom blockchain solutions.

Build anything you want, any way you want, on the eco-friendly blockchain designed for Web3 devs.

Start building today at https://www.avax.network/

- -

Mantle recently launched their airdrop program "Rewards Station" to holders of its native token, $MNT. The Rewards Station program distributes pre-sale token allocations or listed token to $MNT holders who stake their $MNT.

Check out the rewards station: https://www.mantle.xyz/rewards-station

- -

This episode is brought to you by Aura, the AI-powered digital security protection app that keeps your personal information, passwords, online activity, and tech safe from digital threats. It’s all-in-one protection from identity theft, financial fraud, malware, scams, and more.

For a limited time, Aura is offering our listeners a 14-day FREE trial plus up to 55% off an Aura subscription.

Visit aura.com/blockworks to sign up for your free trial.

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:51) Anchor, MadLads, and Backpack

(04:04) Backpack's Exchange Thesis

(16:130 Exchanges in Japan

(31:08) Sei Ad

(32:06) Aura Ad

(32:54) Avalanche ad

(33:51) Mantle Ad

(34:51) The Future of Exchanges

(55:36) Why Solana

(01:04:15) Lessons Learned from Building

(01:17:23) Marker

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Exploring Crypto's Modular Path | Rex & NoSleepJon Jun 06, 2024

In this special episode, the Jason and Mike announce the launch of Expansion, a new Blockworks podcast focusing on the modular blockchain ecosystem. Expansion hosts Rex and NoSleepJon aim to explore the modular design concepts and architectural principles in the blockchain space. They highlight the benefits and challenges of modularity, the cultural and technical aspects, and how this new ecosystem is poised to disrupt existing technologies. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@expansionpod

Subscribe on Apple: http://apple.co/4bGKYYM

Subscribe on Spotify: http://spoti.fi/3Vaubq1

Follow Zon: https://x.com/ItsAlwaysZonny

Follow Keone: https://x.com/keoneHD

Follow Rex: https://x.com/LogarithmicRex

Follow nosleepjon: https://x.com/nosleepjon

Follow Expansion: https://x.com/ExpansionPod_

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Timestamps

(00:00) Introduction

(05:07) Modularity in Crypto

(18:50) Sovereignty & ZK with Modularity

(25:30) Value Accrual in Crypto

(35:11) Surviving Fragmentation

(43:23) Modularity Ecosystem Competition

- -

Disclaimer

Expansion was kickstarted by a grant from the Celestia Foundation.

Nothing said on Expansion is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Rex, Jon, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Modular Integration Spectrum | Keone & Zon Jun 05, 2024

In this episode, Keone from Monad and Zon from Initia to discuss the spectrum between modular and integrated blockchain designs. They explore the tradeoffs in decentralization, performance and scalability between the two approaches. They explore AppChains, rollups, composability challenges in modular systems, EVM compatibility, and when to scale blockchains horizontally vs vertically. To close out Keone and Zon also share valuable insights on building Web3 communities organically. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@expansionpod

Subscribe on Apple: http://apple.co/4bGKYYM

Subscribe on Spotify: http://spoti.fi/3Vaubq1

Follow Zon: https://x.com/ItsAlwaysZonny

Follow Keone: https://x.com/keoneHD

Follow Rex: https://x.com/LogarithmicRex

Follow nosleepjon: https://x.com/nosleepjon

Follow Expansion: https://x.com/ExpansionPod_

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(03:01) Modular vs Integrated

(11:24) Who are Appchains for?

(28:35) Composability in Modular World

(35:52) Monad's Endgame

(39:24) Importance of Decentralization

(47:42) Building Web3 Community

- -

Disclaimer

Expansion was kickstarted by a grant from the Celestia Foundation.

Nothing said on Expansion is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Rex, Jon, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Inside Crypto's Liquidity Chess Game | Evgeny, Nick, & Omar Jun 04, 2024

In this episode, Santi and Jason sit down with Omar and Nick from SecondLane and Evgeny from Wintermute to dive deep into the underbelly of crypto token markets. They explore the lifecycle of a token from seed rounds to secondary markets to public trading, discussing the critical role of market makers, the impact of token unlocks, and the evolving sophistication of crypto funds. The group also examines the current state of the market, retail and institutional dynamics, and the importance of treasury management and team communication for token projects.

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Omar: https://x.com/omar_shakeeb

Follow Evgeny: https://x.com/EvgenyGaevoy

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

portal.arbitrum.io

- -

This episode is brought to you by Aura, the AI-powered digital security protection app that keeps your personal information, passwords, online activity, and tech safe from digital threats. It’s all-in-one protection from identity theft, financial fraud, malware, scams, and more.

For a limited time, Aura is offering our listeners a 14-day FREE trial plus up to 55% off an Aura subscription.

Visit aura.com/blockworks to sign up for your free trial.

- -

SKALE is a modular, AppChain network that offers zero gas fee transactions and instant finality. Tailored for ease of development and onboarding, SKALE's configurable EVM chains enable next-gen use cases in gaming, AI, DePin, and others. With over 20,000,000 users having saved over $6 Billion on gas fees, SKALE is the blockchain for mass adoption.

Bridge to SKALE at portal.skale.space and stay up to date with the gasless blockchain at @skalenetwork

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) How Tokens Trade

(05:16) Role of Market Makers

(09:23) What's Wrong with Tokens?

(18:59) Importance of Token Unlocks

(22:51) Token Auctions

(31:58) Picking a Market Maker

(36:05) Aura Ad

(36:40) Skale Ad

(38:11) Where are we this cycle?

(58:50) Crypto Fund Sophistication

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Finding Crypto's Next Big Trade | 1000x May 31, 2024

Gm! Just as everyone was max bearish ETH... BOOM! ETF approval. In this episode we discuss the ETH comeback trade, our previous $ETHE position, picking winners vs losers in this cycle, finding the next great trade & more. Enjoy!

--

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Perennial is an on-chain derivatives protocol built from first principles to be a DeFi primitive. The core protocol is minimalist, flexible, and efficient, allowing Perennial to mold to the needs of many different users & use cases.

Perennial has a super efficient core protocol that lets LPs use native maker leverage — allowing $1mn in TVL to back to $5-10mn in Open interest.

Trade and LP at: https://perennial.finance/1000x

Social: https://twitter.com/perenniallabs

--

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:34) The ETH Trade

(4:05) The Tides Are Turning In DC

(7:25) Why Isn't Crypto Ripping?

(13:48) Perennial Ad

(15:20) Finding The Next Trade

(23:49) There's No Winning In Alt's

(35:27) Picking Winners vs Losers

(41:08) Elon, Trump & Doge

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How the US is Bringing Crypto Back | Round Up May 31, 2024

In this episode, Jason and Santi analyze the surprising political shifts in the US. From Trump's vocal support of Bitcoin to Biden's increasing crypto industry outreach, they break down the regulatory changes making the US friendly to crypto again. They also unpack the latest celebrity memecoin craze and get a sneak peek of Permissionless 2024. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Sei Labs believes the EVM is here to stay.

By providing the fastest time to finality of any chain, thousands of transactions per second and full backwards compatibility with the EVM, Ethereum developers can try out a brand new design space for their applications.

Try out sei v2 devnet - visit the new sei.io to find out more.

- -

This episode is brought to you by Aura, the AI-powered digital security protection app that keeps your personal information, passwords, online activity, and tech safe from digital threats. It’s all-in-one protection from identity theft, financial fraud, malware, scams, and more.

For a limited time, Aura is offering our listeners a 14-day FREE trial plus up to 55% off an Aura subscription.

Visit aura.com/blockworks to sign up for your free trial.

- -

Mantle Network is an Ethereum Layer 2 that aims to bring super-scalability to Ethereum by taking a modular approach that offers low fees and high security.

Mantle recently launched their airdrop program "Rewards Station" to holders of its native token, $MNT. The Rewards Station program distributes pre-sale token allocations or listed token to $MNT holders who stake their $MNT.

Check out the rewards station: https://www.mantle.xyz/rewards-station

- -

Kinto is the Safety-first L2 designed to accelerate the transition to an on-chain financial system.

If you believe in this on-chain financial system, join Kinto's launch program (Engen) and become a founding member at engen.kinto.xyz

- -

Timestamps:

00:00 Monaco Grand Prix & Mean Comments

07:44 Punks Hybrid 3D Sculptures

19:11 Importance of Last Week in Crypto

30:45 Crypto in the US

37:42 Sei Ad

38:41 Aura Ad

39:30 Kinto Ad

40:25 Skale Ad

41:42 Cycle Phase?

44:32 Celebrity Memecoins

59:49 Types of Hardwork

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Inside Sei's Supercharged EVM Strategy | Jayendra Jog May 28, 2024

In this episode, we sit down with Jay, co-founder of Sei Labs, to discuss the future of parallelized EVMs and Sei's approach to building a supercharged EVM. Jay shares his insights on the tradeoffs between decentralization and efficiency, the importance of shipping products quickly versus pursuing research, and how Sei is tackling these challenges with their upcoming V2 launch. He also dives into his experience at Robinhood, thoughts on the Gamestop saga, and tips for building strong teams. Thanks for tuning in Seilors!

- -

Follow Jay: https://x.com/jayendra_jog

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

- -

This episode is brought to you by Aura, the AI-powered digital security protection app that keeps your personal information, passwords, online activity, and tech safe from digital threats. It’s all-in-one protection from identity theft, financial fraud, malware, scams, and more.

For a limited time, Aura is offering our listeners a 14-day FREE trial plus up to 55% off an Aura subscription.

Visit aura.com/blockworks to sign up for your free trial.

- -

SKALE is a modular, AppChain network that offers zero gas fee transactions and instant finality. Tailored for ease of development and onboarding, SKALE's configurable EVM chains enable next-gen use cases in gaming, AI, DePin, and others. With over 20,000,000 users having saved over $6 Billion on gas fees, SKALE is the blockchain for mass adoption.

Bridge to SKALE at portal.skale.space and stay up to date with the gasless blockchain at @skalenetwork

- -

Kinto is the Safety-first L2 designed to accelerate the transition to an on-chain financial system.

If you believe in this on-chain financial system, join Kinto's launch program (Engen) and become a founding member at engen.kinto.xyz

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:20) Jay's Robinhood Experience

(05:25) SEI's L1 Thesis

(14:53) Importance of Parallelism

(16:21) SEI vs Solana

(23:04) Aura Ad

(23:55) Kinto Ad

(24:51) Skale Ad

(26:07) Developer Communities

(33:25) Sei V2

(37:58) Why Decentralization is Bad

(44:31) Shipping Products vs Research

(47:48) Team Building

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Second Order Impact of ETH ETFs | Roundup May 24, 2024

In this episode, Jason is joined by Quinn Thompson dive deep into the game-changing news of a potential Ethereum ETF approval. They discuss the implications for macro and crypto markets, ETH/BTC dynamics, and major players like Coinbase. The conversation also explores the fascinating shift in US politics around crypto, driven by electoral considerations, and what a Trump vs. Biden race could mean for the industry. Looking ahead, they consider potential ripple effects on altcoins, NFTs, stablecoins and more. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Follow Quinn: https://x.com/qthomp

https://x.com/drjasper_eth/status/1793473109447651812

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Sei Labs believes the EVM is here to stay.

By providing the fastest time to finality of any chain, thousands of transactions per second and full backwards compatibility with the EVM, Ethereum developers can try out a brand new design space for their applications.

Try out sei v2 devnet - visit the new sei.io to find out more.

- -

This episode is brought to you by Aura, the AI-powered digital security protection app that keeps your personal information, passwords, online activity, and tech safe from digital threats. It’s all-in-one protection from identity theft, financial fraud, malware, scams, and more.

For a limited time, Aura is offering our listeners a 14-day FREE trial plus up to 55% off an Aura subscription.

Visit aura.com/blockworks to sign up for your free trial.

- -

Mantle Network is an Ethereum Layer 2 that aims to bring super-scalability to Ethereum by taking a modular approach that offers low fees and high security.

Mantle recently launched their airdrop program "Rewards Station" to holders of its native token, $MNT. The Rewards Station program distributes pre-sale token allocations or listed token to $MNT holders who stake their $MNT.

Check out the rewards station: https://www.mantle.xyz/rewards-station

- -

Kinto is the Safety-first L2 designed to accelerate the transition to an on-chain financial system.

If you believe in this on-chain financial system, join Kinto's launch program (Engen) and become a founding member at engen.kinto.xyz

- -

Resources

- -

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(5:03) ETF Approval Odds

(18:41) Sei Ad

(19:38) Aura Ad

(20:27) Kinto Ad

(21:23) Mantle Ad

(22:19) ETF Market Impact

(34:21) Impact on Alts, NFTs, & Memes

(44:16) Dems Adopt Crypto

(52:43) Impact of US Election

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Balancing Innovation and Simplicity as a Crypto Founder | Kain Warwick May 23, 2024

In this episode, Kain Warwick, the founder of Infinex, shares his lessons learned from building in crypto. He delves into the founder's dilemma of balancing innovation with simplicity, discussing the pitfalls of overcomplicating projects and the importance of iterative development. Kain also shares his experiences with token launches, incentive design, and regulatory challenges. To close out, Kain emphasizes the crucial role of empirical evidence in guiding decision-making and the need for founders to adapt to the ever-evolving crypto landscape. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Follow Kain: https://x.com/kaiynne

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Timestamps

(00:00) Introduction

(00:36) Kain's OG Background

(11:23) Founding in Crypto

(22:04) Building in Crosschain DeFi

(31:09) Managing Sybil Attacks

(49:09) Private vs Liquid Tokens

(01:01:17) Points Programs

(01:05:14) Lessons Learned from Synthetix

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Crypto's Answer to Centralized AI Monopolies | Anand & Niraj May 21, 2024

In this episode, Anand and Niraj dive deep into the exciting intersection of AI and crypto. They explore why now is the time for these two technologies to converge, the problems decentralized AI aims to solve, and the potential for AI agents to drive unprecedented onchain transaction volume. The discussion covers key projects in the space like BitTensor and Io Net, how blockchain data could be leveraged in AI systems, and the transformative impact if rituals succeeds in its mission over the next 5 years. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Follow Niraj: https://x.com/niraj

Follow Anand: https://x.com/ai

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

- -

This episode is brought to you by Aura, the AI-powered digital security protection app that keeps your personal information, passwords, online activity, and tech safe from digital threats. It’s all-in-one protection from identity theft, financial fraud, malware, scams, and more.

For a limited time, Aura is offering our listeners a 14-day FREE trial plus up to 55% off an Aura subscription.

Visit aura.com/blockworks to sign up for your free trial.

- -

SKALE is a modular, AppChain network that offers zero gas fee transactions and instant finality. Tailored for ease of development and onboarding, SKALE's configurable EVM chains enable next-gen use cases in gaming, AI, DePin, and others. With over 20,000,000 users having saved over $6 Billion on gas fees, SKALE is the blockchain for mass adoption.

Bridge to SKALE at portal.skale.space and stay up to date with the gasless blockchain at @skalenetwork

- -

Kinto is the Safety-first L2 designed to accelerate the transition to an on-chain financial system.

If you believe in this on-chain financial system, join Kinto's launch program (Engen) and become a founding member at engen.kinto.xyz

- -

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

02:09 Why AI & Crypto

17:16 Open Source AI Models

23:44 Why Ritual

26:35 Future of AI Applications

32:19 What are AI Agents?

38:03 Aura Ad

38:54 Kinto Ad

39:50 Skale Ad

41:07 Will AI Make Crypto Mainstream?

46:54 Decentralized AI's Moment

54:57 IO Net & Bit Tensor

58:54 What Everyone is Missing

01:04:11 Interesting AI Usecases

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Why SAB-121 is Massive for Crypto | Round Up May 17, 2024

In this episode, Santi and Jason discuss the SAB-121 vote with Blockworks' Senior Reporter Casey Wagner, unpacking its bipartisan political support and huge implications for crypto. They cover the DOJ's charges in the $25M MEV boost exploit, the resurgence of meme stock mania with GameStop, and the ongoing Pump.Fun exploit drama. Santi shares his framework for valuing L1 and L2 blockchains based on total economic value. They close our by highlighting insights from DBA's research day and share their favorite youtube comments. Enjoy!

- -

Follow Casey: https://x.com/caseywagnerr

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Sei Labs believes the EVM is here to stay.

By providing the fastest time to finality of any chain, thousands of transactions per second and full backwards compatibility with the EVM, Ethereum developers can try out a brand new design space for their applications.

Try out sei v2 devnet - visit the new sei.io to find out more.

- -

This episode is brought to you by Aura, the AI-powered digital security protection app that keeps your personal information, passwords, online activity, and tech safe from digital threats. It’s all-in-one protection from identity theft, financial fraud, malware, scams, and more.

For a limited time, Aura is offering our listeners a 14-day FREE trial plus up to 55% off an Aura subscription.

Visit aura.com/blockworks to sign up for your free trial.

- -

SKALE is a modular, AppChain network that offers zero gas fee transactions and instant finality. Tailored for ease of development and onboarding, SKALE's configurable EVM chains enable next-gen use cases in gaming, AI, DePin, and others. With over 20,000,000 users having saved over $6 Billion on gas fees, SKALE is the blockchain for mass adoption.

Bridge to SKALE at portal.skale.space and stay up to date with the gasless blockchain at @skalenetwork

- -

Kinto is the Safety-first L2 designed to accelerate the transition to an on-chain financial system.

If you believe in this on-chain financial system, join Kinto's launch program (Engen) and become a founding member at engen.kinto.xyz

- -

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

02:12 SAB 21 Vote

12:51 Crypto Voting in the US

28:00 MEV Boost Exploiters Charged by DOJ

36:02 SEI Ad

37:01 Aura Ad

37:49 Kinto Ad

38:45 Skale Ad

40:02 PumpFun Exploit

45:08 Youtube Comment Hate

47:11 GameStop Return

52:06 DBA Research Day

55:54 How to Value L1s & L2s

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Picking Winners: Time To Be Bullish? | 1000x May 16, 2024

This week we discuss is it time to be bullish or bearish? As markets continue to chop sideways, we discuss how now is the time to consolidate your portfolio into high conviction bets & what to expect in the coming weeks on the back of a bullish CPI print that gave resurgence to an otherwise sleepy market. Enjoy!

--

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Perennial is an on-chain derivatives protocol built from first principles to be a DeFi primitive. The core protocol is minimalist, flexible, and efficient, allowing Perennial to mold to the needs of many different users & use cases.

Perennial has a super efficient core protocol that lets LPs use native maker leverage — allowing $1mn in TVL to back to $5-10mn in Open interest.

Trade and LP at: https://perennial.finance/1000x

Social: https://twitter.com/perenniallabs

--

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:10) Expect More Chop

(10:31) Bitcoin vs Gold ETFs

(18:25) Perennial Ad

(19:57) Meme Coins

(25:34) Time To Be Bullish Or Bearish?

(30:32) The ETH ETF

(40:12) The Return Of Roaring Kitty

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Dark Side of Token Launches | Arthur Cheong & Sean Lippel May 14, 2024

In today's episode Jason is joined by Arthur of DeFiance Capital and Sean of Fintech Collective. They kick off the episode by discussing the current state of token launches, highlighting the unsustainable model of low float and high fully diluted valuations that often leave retail investors at a disadvantage. They explore the challenges in accurately valuing crypto assets and the need for better alignment of incentives between teams, investors, and the broader market. The episode concludes with Arthur and Sean sharing their high-conviction bets for this market cycle. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire

Follow Arthur: https://twitter.com/Arthur_0x

Follow Sean: https://twitter.com/seanlippel

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

- -

This episode is brought to you by Aura, the AI-powered digital security protection app that keeps your personal information, passwords, online activity, and tech safe from digital threats. It’s all-in-one protection from identity theft, financial fraud, malware, scams, and more.

For a limited time, Aura is offering our listeners a 14-day FREE trial plus up to 55% off an Aura subscription.

Visit aura.com/blockworks to sign up for your free trial.

- -

SKALE is a modular, AppChain network that offers zero gas fee transactions and instant finality. Tailored for ease of development and onboarding, SKALE's configurable EVM chains enable next-gen use cases in gaming, AI, DePin, and others. With over 20,000,000 users having saved over $6 Billion on gas fees, SKALE is the blockchain for mass adoption.

Bridge to SKALE at portal.skale.space and stay up to date with the gasless blockchain at @skalenetwork

- -

Kinto is the Safety-first L2 designed to accelerate the transition to an on-chain financial system.

If you believe in this on-chain financial system, join Kinto's launch program (Engen) and become a founding member at engen.kinto.xyz

- -

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(01:52) Crypto VCs are Broken

(14:31) Best Token Launch Model

(22:11) Valuing Crypto Assets

(29:20) Arbitrum Ad

(30:08) Aura Ad

(30:56) Kinto Ad

(31:52) Skale Ad

(33:08) Evaluating LDO & ETHFI

(51:57) Active Investments

(57:51) Highest Conviction Bets

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Who is Responsible for Low Float, High FDV? | Roundup May 10, 2024

In this episode, Santi and Yano kick off the episode by discussing the market's choppy consolidation period and comparing it to previous cycles. They delve into the emergence of social finance apps like Fantasy and Pump Dot Fun, and explore the dynamics of high FDV, low float tokens and the role of VCs in the industry. Santi then breaks down his Coinbase and Solana trades. To close out they touch on WIF's strong performance despite the choppy period and its cycle potential. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Sei Labs believes the EVM is here to stay.

By providing the fastest time to finality of any chain, thousands of transactions per second and full backwards compatibility with the EVM, Ethereum developers can try out a brand new design space for their applications.

Try out sei v2 devnet - visit the new sei.io to find out more.

- -

This episode is brought to you by Aura, the AI-powered digital security protection app that keeps your personal information, passwords, online activity, and tech safe from digital threats. It’s all-in-one protection from identity theft, financial fraud, malware, scams, and more.

For a limited time, Aura is offering our listeners a 14-day FREE trial plus up to 55% off an Aura subscription.

Visit aura.com/blockworks to sign up for your free trial.

- -

Mantle Network is an Ethereum Layer 2 that aims to bring super-scalability to Ethereum by taking a modular approach that offers low fees and high security.

Mantle recently launched their airdrop program "Rewards Station" to holders of its native token, $MNT. The Rewards Station program distributes pre-sale token allocations or listed token to $MNT holders who stake their $MNT.

Check out the rewards station: https://www.mantle.xyz/rewards-station

- -

Marinade is the leading Solana staking service that spreads your stake across 100+ top validators, distributes MEV rewards, and provides automatic downside protection with new Protected Staking Rewards. Choose to liquid stake for mSOL for use in DeFi, or delegate your stake through Marinade Native, which gives you full custody of your SOL and no smart contract risk. Max performance for you, max performance for Solana.

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Yano's Fashion Advice

(06:07) Is this Cycle Different?

(13:39) Focusing a Portfolio

(17:42) Blockworks Podcast Thesis

(23:30) Crypto's SocialFi Era

(39:24) Sei Ad

(40:22) Aura Ad

(41:11) Marinade Ad

(42:15) Skale Ad

(43:32) Are Points Over?

(49:15) Coinbase Earnings

(01:00:42) Memecoin Thesis

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How to Fix Crypto Lending | Bill Barhydt, Abra May 09, 2024

In this episode, we sit down with Bill Barhydt, CEO and founder of Abra, to discuss the company's journey through the crypto lending crash and their groundbreaking SEC approval as a registered investment advisor. Bill shares insights on the benefits of separately managed accounts (SMAs) in the crypto space and how they differ from the pooled funds model that led to the downfall of many crypto lenders. He also dives into the future of banking, which he believes will be shaped by the tokenization of real-world assets, access to DeFi, and the use of SMAs to minimize risk. The conversation also touches on the current regulatory landscape in the U.S., the potential impact of the upcoming election on the crypto industry, and Abra's vision of empowering people to be their own bank. Enjoy!

- -

Follow Bill: https://twitter.com/billbarX

https://blockworks.co/permissionless

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news.

Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Get your tickets to permissionless before prices go up!

Use code EMPIRE10 at checkout for 10% off your ticket.

- -

Timestamps

(0:00) Introduction

(1:15) Why Crypto Banks Blew Up

(14:48) SMA Model Standard

(17:38) Smart Contract Risk

(20:07) DeFi Platform Selection & Yield

(23:59) Future of Crypto Lending

(29:23) Macro Outlook

(34:13) Impact of Election on Crypto

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.t

Kraken: The Crypto Native's Powerhouse Exchange | Dave Ripley May 07, 2024

In this episode, Jason is joined by Dave Ripley, CEO of Kraken. They discuss the challenges and opportunities of operating a major crypto exchange over the past year. Dave dives into Kraken's focus on professional traders, their expansion into retail markets, and the importance of building a bridge between traditional finance and the crypto ecosystem. Dave also shares insights on navigating market cycles as a crypto business, the value of hiring crypto-native talent, and his thoughts on the future of centralized exchanges as more activity moves on-chain.

- -

Follow Dave: https://twitter.com/DavidLRipley

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

- -

This episode is brought to you by Aura, the AI-powered digital security protection app that keeps your personal information, passwords, online activity, and tech safe from digital threats. It’s all-in-one protection from identity theft, financial fraud, malware, scams, and more.

For a limited time, Aura is offering our listeners a 14-day FREE trial plus up to 55% off an Aura subscription.

Visit aura.com/blockworks to sign up for your free trial.

- -

SKALE is a modular, AppChain network that offers zero gas fee transactions and instant finality. Tailored for ease of development and onboarding, SKALE's configurable EVM chains enable next-gen use cases in gaming, AI, DePin, and others. With over 20,000,000 users having saved over $6 Billion on gas fees, SKALE is the blockchain for mass adoption.

Bridge to SKALE at portal.skale.space and stay up to date with the gasless blockchain at @skalenetwork

- -

Marinade is the leading Solana staking service that spreads your stake across 100+ top validators, distributes MEV rewards, and provides automatic downside protection with new Protected Staking Rewards. Choose to liquid stake for mSOL for use in DeFi, or delegate your stake through Marinade Native, which gives you full custody of your SOL and no smart contract risk. Max performance for you, max performance for Solana.

- -

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

02:18 Dave's Kraken Origin Story

11:07 Kraken User Strategy

23:12 Kraken's 5 Year Business Model

32:02 Arbitrum Ad

32:49 Aura Ad

33:38 Marinade Ad

34:42 Skale Ad

35:59 Regulatory Concerns of L2s

43:40 24/7 NYSE

51:30 Operating in Market Cycles

58:28 Best People to Hire

01:02:01 This Cycle's Expectation

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.t

Movement & Aptos: Making Security Sexy Again | Rushi Manche & Neil Harounian May 03, 2024

In this episode, Santi is joined by Neil, head of ecosystem at Aptos, and Rushi, founder of Movement Labs, to discuss the Aptos ecosystem and the Move programming language. They dive into the unique features and benefits of Move, the importance of security in blockchain development, and the collaborative efforts to grow the Move ecosystem. Neil and Rushi also share insights on the impressive growth and adoption of Aptos, as well as their focus on empowering builders and democratizing access to Move. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Follow Rushi: https://twitter.com/rushimanche

Follow Neil: https://twitter.com/neilhar_

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Sei Labs believes the EVM is here to stay.

By providing the fastest time to finality of any chain, thousands of transactions per second and full backwards compatibility with the EVM, Ethereum developers can try out a brand new design space for their applications.

Try out sei v2 devnet - visit the new sei.io to find out more.

- -

This episode is brought to you by Aura, the AI-powered digital security protection app that keeps your personal information, passwords, online activity, and tech safe from digital threats. It’s all-in-one protection from identity theft, financial fraud, malware, scams, and more.

For a limited time, Aura is offering our listeners a 14-day FREE trial plus up to 55% off an Aura subscription.

Visit aura.com/blockworks to sign up for your free trial.

- -

Mantle Network is an Ethereum Layer 2 that aims to bring super-scalability to Ethereum by taking a modular approach that offers low fees and high security.

Mantle recently launched their airdrop program "Rewards Station" to holders of its native token, $MNT. The Rewards Station program distributes pre-sale token allocations or listed token to $MNT holders who stake their $MNT.

Check out the rewards station: https://www.mantle.xyz/rewards-station

- -

Marinade is the leading Solana staking service that spreads your stake across 100+ top validators, distributes MEV rewards, and provides automatic downside protection with new Protected Staking Rewards. Choose to liquid stake for mSOL for use in DeFi, or delegate your stake through Marinade Native, which gives you full custody of your SOL and no smart contract risk. Max performance for you, max performance for Solana.

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(06:26) Why Aptos & Move Language

(19:18) Institutional Support

(29:00) Aptos Roadmap

(35:06) Sei ad

(36:04) Aura Ad

(36:52) Marinade Ad

(37:57) Mantle Ad

(38:54) Onchain User Behaviors

(46:05) TVL Growth Strategy

(59:56) Move Alternative Chains

(01:09:11) Integrated vs Modular

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Time To Buy The Dip? | 1000x May 02, 2024

This week we discuss is it time to buy the dip? After calling the local top at $70k, is the setup more bullish now for a continued bull market post halving? We deep dive into the bull case for ETH, finding the next big trade, structuring a trade & finding alpha. Enjoy!

--

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Perennial is an on-chain derivatives protocol built from first principles to be a DeFi primitive. The core protocol is minimalist, flexible, and efficient, allowing Perennial to mold to the needs of many different users & use cases.

Perennial has a super efficient core protocol that lets LPs use native maker leverage — allowing $1mn in TVL to back to $5-10mn in Open interest.

Trade and LP at: https://perennial.finance/1000x

Social: https://twitter.com/perenniallabs

--

Timestamps:

(0:00) Turning Bearish At $70k, Time To Flip Bullish?

(12:45) Perennial Ad

(14:17) The Bull Case For ETH

(23:16) Beaten Down Projects, Supply Unlocks & Finding The Next Big Trade

(30:51) Staking vs Supply Dilution

(32:30) TradFi Risk-Off

(38:26) Trade Structure & Grok For Alpha

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Building the Perfect Crypto Portfolio | Avi Felman & Roshun Patel Apr 30, 2024

In this episode, Santi & Jason talk with Avi and Ro about the current state of the crypto market cycle in both private and liquid markets. They discuss Avi's "bearish" outlook driven by diminishing ETF inflows and stablecoin market caps, Ro's perspective on crywpto venture investing, and how this cycle compares to the last one. The conversation dives into the Solana IOUs auction, the upcoming Ethereum ETF catalyst, and the (un)productive nature of assets like Eigen Layer's restaking product and Bitcoin DeFi. Avi and Ro also outline their framework for crypto portfolio construction and the key indicators they watch. The episode concludes with their 12-month price predictions for BTC, ETH and SOL.

- -

Follow Ro: https://twitter.com/roshunpatel

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

- -

This episode is brought to you by Aura, the AI-powered digital security protection app that keeps your personal information, passwords, online activity, and tech safe from digital threats. It’s all-in-one protection from identity theft, financial fraud, malware, scams, and more.

For a limited time, Aura is offering our listeners a 14-day FREE trial plus up to 55% off an Aura subscription.

Visit aura.com/blockworks to sign up for your free trial.

- -

SKALE is a modular, AppChain network that offers zero gas fee transactions and instant finality. Tailored for ease of development and onboarding, SKALE's configurable EVM chains enable next-gen use cases in gaming, AI, DePin, and others. With over 20,000,000 users having saved over $6 Billion on gas fees, SKALE is the blockchain for mass adoption.

Bridge to SKALE at portal.skale.space and stay up to date with the gasless blockchain at @skalenetwork

- -

Marinade is the leading Solana staking service that spreads your stake across 100+ top validators, distributes MEV rewards, and provides automatic downside protection with new Protected Staking Rewards. Choose to liquid stake for mSOL for use in DeFi, or delegate your stake through Marinade Native, which gives you full custody of your SOL and no smart contract risk. Max performance for you, max performance for Solana.

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(04:28) Avi's Bearish Take

(09:41) Ro's Private Market Perspective

(16:42) Ethereum's Bull Case

(27:42) Private & Liquid Ratio

(36:49) Arbitrum Ad

(37:26) Aura Ad

(38:25) Marinade Ad

(39:29) SKALE ad

(40:46) Solana's Trade

(45:44) Cycle Timing & Comparison

(54:23) Fundamentals of DeFi

(01:01:06) What Everyone is Missing?

(01:11:14) Price Predictions

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How to Value L1s, L2s, and Crypto Assets | Kyle Samani Apr 26, 2024

In this episode of Empire, Jason and Santi are joined by special guest Kyle Samani to dive deep into valuing L1 and L2 crypto assets. The conversation covers the importance of MEV as the primary value accrual mechanism rather than transaction fees, the challenges in standardizing valuations across different blockchain architectures, and the evolving fee market designs. They also discuss the true costs and benefits of token airdrops for bootstrapping ecosystems. Thanks for tuning in!

Sign up for the Empire newsletter: https://empire-31ed59.beehiiv.com/subscribe

- -

Resources

https://youtu.be/aCHY9iPS8sI?feature=shared

https://x.com/kylesamani/status/1721964311008956809

- -

Follow Kyle: https://twitter.com/KyleSamani

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Sei Labs believes the EVM is here to stay.

By providing the fastest time to finality of any chain, thousands of transactions per second and full backwards compatibility with the EVM, Ethereum developers can try out a brand new design space for their applications.

Try out sei v2 devnet - visit the new sei.io to find out more.

- -

Mantle Network is an Ethereum Layer 2 that aims to bring super-scalability to Ethereum by taking a modular approach that offers low fees and high security.

Mantle recently launched their airdrop program "Rewards Station" to holders of its native token, $MNT. The Rewards Station program distributes pre-sale token allocations or listed token to $MNT holders who stake their $MNT.

Check out the rewards station: https://www.mantle.xyz/rewards-station

- -

Monad is a fully EVM compatible Layer 1 blockchain that can support 10,000 real transactions per second. Monad aims to open up the design space for the EVM to support high fidelity defi, consumer facing applications, and more generally allow crypto to scale to the masses.

If you are interested in participating in Monad's journey, follow: https://twitter.com/monad_xyz and join: https://discord.gg/monad

- -

Marinade is the leading Solana staking service that spreads your stake across 100+ top validators, distributes MEV rewards, and provides automatic downside protection with new Protected Staking Rewards.

Choose to liquid stake for mSOL for use in DeFi, or delegate your stake through Marinade Native, which gives you full custody of your SOL and no smart contract risk.

Max performance for you, max performance for Solana.

https://blckwrks.co/Marinade

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:43) Crypto as Commodities

(08:50) MEV Fee Stream for Networks

(18:53) L1 Token Valuation

(21:31) Updated Solana Thesis

(33:160 SEI Ad

(34:14) Monad Ad

(35:12) Marinade Ad

(36:17) Mantle Ad

(37:14) Fee Markets & Performant Infra Valuations

(42:40) Income Statements of L1s & L2s

(58:10) Cost of Airdrops

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Behind the Scenes of Restaking | Brandon Curtis & Myles O'Neil Apr 23, 2024

In this deep dive episode, Brandon Curtis (Rio), Myles O'Neil (Reverie), and Ryan West (Blockworks Research) unpack the emerging world of restaking on Ethereum. The conversation starts with a detailed look at the restaking supply chain, from ETH deposits in LRTs to securing AVSs. The group discusses the key differences between LRTs and LSTs, yield strategies, and fragmented user preferences. They also explore the dynamics between LRTs and AVSs, including the leverage AVSs currently have and the challenges with off-chain "handshake" agreements. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Follow Myles: https://twitter.com/MylesOneil

Follow Brandon Curtis: https://twitter.com/bcmakes

Follow Westie: https://twitter.com/WestieCapital

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

- -

Monad is a fully EVM compatible Layer 1 blockchain that can support 10,000 real transactions per second. Monad aims to open up the design space for the EVM to support high fidelity defi, consumer facing applications, and more generally allow crypto to scale to the masses.

If you are interested in participating in Monad's journey, follow: https://twitter.com/monad_xyz and join: https://discord.gg/monad

- -

SKALE is a modular, AppChain network that offers zero gas fee transactions and instant finality. Tailored for ease of development and onboarding, SKALE's configurable EVM chains enable next-gen use cases in gaming, AI, DePin, and others. With over 20,000,000 users having saved over $6 Billion on gas fees, SKALE is the blockchain for mass adoption.

Bridge to SKALE at portal.skale.space and stay up to date with the gasless blockchain at @skalenetwork

- -

Marinade is the leading Solana staking service that spreads your stake across 100+ top validators, distributes MEV rewards, and provides automatic downside protection with new Protected Staking Rewards. Choose to liquid stake for mSOL for use in DeFi, or delegate your stake through Marinade Native, which gives you full custody of your SOL and no smart contract risk. Max performance for you, max performance for Solana.

- -

Timestamps:

00:00 intro

02:37 Restaking Supply Chain

10:56 Restaking Today

18:11 LRTs & AVS Dynamics

30:54 LRT Selection Process

41:21 AVS Leverage Advantage

45:21 Arbitrum Ad

46:09 Monad Ad

47:07 Marinade Ad

48:12 Skale Ad

49:28 AVS Security

55:09 LRTs vs LSTs

01:07:06 LRT Risk & Yield Strategies

01:17:07 Native vs External Staking

01:26:26 Eigen Layer Competitors

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

CoinFund's Playbook for a Crypto Supercycle | Jake Brukhman & Seth Ginns Apr 19, 2024

In this episode, Jason sits down with Jake Brukhman and Seth Ginns, co-founders and managing partners at CoinFund. They dive deep into CoinFund's origin story, investment philosophy, and how the firm navigates the complex landscape of liquid and venture investing in the crypto space. Jake and Seth share their insights on the current crypto market cycle, drawing comparisons to previous cycles and discussing potential scenarios for how this one may unfold differently. They explore the intersection of AI and crypto, with Jake highlighting the importance of decentralization and democratization in the development of AI to avoid dangerous centralized control by a few big tech companies. Stay tuned for all of this and much more!

- -

Follow Jake: https://twitter.com/jbrukh

Follow Seth: https://twitter.com/sethginns

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Monad is a fully EVM compatible Layer 1 blockchain that can support 10,000 real transactions per second. Monad aims to open up the design space for the EVM to support high fidelity defi, consumer facing applications, and more generally allow crypto to scale to the masses.

If you are interested in participating in Monad's journey, follow: https://twitter.com/monad_xyz and join: https://discord.gg/monad

- -

Marinade is the leading Solana staking service that spreads your stake across 100+ top validators, distributes MEV rewards, and provides automatic downside protection with new Protected Staking Rewards. Choose to liquid stake for mSOL for use in DeFi, or delegate your stake through Marinade Native, which gives you full custody of your SOL and no smart contract risk. Max performance for you, max performance for Solana.

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:50) CoinFund Origin Story

(12:53) Web2 vs Crypto Venture

(27:28) Liquid Investing

(36:00) Determining Valuations

(44:54) Monad Ad

(45:53) Marinade Ad

(47:00) Opportunity in Interop

(55:32) Market Cycles

(01:11:16) Crypto & AI Thesis

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Does The Bitcoin Halving Still Matter? | 1000x Apr 18, 2024

This week we discuss the current state of crypto after the weekend flash crash. As Bitcoin struggles to break $70,000 with conviction, will the 2024 halving be a strong catalyst for more bullish price action going forward?

We also walk through some of crypto's most promising use cases: Ondo, Hyperliquid & Ethena. Enjoy!

--

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Perennial is an on-chain derivatives protocol built from first principles to be a DeFi primitive. The core protocol is minimalist, flexible, and efficient, allowing Perennial to mold to the needs of many different users & use cases.

Perennial has a super efficient core protocol that lets LPs use native maker leverage — allowing $1mn in TVL to back to $5-10mn in Open interest.

Trade and LP at: https://perennial.finance/1000x

Social: https://twitter.com/perenniallabs

--

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:27) Bitcoin Struggles To Break $70,000

(7:11) Risk Of Further Conflict?

(16:02) Perennial Ad

(17:33) The Bitcoin Halving

(24:02) The Bitcoin & Meme Coin Barbell Strategy

(32:42) Crypto Use Cases: Ondo, Hyperliquid & Ethena

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Why Layer 3s are Inevitable | Steven Goldfeder, Co-founder at Offchain Labs Apr 16, 2024

In this episode, Steven Goldfeder, co-founder of Offchain Labs, dives deep into the world of Layer 3 blockchains and their potential to revolutionize Ethereum scaling. The discussion covers the benefits of building on Arbitrum's customizable L3 stack, including reduced onboarding costs and improved data availability. Steven also explores the importance of fraud proofs in ensuring the security of L2 and L3 chains, as well as Arbitrum's community-sourced approach to blockchain development. The conversation touches on the future of DeFi, the role of composability and network effects, and the potential for L3s to abstract away the complexity of the blockchain stack for end-users. Stay tuned for all of this and much more!

- -

Follow Steven: https://twitter.com/sgoldfed

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

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Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

- -

Monad is a fully EVM compatible Layer 1 blockchain that can support 10,000 real transactions per second. Monad aims to open up the design space for the EVM to support high fidelity defi, consumer facing applications, and more generally allow crypto to scale to the masses.

If you are interested in participating in Monad's journey, follow: https://twitter.com/monad_xyz and join: https://discord.gg/monad

- -

SKALE is a modular, AppChain network that offers zero gas fee transactions and instant finality. Tailored for ease of development and onboarding, SKALE's configurable EVM chains enable next-gen use cases in gaming, AI, DePin, and others. With over 20,000,000 users having saved over $6 Billion on gas fees, SKALE is the blockchain for mass adoption.

Bridge to SKALE at portal.skale.space and stay up to date with the gasless blockchain at @skalenetwork

- -

Marinade is the leading Solana staking service that spreads your stake across 100+ top validators, distributes MEV rewards, and provides automatic downside protection with new Protected Staking Rewards. Choose to liquid stake for mSOL for use in DeFi, or delegate your stake through Marinade Native, which gives you full custody of your SOL and no smart contract risk. Max performance for you, max performance for Solana.

- -

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:52 L2 State of the Union

08:07 L2 vs L3

14:00 User Acquisition Methodology

18:30 Value Accrual of L3s m

24:20 App Chain vs L3

28:46 Not Using Eth Security

36:33 Fraud Proofs

38:21 Arbitrum Ad

49:09 Monad Ad

50:07 SKALE AD

51:24 Higher Throughput Chains

58:31 Why did Coinbase pick OP

01:03:55 End Game of L3s

01:08:06 Why Not Just L1s?

01:14:57 Crypto Network Effects

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Uniswap vs SEC: The Bull and Bear Case | Roundup Apr 12, 2024

In this roundup, Santi and Jason dive into the implications of Uniswap receiving a Wells notice from the SEC and the departure drama at MarginFi. The conversation then shifts to the upcoming Bitcoin halving, and the potential price implications. They also discuss the launch of Karak, a new universal restaking protocol, and compare its approach to Eigen Layer. Finally, they break down the significance of BlackRock tokenizing treasuries on Ethereum through a partnership with Circle. Thanks for tuning in!

Subscribe to the Empire Newsletter!

https://empire-31ed59.beehiiv.com/subscribe

- -

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Wormhole is a decentralized interoperability platform powering multi-chain applications and bridges. It provides developers with access to liquidity and users on over 30 leading blockchain networks, enabling use cases in DeFi, data queries, and governance. The platform is trusted by teams like Uniswap and Circle and, to date, the platform has facilitated the transfer of over 35 billion dollars through over 850 million cross-chain messages.

Claim your unique Wormhole NFT at

https://wormhole.com/empire13-0092

- -

Monad is a fully EVM compatible Layer 1 blockchain that can support 10,000 real transactions per second. Monad aims to open up the design space for the EVM to support high fidelity defi, consumer facing applications, and more generally allow crypto to scale to the masses.

If you are interested in participating in Monad's journey, follow: https://twitter.com/monad_xyz and join: https://discord.gg/monad

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:13) Marathons & Injuries

(04:22) Uniswap Wells Notice

(10:18) Bear and Bull Case of Uniswap Case

(20:32) MarginFi Meldown

(31:36) Wormhole Ad

(33:03) Monad Ad

(34:02) Bitcoin Halving Countdown

(40:18) TD Bank BTC Video

(42:57) Karak Universal Restaking

(53:54) Circle USDC & BlackRock BIDL

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Future of Bitcoin Smart Contracts | Matt & Amine of Arch Network Apr 09, 2024

In this episode, Matt and Amine, co-founders of Arch, discuss how the Taproot upgrade and Ordinals have enabled programmability and DeFi on the Bitcoin base layer. They explain Arch's novel approach to bringing smart contract functionality to Bitcoin without compromising on security by using a UTXO model, a ZKVM for parallel transaction execution, and a Proof-of-Stake verifier network. Stay tuned for all of this and much more!

- -

Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/proofofmud

Follow Amine: https://twitter.com/amine_elqaraoui

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

https://empire-31ed59.beehiiv.com/subscribe

- -

Monad is a fully EVM compatible Layer 1 blockchain that can support 10,000 real transactions per second. Monad aims to open up the design space for the EVM to support high fidelity defi, consumer facing applications, and more generally allow crypto to scale to the masses.

If you are interested in participating in Monad's journey, follow: https://twitter.com/monad_xyz and join: https://discord.gg/monad

- -

SKALE is a modular, AppChain network that offers zero gas fee transactions and instant finality. Tailored for ease of development and onboarding, SKALE's configurable EVM chains enable next-gen use cases in gaming, AI, DePin, and others. With over 20,000,000 users having saved over $6 Billion on gas fees, SKALE is the blockchain for mass adoption.

Bridge to SKALE at portal.skale.space and stay up to date with the gasless blockchain at @skalenetwork

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Bitcoin Activity Origin

(08:290 Building on Bitcoin Base Layer

(18:11) Network Security & Design

(23:13) L1 vs L2 BTC Approach

(32:21) Arbitrum Ad

(33:09) Monad Ad

(34:08) Skale Ad

(35:24) Arch GTM Strategy

(39:38) 5 Year Vision

(46:21) Why Build on Bitcoin

(49:00) Key Trust Assumptions

(55:28) Developer Experience

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Do We Really Need Layer 3s? | Roundup Apr 05, 2024

Subscribe to the Empire Newsletter!

In this week's roundup Jason and Santi dive into the latest developments in the crypto space, including the Wormhole and Ethena airdrop, the resurgence of meme coins, and the debate around L3s. They discuss the risks and centralization issues with current L2s, the overlooked opportunities in crypto public markets, and the potential for prediction markets. To close out the duo discuss the launch of new crypto investment platforms Bid Club and Echo. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

https://wormhole.com/empire12-4893

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Wormhole is a decentralized interoperability platform powering multi-chain applications and bridges. It provides developers with access to liquidity and users on over 30 leading blockchain networks, enabling use cases in DeFi, data queries, and governance. The platform is trusted by teams like Uniswap and Circle and, to date, the platform has facilitated the transfer of over 35 billion dollars through over 850 million cross-chain messages.

Claim your unique Wormhole NFT at

- -

Send your crypto to your PayPal account, swap it for PYUSD, and use it to checkout at millions of stores.

Pay how you want by getting started at:

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE10 to get 10% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:30) Jaded on Airdrops

(05:13) Memecoin Hot Takes

(14:34) Why Have L3s?

(26:18) Apps on L3s

(35:50) Wormhole Ad

(37:17) Monad Ad

(38:17) Risks of L2s

(48:11) Private VS Liquid Markets

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Solana vs Ethereum: Which Should You Own? | 1000x Apr 04, 2024

This week we discuss the question everyone has been asking themselves in 2024... Ethereum or Solana?

As Solana rose from the ashes in late 2023, and meme coin season captured the zeitgeist in early 2024, is the bull case for SOL clearer than ever before? We discuss the bull & bear case for both assets & Avi drops some spicy takes! But to hear that, you'll have to tune in.

--

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Perennial is an on-chain derivatives protocol built from first principles to be a DeFi primitive. The core protocol is minimalist, flexible, and efficient, allowing Perennial to mold to the needs of many different users & use cases.

Perennial has a super efficient core protocol that lets LPs use native maker leverage — allowing $1mn in TVL to back to $5-10mn in Open interest. Trade and LP at: https://perennial.finance/1000x

--

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(3:50) The Ethereum vs Solana Debate

(15:27) Perennial Ad

(16:58) Ethereum Needs A Catalyst

(24:44) Is Retail Coming Back This Cycle?

(30:12) The Wormhole Airdrop

(33:43) Value Accrual In This Crypto Cycle

(39:28) NFTs

(42:18) Wen Buy Dips, Wen Take Profits?

(49:23) Where Are We In The Cycle?

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Network Effects and Value Accrual in Crypto | Kyle Samani Apr 02, 2024

In today's episode Kyle Samani from Multicoin Capital joins Michael and Hart to discuss the complex dynamics of network effects in the blockchain ecosystem. The conversation dives deep into the different types of network effects at play, the phenomenon of anti-network effects caused by high gas fees, and the potential for blockchain technology to revolutionize global finance. Kyle shares his insights on the end state of L1 blockchains, the role of interoperability, and where value may ultimately accrue in the crypto stack. Along the way, they debate the relative importance of technological innovation versus monetary characteristics in driving value.

Although our guest this week is a Managing Partner of a registered investment adviser, nothing in this podcast should be considered an offer of Multicoin’s investment advisory services or should otherwise be confused for investment, tax, legal or other financial advice.

--

Follow Kyle: https://twitter.com/KyleSamani

Follow Hart: https://twitter.com/hal2001

Follow Mike: https://twitter.com/MikeIppolito_

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3R1D1D9

Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3pQTfmD

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3cpKZXH- -

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

- -

Monad is a fully EVM compatible Layer 1 blockchain that can support 10,000 real transactions per second. Monad aims to open up the design space for the EVM to support high fidelity defi, consumer facing applications, and more generally allow crypto to scale to the masses.

If you are interested in participating in Monad's journey, follow: https://twitter.com/monad_xyz and join: https://discord.gg/monad

- -

SKALE is a modular, AppChain network that offers zero gas fee transactions and instant finality. Tailored for ease of development and onboarding, SKALE's configurable EVM chains enable next-gen use cases in gaming, AI, DePin, and others. With over 20,000,000 users having saved over $6 Billion on gas fees, SKALE is the blockchain for mass adoption.

Bridge to SKALE at portal.skale.space and stay up to date with the gasless blockchain at @skalenetwork

Timestamps:

(0:00) Intro

(03:20) Interview Start: Kyle Samani

(6:53) Network Effects & Blockchains

(20:57) Blockchain Based Games & Social Apps

29:12 Arbitrum Ad

29:58 Monad Ad

30:57 SKALE Ad

(32:14) Integrated vs Modular

(34:46) Protocol vs Token Network Effects

(57:16) End State of L1s

(1:10:38) Outro

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Bitcoin's Path to $1.5M by 2030 | Cathie Wood & Ophelia Snyder Mar 29, 2024

In today's interview, Cathie Wood from ARK Invest and Ophelia Snyder from 21 Shares join Jason to discuss the journey from monetary shock to an innovation-led economic boom. They dive into the importance of wirehouses for crypto adoption, the demand outlook for Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, and the likelihood of seeing ETFs for alt coins in the near future. Kathy shares her views on the misallocation of capital post the 2008 financial crisis and why volatility is part of the price paid for exposure to the new asset class of crypto. Ophelia provides insights into running crypto ETFs and the regulatory landscape around getting them approved. Stay tuned for all of this and much more!

- -

Follow Cathie: https://twitter.com/cathiedwood

Follow Ophelia: https://twitter.com/OpheliaBSnyder

https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news.

Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter & the newly launching Empire newsletter!

https://empire-31ed59.beehiiv.com/subscribe

- -

Wormhole is a decentralized interoperability platform powering multi-chain applications and bridges. It provides developers with access to liquidity and users on over 30 leading blockchain networks, enabling use cases in DeFi, data queries, and governance. The platform is trusted by teams like Uniswap and Circle and, to date, the platform has facilitated the transfer of over 35 billion dollars through over 850 million cross-chain messages.

Claim your unique Wormhole NFT at

https://wormhole.com/empire11-3411

- -

Monad is a fully EVM compatible Layer 1 blockchain that can support 10,000 real transactions per second. Monad aims to open up the design space for the EVM to support high fidelity defi, consumer facing applications, and more generally allow crypto to scale to the masses.

If you are interested in participating in Monad's journey, follow: https://twitter.com/monad_xyz and join: https://discord.gg/monad

- -

Shardeum is an EVM-based autoscaling blockchain

Learn more and spin up your node today: bit.ly/shardeum-blockworks-1

- -

Get the freshest price feeds free for 12 months. Join Supra’s early integration program for zero-cost access to the fastest oracles and dVRF across 50+ blockchains: supra.com/blockworks

Earn $1,500 by referring Web3 projects to use Supra services. The projects get the fastest services for free, and you earn $1,500 for every referral. Learn more at the link above.

- -

Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(02:13) Monetary Shock to Economic Boom

(14:21) Asset Managers & Crypto Adoption

(23:12) Explaining Crypto

(33:16) Wormhole Ad

(34:41) Monad Ad

(35:41) Shardeum Ad

(36:36) Supra Ad

(37:33) Importance of Wirehouses

(47:54) ETH & Alt Coin ETF Demand

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

DAS Recap | Roundup Mar 26, 2024

In this episode, Jason and Santiago recap their experience at the Digital Asset Summit (DAS) in London. They discuss the evolution of DAS over the years, noting the increased institutional presence and sophistication. The conversation touches on major themes from the event, including the financialization of meme coins, the growing importance of staking and restaking, and the potential impact of ETFs. Jason and Santi also reflect on the rewarding experience of connecting with Empire podcast listeners at the event. Finally, they announce the upcoming launch of the Empire newsletter!

- -

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter & the newly launching Empire newsletter!

https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

https://empire-31ed59.beehiiv.com/subscribe

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

portal.arbitrum.io

- -

Harpie is the most advanced on-chain security solution for monitoring and protecting your crypto wallet from theft in real time. Harpie detects, blocks, and recovers compromised assets from malicious transactions before they execute, and is the only security tool to also protect users from off-chain signature attacks like the recent Ledger Connect Kit exploit.

Secure your wallet for free at harpie.io.

- -

Get the freshest price feeds free for 12 months. Join Supra’s early integration program for zero-cost access to the fastest oracles and dVRF across 50+ blockchains: supra.com/blockworks

Earn $1,500 by referring Web3 projects to use Supra services. The projects get the fastest services for free, and you earn $1,500 for every referral. Learn more at the link above.

- -

Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:43) DAS London Recap

(13:23) Where are we in the cycle?

(22:22) Why are Founders in Crypto?

(30:43) Arbitrum Ad

(31:31) Harpie Ad

(32:45) Supra Ad

(33:43) Financialization of Everything

(40:35) Big Themes from DAS

(48:47) Empire Meetup

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Will NFTs Recapture Mindshare from Memecoins? | Geebz, TylerD, and DeeZe Mar 22, 2024

In this episode, Jason is joined by geebz, TylerD, and DeeZe to discuss the current state of NFTs and memecoins. They dive into how meme coins have taken attention away from NFTs recently, similar to the 2021 NFT bull cycle. The guests share their thoughts on the future of the NFT market, including the potential for gaming NFTs, ordinals on Bitcoin, and the experimentation happening with NFT utility. They also discuss the intense competition among NFT marketplaces like Magic Eden, Blur, and OpenSea. Finally, Jason shares learnings from launching the Permies NFT collection for Blockworks' Permissionless conference. Stay tuned for all of this and much more!

- -

Follow DeeZe: https://twitter.com/DeeZe

Follow Geebz: https://twitter.com/ArtGeebz

Follow Tyler: https://twitter.com/Tyler_Did_It

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Wormhole is a decentralized interoperability platform powering multi-chain applications and bridges. It provides developers with access to liquidity and users on over 30 leading blockchain networks, enabling use cases in DeFi, data queries, and governance. The platform is trusted by teams like Uniswap and Circle and, to date, the platform has facilitated the transfer of over 35 billion dollars through over 850 million cross-chain messages.

Claim your unique Wormhole NFT at

https://wormhole.com/empire10-7469

- -

Monad is a fully EVM compatible Layer 1 blockchain that can support 10,000 real transactions per second. Monad aims to open up the design space for the EVM to support high fidelity defi, consumer facing applications, and more generally allow crypto to scale to the masses.

If you are interested in participating in Monad's journey, follow: https://twitter.com/monad_xyz and join: https://discord.gg/monad

- -

Shardeum is an EVM-based autoscaling blockchain

Learn more and spin up your node today: bit.ly/shardeum-blockworks-1

- -

Get the freshest price feeds free for 12 months. Join Supra’s early integration program for zero-cost access to the fastest oracles and dVRF across 50+ blockchains: supra.com/blockworks

Earn $1,500 by referring Web3 projects to use Supra services. The projects get the fastest services for free, and you earn $1,500 for every referral. Learn more at the link above.

- -

Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(02:15) NFTs vs Memecoins

(13:27) Are Memecoins Cycle Top Froth?

(19:24) Roundtripping Gains

(22:37) Future of NFTs

(31:00) Crypto Native NFTs vs Outsiders

(34:56) NFT Allocation in 2024

(48:32) Wormhole Ad

(49:59) Monad Ad

(50:57) Shardeum Ad

(51:53) Supra Ad

(52:50) The Memecoin Supercycle

(56:13) NFT Marketplace Structure

(01:06:32) Web2 NFT Adoption

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Trading the Next Crypto Bull Market | 1000x Mar 21, 2024

Gm! We gathered at DAS London to record the first ever live episode of 1000x. We discuss where are we in the cycle, the ETF impact, Bitcoin's path to $100,000, is the alt L1 trade dead & of course meme coins.

Study the Felman. Lessons in there. Enjoy!

--

Follow Mike: https://twitter.com/MikeIppolito_

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Perennial is an on-chain derivatives protocol built from first principles to be a DeFi primitive. The core protocol is minimalist, flexible, and efficient, allowing Perennial to mold to the needs of many different users & use cases.

Perennial has a super efficient core protocol that lets LPs use native maker leverage — allowing $1mn in TVL to back to $5-10mn in Open interest. Trade and LP at: https://perennial.finance/1000x

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Can Proof of Liquidity Solve the Blockchain Trilemma? | Smokey the Bera Mar 19, 2024

In this episode, Santi interviews Smokey, the co-founder of Berachain, a new layer 1 blockchain built on the concept of "proof of liquidity". They dive deep into Berachain's origin story, starting from its conception as a series of NFTs to its current state of development. Smokey explains the core ideas behind proof of liquidity, how it aligns incentives between network security and liquidity, and how it compares to other blockchain consensus mechanisms. They also discuss Berachain's roadmap, the types of applications being built on it, and the biggest challenges and risks Smokey foresees as they approach mainnet launch.

- -

Follow Smokey: https://twitter.com/SmokeyTheBera

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

- -

Harpie is the most advanced on-chain security solution for monitoring and protecting your crypto wallet from theft in real time. Harpie detects, blocks, and recovers compromised assets from malicious transactions before they execute, and is the only security tool to also protect users from off-chain signature attacks like the recent Ledger Connect Kit exploit.

Secure your wallet for free at harpie.io.

- -

Get the freshest price feeds free for 12 months. Join Supra’s early integration program for zero-cost access to the fastest oracles and dVRF across 50+ blockchains: supra.com/blockworks

Earn $1,500 by referring Web3 projects to use Supra services. The projects get the fastest services for free, and you earn $1,500 for every referral. Learn more at the link above.

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(03:06) Berachain Origin Story

(11:08) Proof of Liquidity

(22:46) Journey of Berachain & Roadmap

(29:34) Why Build on Berachain

(43:54) Arbitrum Ad

(44:40) Harpie Ad

(45:53) Supra Ad

(46:50) Value Accrual

(57:30) MEV & Block Ordering

(01:01:21) Scaling Berachain

(01:07:55) Building in Crypto

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Unmasking ChainLinkGod: Zach Rynes' Crypto Journey Mar 18, 2024

In today's episode, Jason talks with Zach Rynes, formerly known as crypto anon "ChainLinkGod". They discuss Zach's journey in the crypto space, the pros and cons of being an anon, and the strong community of "Link Marines" that has formed around Chainlink. Zach explains how Chainlink has evolved from a simple oracle service to a platform for data, compute and cross-chain functionality, and why he believes it will be a critical piece of infrastructure as crypto matures and gains adoption from institutions. They also touch on Zach's thoughts on the current state of the oracle market, the importance of the LINK token, and some other exciting developments in the Ethereum and broader crypto ecosystem.

- -

Follow Zach: https://twitter.com/ChainLinkGod

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Timestamps

(00:00) Why ChainlinkGod is DOXing

(03:31) The ChainlinkGod Origin Story

(13:42) Importance of Identity in Crypto

(21:49) Oracle Landscape Today

(25:05) Link Business Model

(28:49) The Role of LINK Token

(32:45) CCIP Overview

(37:51) Dencun's Impact to Rollups

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Crypto's Role in the Emerging Cybernetic Economy | Konstantin Lomashuk Mar 15, 2024

In today's episode of Empire, Konstantin Lomashuk, co-founder of Lido & Cyber Fund, discusses his journey. He shares his views on the importance of decentralization in staking, the potential risks and rewards of restaking protocols like Eigenlayer, and his long-term vision for a "cybernetic economy" powered by blockchain and AI. Konstantin also reflects on Ethereum's development roadmap, the surprises he's encountered in his crypto career, and the challenges of building in an open, permissionless ecosystem.

- -

Follow Konstantin: https://twitter.com/Lomashuk

https://wormhole.com/empire9-9444

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Wormhole is a decentralized interoperability platform powering multi-chain applications and bridges. It provides developers with access to liquidity and users on over 30 leading blockchain networks, enabling use cases in DeFi, data queries, and governance. The platform is trusted by teams like Uniswap and Circle and, to date, the platform has facilitated the transfer of over 35 billion dollars through over 850 million cross-chain messages.

Claim your unique Wormhole NFT at

- -

Monad is a fully EVM compatible Layer 1 blockchain that can support 10,000 real transactions per second. Monad aims to open up the design space for the EVM to support high fidelity defi, consumer facing applications, and more generally allow crypto to scale to the masses.

If you are interested in participating in Monad's journey, follow: https://twitter.com/monad_xyz and join: https://discord.gg/monad

- -

Shardeum is an EVM-based autoscaling blockchain

Learn more and spin up your node today: bit.ly/shardeum-blockworks-1

- -

Get the freshest price feeds free for 12 months. Join Supra’s early integration program for zero-cost access to the fastest oracles and dVRF across 50+ blockchains: supra.com/blockworks

Earn $1,500 by referring Web3 projects to use Supra services. The projects get the fastest services for free, and you earn $1,500 for every referral. Learn more at the link above.

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE10 to get 10% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:40) Konstantin's Background

(10:38) ETH Staking Marketshare

(26:26) Thoughts on Restaking

(35:44) Wormhole Ad

(37:11) Monda Ad

(38:10) Shardeum Ad

(39:05) Supra Ad

(40:02) ETH's Edge & Misses

(47:52) Risks of Restaking

(58:23) Value of Alt Ecosystems

(01:02:54) The Cyber Economy

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Trading Crypto Bull Markets With Alex Kruger | 1000x Mar 14, 2024

This week, Alex Kruger aka Krugermacro joins the show for a discussion on where we are in the current crypto cycle. With Bitcoin ripping above all-time highs, ETF flows strong & meme coins up only are thing getting a little too frothy too quick, or does this rally have much further to run?

--

Follow Alex: https://twitter.com/krugermacro

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Perennial is an on-chain derivatives protocol built from first principles to be a DeFi primitive. The core protocol is minimalist, flexible, and efficient, allowing Perennial to mold to the needs of many different users & use cases.

Perennial has a super efficient core protocol that lets LPs use native maker leverage — allowing $1mn in TVL to back to $5-10mn in Open interest. Trade and LP at: https://perennial.finance/1000x

--

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:59) Trading Bull vs Bear Markets

(4:21) The FTX Blowup

(11:30) Where Are We In The Cycle?

(18:27) Trading Blow-Off Tops

(22:02) Perennial Ad

(23:34) The Bitcoin ETF Is Still Early

(29:30) Meme Coins

(39:49) There's A Lot Of Euphoria.. But Not In Alt's

(47:34) The Bitcoin Basis Trade

(51:08) Solana & The FTX Estate

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Future of Stablecoins & Synthetic Dollars | Arthur Hayes & Guy Young (Ethena) Mar 12, 2024

In today's episode we are joined by Arthur Hayes and Guy Young dive deep into the world of stablecoins and synthetic dollars. They discuss the counterparty risks associated with Ethena, a new synthetic dollar product, and how it aims to provide a decentralized alternative to traditional stablecoins like Tether and USDC. The conversation also touches on the challenges faced by algorithmic stablecoins, the potential impact of institutional investors entering the crypto space, and the exciting opportunities in the growing interest rate market within the crypto ecosystem. To close out Arthur shares where he thinks we are in the cycle. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Follow Arthur: https://twitter.com/CryptoHayes

Follow Guy: https://twitter.com/leptokurtic_

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

- -

Harpie is the most advanced on-chain security solution for monitoring and protecting your crypto wallet from theft in real time. Harpie detects, blocks, and recovers compromised assets from malicious transactions before they execute, and is the only security tool to also protect users from off-chain signature attacks like the recent Ledger Connect Kit exploit.

Secure your wallet for free at harpie.io.

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE10 to get 10% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps:

(0:00) Arthur's Stablecoin Musings

(9:28) History of Tokenized Hedge Funds

(11:47) Ethena Overview

(16:34) Arbitrum Ad

(17:20) Harpie Ad

(18:33) Risks of Ethena

(24:25) USDe Yield over Time

(29:28) Defending a Cascade

(35:05) Rebranding USDe

(45:35) Minting & Redeeming Process

(48:14) Stablecoin Endgame

(1:00:39) Where are we in the cycle?

(1:09:09) Top Narratives this Cycle

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Santi's 10 Years of Mistakes and Lessons | Roundup Mar 08, 2024

Today's episode of Empire Santi opens up about the biggest investing mistakes he's made throughout his crypto journey, from getting carried away with trading in Bitcoin's early days, to not re-underwriting his Ethereum thesis as the price soared, to chasing dependent projects during the ICO boom. He unpacks the importance of differentiating between errors of process vs. errors of outcome, shares hard-earned lessons on portfolio management and tax implications, and discusses how to handle the psychological challenges of investing. Stay tuned for all of this and much more!

- -

https://wormhole.com/empire8-8812

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Wormhole is a decentralized interoperability platform powering multi-chain applications and bridges. It provides developers with access to liquidity and users on over 30 leading blockchain networks, enabling use cases in DeFi, data queries, and governance. The platform is trusted by teams like Uniswap and Circle and, to date, the platform has facilitated the transfer of over 35 billion dollars through over 850 million cross-chain messages.

Claim your unique Wormhole NFT at

- -

Monad is a fully EVM compatible Layer 1 blockchain that can support 10,000 real transactions per second. Monad aims to open up the design space for the EVM to support high fidelity defi, consumer facing applications, and more generally allow crypto to scale to the masses.

If you are interested in participating in Monad's journey, follow: https://twitter.com/monad_xyz and join: https://discord.gg/monad

- -

Shardeum is an EVM-based autoscaling blockchain

Learn more and spin up your node today: bit.ly/shardeum-blockworks-1

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE10 to get 10% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Learning from Mistakes

(05:22) First Big Mistake

(12:34) Know your Game

(16:00) When to Sell

(24:03) Mistakes in ICO Era

(32:40) Tax Implications & Strategy

(34:22) Profit Taking & Identity

(39:55) Wormhole ad

(41:22) Monad Ad

(42:20) Shardeum Ad

(43:17) Private Deal Mistakes

(46:15) Dealing with Mistakes

(54:08) Biggest Rug

(56:04) Biggest Paperhand

(01:02:28) Preparing for Success

(01:06:36) Investing in Dependencies

(01:09:54) Biggest Mistakes

(01:23:17) Jason's Mistakes

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Inside Bitcoin’s Early Days | Pete Rizzo and Charlie Shrem Mar 05, 2024

In today's episode Jason is joined by Bitcoin early adopters, Pete Rizzo and Charlie Shrem. They dive into the early days of Bitcoin from 2011-2014, covering topics like the origins of BitInstant, Charlie's experience being arrested, the Mt. Gox hack, and the start of the block size wars. Charlie and Pete share insider stories and insights from their unique vantage points, having been involved in Bitcoin from its very early stages. They touch on the cultural divide between the Bitcoin and broader crypto communities and look towards the future of ordinals. Stay tuned for all of this and much more!

- -

Follow Charlie: https://twitter.com/CharlieShrem

Follow Pete: https://twitter.com/pete_rizzo

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

- -

Harpie is the most advanced on-chain security solution for monitoring and protecting your crypto wallet from theft in real time. Harpie detects, blocks, and recovers compromised assets from malicious transactions before they execute, and is the only security tool to also protect users from off-chain signature attacks like the recent Ledger Connect Kit exploit.

Secure your wallet for free at harpie.io.

- -

Monad is a fully EVM compatible Layer 1 blockchain that can support 10,000 real transactions per second. Monad aims to open up the design space for the EVM to support high fidelity defi, consumer facing applications, and more generally allow crypto to scale to the masses.

If you are interested in participating in Monad's journey,

follow: https://twitter.com/monad_xyz and join: https://discord.gg/monad

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:52) Early Days of Crypto

(12:09) BitInstant Origin Story

(23:34) Competing with Money

(36:40) Arbitrum Ad

(37:28) Harpie Ad

(38:43) The Mining Industry

(46:46) Origins of Exchanges

(52:56) Bitcoin in 2013

(01:00:08) Charlie's Arrest

(01:09:24) The 2015/16 Bear Market

(01:15:15) The Block Size Wars

(01:29:33) Ordinals

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The 4 Stages of a Bull Market | Roundup Mar 01, 2024

In this week's roundup Jason and Santi dive into the stages of a bull market. They break down why traders often chase narratives and overtrade during peak market conditions. They also analyze the Uniswap proposal to reward token holders, predicting it may enable more DeFi tokens and protocols to distribute fees. To close out they discuss the Blast mainnet launch and incentives offered to builders. Stay tuned for all of this and much more!

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

https://wormhole.com/empire7-8645

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Wormhole is a decentralized interoperability platform powering multi-chain applications and bridges. It provides developers with access to liquidity and users on over 30 leading blockchain networks, enabling use cases in DeFi, data queries, and governance. The platform is trusted by teams like Uniswap and Circle and, to date, the platform has facilitated the transfer of over 35 billion dollars through over 850 million cross-chain messages.

Claim your unique Wormhole NFT at

- -

Send your crypto to your PayPal account, swap it for PYUSD, and use it to checkout at millions of stores.

Pay how you want by getting started at:

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE10 to get 10% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Tokyo, Marathons, and Crypto Highs

(04:54) Santi's Best Trades

(18:54) 4 Stages of the Bull Market

(30:33) Wormhole Ad

(31:59) Paypal ad

(32:57) Chasing Narratives in Bull Markets

(48:22) Uniswap Fee Proposal

(59:55) Blast Mainnet Launch

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Bitcoin ETF Impact, We Are So ₿ack | 1000x Feb 29, 2024

Follow 1000x On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3P6Lo19

Follow 1000x On Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3P4bYbb

Follow 1000x On YouTube: https://bit.ly/3DNc5C6

--

We're are so ₿ack! On today's episode of 1000x, Jonah and Avi discuss recent market price action as Bitcoin rips above $60,000 & ETF flows continue.

--

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Referenced In The Show:

Bitcoin ETF Flow: https://farside.co.uk/?p=997

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Why Monad is Superscaling the EVM with Parallel Execution | Keone Hon & Jon Charbonneau Feb 27, 2024

On today's episode Santi and Jason are joined by Keone Hon, co-founder of Monad, and Jon Charbonneau co-founder of dba, to discuss building performant blockchains and the tradeoffs between modular versus integrated architectures. They cover Monad's design decisions including choosing the EVM for developer portability, implementing optimistic parallel execution for efficiency, and developing the MonadDB state database for fast data access. They also unpack the hardware requirements for validators, alt L1 ecosystem competition, and how to build lasting communities around protocols. Stay tuned for all this and much more!

- -

Follow Jon: https://twitter.com/jon_charb

Follow Keone: https://twitter.com/keoneHD

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

- -

Harpie is the most advanced on-chain security solution for monitoring and protecting your crypto wallet from theft in real time. Harpie detects, blocks, and recovers compromised assets from malicious transactions before they execute, and is the only security tool to also protect users from off-chain signature attacks like the recent Ledger Connect Kit exploit.

Secure your wallet for free at harpie.io.

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE10 to get 10% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Why Build Monad?

(06:58) Why the EVM

(13:17) L2 vs L1 App Chain Decision

(15:21) Parallelized Systems & Scalability

(32:40) Monad Transaction Overview

(41:11) Arbitrum Ad

(41:59) Harpie Ad

(43:14) Validator Hardware Requirements

(56:27) Monad Vision & Competitive Position

(01:01:14) Attracting Users and Developer

(01:07:00) What Actually Goes Onchain?

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Ethena: Crypto's Next Bank Run or a Tokenized Hedge Fund? | Roundup Feb 23, 2024

In this week's roundup Jason and Santi are joined by Blockworks research analyst Matt Fiebach to unpack USDe, crypto's latest high yield synthetic dollar. They dig into Ethena lab's latest token aiming to offer high yields from basis trading strategies. The conversation then delves into the implications of Gauntlet's departure from Aave, highlighting the challenges of DAO governance and the dynamics of service providers. The discussion closes out on the return of NFTs and if apps will outperforn base layer tokens in bullish ecosystems. Stay tuned for all this and more!

- -

Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/MattFiebach

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

https://wormhole.com/empire6-2229

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Wormhole is a decentralized interoperability platform powering multi-chain applications and bridges. It provides developers with access to liquidity and users on over 30 leading blockchain networks, enabling use cases in DeFi, data queries, and governance. The platform is trusted by teams like Uniswap and Circle and, to date, the platform has facilitated the transfer of over 35 billion dollars through over 850 million cross-chain messages.

Claim your unique Wormhole NFT at

- -

Send your crypto to your PayPal account, swap it for PYUSD, and use it to checkout at millions of stores.

Pay how you want by getting started at:

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE10 to get 10% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(05:52) Ethena USDe Product Controversy

(16:54) Biggest Risk of USDe

(26:19) USDe Usecase

(29:02) Seeking High Yields

(35:26) Gauntlet Leaves Aave

(48:58) Wormhole Ad

(50:24) Paypal Ad

(51:22) What are you bullish on?

(57:33) Are NFTs Investments?

(01:05:57) Infrastructure vs App Tokens

(01:10:57) Yuga Labs Acquires Moonbirds

(01:14:31) Crypto Companies Understanding Users

(01:21:46) Dopamine Economy

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Bitcoin Mining in 2024 | Fred Thiel, CEO at Marathon Feb 20, 2024

On today's episode Jason is joined by Fred Thiel, Chairman and CEO at Marathon Digital Holdings. Together they explore the world of Bitcoin mining, They dig into the current state of Bitcoin mining, including the competitive landscape, access to capital and equipment, and energy costs. They discuss how miners provide grid stabilization services to utilities by controlling electricity demand and the dynamics around Bitcoin's 4-year cycles, and how the industry will likely consolidate given tightening profit margins. Hear all of this and much more!

- -

Follow Fred: https://twitter.com/fgthiel

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

- -

Harpie is the most advanced on-chain security solution for monitoring and protecting your crypto wallet from theft in real time. Harpie detects, blocks, and recovers compromised assets from malicious transactions before they execute, and is the only security tool to also protect users from off-chain signature attacks like the recent Ledger Connect Kit exploit.

Secure your wallet for free at harpie.io.

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE10 to get 10% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE10 to get 10% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) State of Bitcoin Mining

(16:00) The Business of Mining

(25:24) Geopolitical and Macro Risks on Power Rates

(27:42) Importance of Self Power Generation

(33:18) Arbitrum Ad

(34:05) Harpie Ad

(35:20) How do you Navigate the Complexities of Utilities

(41:19) Corporations Acquiring Bitcoin

(47:38) State of Bitcoin Hashrate

(51:49) Prevalance of Leverage in Mining

(59:02) Growth of Bitcoin Mining

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Policy Series: How to Combat Illicit Finance Without Killing DeFi | Rebecca Rettig & Miller Whitehouse-Levine Feb 17, 2024

In today's episode, Santi is joined by Rebecca Rettig and Miller Whitehouse to update us on the latest policy concerns impacting crypto. They cover the origins of the DeFi Education Fund and the realities of educating regulators on the novelty of DeFi. They then shift gears and discuss onchain illicit activity that exists, how to find a compromise between permissionless systems and state control, the role stablecoins like USDC play, and reactions to the SEC’s proposed dealer rule that threatens DeFi participation. Rebecca breaks down her recently published paper “Genuine DeFi as Critical Infrastructure” offering a conceptual framework for regulation that leverages DeFi’s transparency while allowing permissionless systems to thrive. Stay tuned for all of this and much more!

- -

Follow Rebecca: https://twitter.com/RebeccaRettig1

Follow Miller: https://twitter.com/millercwl

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4607332

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Chainalysis.

Chainalysis is the blockchain data platform. We provide data, software, services, and research to government agencies, web3 companies, financial institutions, and insurance and cybersecurity companies. Our data powers investigation, compliance, and business intelligence software that has been used to solve some of the world’s most high-profile criminal cases.

For more information, visit www.Chainalysis.com/empire

- -

Timestamps

(0:00) Origin of DeFi Education Fund

(6:10) DeFi Regulatory Framework Paper

(12:35) Educating Regulators

(17:45) Onchain Illicit Activity

(28:59) Chainalysis Ad

(30:04) Compromise for States

(41:52) How Important is US Policy

(51:17) Role of Coinbase & Circle

(1:00:42) SEC Proposed Rule

- -

Resources

Paper

DeFi Education Fund

https://www.defieducationfund.org/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Revisiting ICO's and Unpacking Why Restaking isn't Leverage | Roundup Feb 16, 2024

In this week's roundup Jason and Santi discuss the recent bitcoin price surge, the importance of bitcoin ETF inflows compared to gold, and whether we are entering the next phase of a bull market. They also discuss the Starkware airdrop controversy, dive into how crypto fundraising works today compared to the ICO era, debate whether if they should make a return. Shifting gears they discuss whether if restaking constitutes leverage and Santi shares his thoughts on Farcaster after a week of casting. Stay tuned for all of this and much more!

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

https://wormhole.com/empire5-3349

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Wormhole is a decentralized interoperability platform powering multi-chain applications and bridges. It provides developers with access to liquidity and users on over 30 leading blockchain networks, enabling use cases in DeFi, data queries, and governance. The platform is trusted by teams like Uniswap and Circle and, to date, the platform has facilitated the transfer of over 35 billion dollars through over 850 million cross-chain messages.

Claim your unique Wormhole NFT at

- -

Send your crypto to your PayPal account, swap it for PYUSD, and use it to checkout at millions of stores.

Pay how you want by getting started at:

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE10 to get 10% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps:

(0:00) Top News this Week

(4:10) Market Thoughts

(10:00) Importance of ETF Inflows

(21:12) Starkware Airdrop Controversy

(27:06) The ICO Era & Current Venture

(42:25) Wormhole Ad

(43:51) Paypal ad

(44:50) Is Restaking Leverage?

(55:00) Thoughts on Farcaster

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

We're Back! Why We Are Bullish | 1000x Feb 15, 2024

Follow 1000x On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3I1ZVr5

Follow 1000x On Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/42DgP8Z

Follow 1000x On YouTube: https://bit.ly/3DNc5C6

--

We're back! On today's episode of 1000x, Jonah and Avi discuss recent market price action as Bitcoin rips above $50,000 & ETF flows continue.

--

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Referenced In The Show:

Bitcoin ETF Flow: https://farside.co.uk/?p=997

--

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:30) Why We Are Bullish

(9:07) Don't Fight The Flows

(14:16) Trading Bitcoin's $50,000 Breakout

(24:37) Crypto Is Underowned

(33:31) The Bull Case In 2024

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Can a KYC'ed L2 Chain Unlock the Next Wave of Crypto Adoption? | Ramon Recuero, Kinto Co-Founder Feb 13, 2024

On today's episode Jason and Santi are joined by Ramon, co-founder and CEO of Memori Labs. The trio dive into Kinto - a secure layer 2 built on Arbitrum Nitro that provides KYC at the chain level to enable institutions and users to access DeFi more safely. They discuss the pain points that led Ramon to build Kinto, the importance of compliance and security for mainstream adoption, how Kinto manages user data privacy, and Ramon's vision for how KYC may evolve in a Web3 future. Stay tuned to dig into all of this and much more!

- -

Follow Ramon: https://twitter.com/ramonrecuero

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

- -

Harpie is the most advanced on-chain security solution for monitoring and protecting your crypto wallet from theft in real time. Harpie detects, blocks, and recovers compromised assets from malicious transactions before they execute, and is the only security tool to also protect users from off-chain signature attacks like the recent Ledger Connect Kit exploit.

Secure your wallet for free at harpie.io.

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE10 to get 10% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Kinto Overview

(15:00) KYC Requirements & Security

(19:13) The Ideal Kinto Customer

(26:02) Regulatory Pressure Protection

(28:10) Arbitrum Ad

(28:58) Harpie Ad

(30:12) Kinto Product Today

(36:48) Costs & Value of KYC

(43:41) RWA Products

(48:40) Kinto Adoption

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Convo: Unpacking the Solana Outage, Crypto & AI, and Blast Vision Feb 09, 2024

In today's episode of the convo, Ryan, Tommy, and Santi debate the biggest topics and narratives across crypto. They dig into the the recent Solana outage, Ethereum's scalability roadmap, the intersection of AI and crypto, and their defining crypto theses for 2024. They unpack the implications of the Solana outage and whether it impacts institutional adoption. Transitioning topics, they debate Ethereum's scalability roadmap, including rollups, modular architectures, and Ethereum's ability to maintain composability long-term. To close out the trio explore the intersection of AI and Crypto, analyzing whether crypto can successfully compete with big tech for AI development or risk being too decentralized to keep pace. Stay tuned for all of this and much more!

- -

Follow Tommy: https://twitter.com/Shaughnessy119

Follow Ryan: https://twitter.com/kukulabanze

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE10 to get 10% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps:

(0:00) The Solana Outage

(15:40) Value flows of Ethereum & DA Layers

(26:56) DAS London Ad

(27:52) Ethereum Scalability Roadmap

(37:31) Intersection of AI and Crypto

(58:33) Sustainability of Token Incentives

(1:11:14) Santi's Blast Thesis

(1:21:29) 2024 Thesis

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Are Farcaster and Airdrops Worth the Hype? | Roundup Feb 09, 2024

In this week's roundup Jason and Santi discuss Farcaster's recent surge in adoption, analyzing features like channels and programmable posts, and how it could transform distribution and customer acquisition. The conversation then turns to a deep dive into airdrops questioning the efficiency and high costs of current models while discussing Dymension's recent airdrop struggles. Stick around for all of this and much more!

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

https://wormhole.com/empire4-6823

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Wormhole is a decentralized interoperability platform powering multi-chain applications and bridges. It provides developers with access to liquidity and users on over 30 leading blockchain networks, enabling use cases in DeFi, data queries, and governance. The platform is trusted by teams like Uniswap and Circle and, to date, the platform has facilitated the transfer of over 35 billion dollars through over 850 million cross-chain messages.

Claim your unique Wormhole NFT at

- -

Send your crypto to your PayPal account, swap it for PYUSD, and use it to checkout at millions of stores.

Pay how you want by getting started at:

https://wormhole.com/empire3-6877

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE10 to get 10% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Frostbite & Santi's Status

(04:33) Thoughts on Farcaster & Decentralized Social

(25:40) Wormhole Ad

(27:06) Paypal Ad

(28:04) Dymension Airdrop & Overview

(39:05) NFT Communities & Rewarding Holders

(44:36) Debating Airdrops

(50:26) Staking & ETF Synergy

(56:35) Mass Adoption Cycle?

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Rise of Frames, Farcaster, and Headless Marketplaces | Jesse Walden & Antonio Martínez Feb 06, 2024

In today's episode we dive into the emergence of decentralized social networks and how they enable new forms of distribution and business models. Farcaster, a decentralized social network built on Ethereum, has seen 400% increase in daily active users. This episode's discussion unpacks the concept of headless marketplaces, powered by global onchain identity and money, and how they bring markets to users wherever they already are. We explore the the permissionless composability unlocked by onchain protocols and how frames allow embedded experiences inside applications, enabling seamless transactions and viral growth. Stick around for all of this and much more!

-

Follow Jesse: https://twitter.com/jessewldn

Follow Antonio: https://twitter.com/antoniogm

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

portal.arbitrum.io

- -

Harpie is the most advanced on-chain security solution for monitoring and protecting your crypto wallet from theft in real time. Harpie detects, blocks, and recovers compromised assets from malicious transactions before they execute, and is the only security tool to also protect users from off-chain signature attacks like the recent Ledger Connect Kit exploit.

Secure your wallet for free at harpie.io.

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE10 to get 10% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps

(01:51) Headless Marketplaces

(13:50) Embedded Experiences in Applications

(18:58) Permissionless Composability of App Experiences

(28:26) Frames & Farcaster Overview

(37:05) Arbitrum Ad

(37:52) Harpie Ad

(39:07) Company Adoption

(52:52) Importance of Brand

(58:55) Ownership Economy Thesis

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Chain Abstraction is NEAR | Illia Polosukhin, Co-Founder Feb 02, 2024

On today's episode we dive into Near Protocol with Co-founder and Near Foundation CEO Illia Polosukhin. Illia details key innovations, like account aggregation, sharding, and chain abstraction, that are aimed at bringing blockchain to a mass consumer base. We also discuss Near's strategic partnerships, challenges in onboarding Web 2.0 companies, and their impressive vision of a decade with over a hundred million monthly users. We then shift focus to AI as we explore user-owned AI, software generation replacing traditional SaaS companies, and the intriguing concept of an 'AI president' in forward-thinking governance. Stay tuned for all of this and much more!

- -

Follow Illia: https://twitter.com/ilblackdragon

Follow Spencer: https://twitter.com/0xpibblez

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

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Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Wormhole is a decentralized interoperability platform powering multi-chain applications and bridges. It provides developers with access to liquidity and users on over 30 leading blockchain networks, enabling use cases in DeFi, data queries, and governance. The platform is trusted by teams like Uniswap and Circle and, to date, the platform has facilitated the transfer of over 35 billion dollars through over 850 million cross-chain messages.

Claim your unique Wormhole NFT at

- -

Send your crypto to your PayPal account, swap it for PYUSD, and use it to checkout at millions of stores.

Pay how you want by getting started at:

https://wormhole.com/empire2-9988

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE10 to get 10% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps:

(01:58) Illia's Return to CEO & NEAR's Recap

(05:55) Focus on Chain Abstraction

(09:41) Evolution of NEAR Sharding

(18:57) Account Aggregation Thesis

(30:11) Modular vs Monolothic Approach

(35:04) DA Landscape

(39:41) Record Consumer Usage

(43:06) Wormhole Ad

(44:32) Paypal Ad

(45:31) Owning Your Data & AI Usecase

(49:43) Onboarding Web2 Companies

(51:58) The Account Aggregation Flow

(57:51) NEAR BD Strategy

(01:04:45) Why does AI matter?

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Debating non-EVM Chains | Haseeb (Dragonfly) vs. Avichal (Electric) Jan 30, 2024

On today's episode of Empire Haseeb and Avichal return to Empire to discuss crypto in 2024. They debate whether we're entering a bull market and analyze key indicators like retail engagement, institutional flows, and blockchain development activity. The majority of the conversation focuses on a debate of the EVM versus alternative chains like Solana, Monad, or other virtual machines. They also touch on the sustainability of meme coins, and whether major consumer apps will emerge this cycle. They close out by discussing crypto's scalability trilemma, the prospect of regional fragmentation, and whether financialization detracts from user experience in areas like gaming. Stay tuned for all of this and much more!

- -

Follow Haseeb: https://twitter.com/hosseeb

Follow Avichal: https://twitter.com/avichal

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

portal.arbitrum.io

- -

Harpie is the most advanced on-chain security solution for monitoring and protecting your crypto wallet from theft in real time. Harpie detects, blocks, and recovers compromised assets from malicious transactions before they execute, and is the only security tool to also protect users from off-chain signature attacks like the recent Ledger Connect Kit exploit.

Secure your wallet for free at harpie.io.

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE10 to get 10% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps:

(01:48) Where are we in the cycle

(07:28) Allocation Decisions and Mindset

(11:30) Sentiment Outstripping Fundamentals

(20:23) Developer Report & Performant Chains Exposure

(29:49) Market Structure of Virtual Machine Adoption

(42:21) EVM Landscape Prediction

(56:26) Arbitrum Ad

(57:13) Harpie Ad

(58:28) Can Solana Overtake Ethereum?

(01:09:00) The Big Consumer App

(01:25:28) Speculation vs Social Experiences

(01:31:15) Meme Coin Perspective

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How Parallelized State Execution Unlocks Transactional Throughput at Scale | Logan Jastremski Jan 26, 2024

In today's episode Jason and Santi are joined by Logan Jastremski, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Frictionless Capital. He shares his thesis on why high-throughput blockchains are essential for crypto to reach mainstream adoption. We dive deep into the technical limitations of existing chains, and how innovations like parallelization and higher bandwidth unlock entirely new applications and business models not possible before. Stay tuned for a deep dive into deterministic and optimistic parallelization, performant validator nodes, and much more!

- -

Wormhole is a decentralized interoperability platform powering multi-chain applications and bridges. It provides developers with access to liquidity and users on over 30 leading blockchain networks, enabling use cases in DeFi, data queries, and governance. The platform is trusted by teams like Uniswap and Circle and, to date, the platform has facilitated the transfer of over 35 billion dollars through over 850 million cross-chain messages.

Claim your unique Wormhole NFT at

- -

Send your crypto to your PayPal account, swap it for PYUSD, and use it to checkout at millions of stores.

Pay how you want by getting started at:

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE10 to get 10% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Follow Logan: https://twitter.com/loganjastremski

https://wormhole.com/empire1/

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Timestamps:

(01:35) The Logan Jastremski Thesis

(08:47) Parallelization Adoption & Usecases

(15:53) Blockchains at Scale

(30:24) Limitations of Data Propagation

(37:38) Edge Cases of Performant Blockchain Thesis

(42:26) Wormole Ad

(43:52) Paypal Ad

(44:51) Frictionless Portfolio Decisions

(48:36) Solana Criticisms

(59:07) Biggest Problem Solana Faces Today

(01:04:10) Applications Unlocked by High Performance

(01:13:36) Investing in Private Teams vs L1 Tokens

(01:16:55) Thesis Invalidation

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Debating the DePIN Flywheel: Token Incentives, Business Models, and Mainstream Adoption | Kyle Samani & Dmitriy Berenzon Jan 23, 2024

In today's episode Jason is joined by Kyle Samani of Multicoin Capital and Dmitriy Berenzon of Archetype for an in-depth debate on the emerging decentralized physical infrastructure industry. They analyze the complex economic flywheel effects that drive growth, including how token incentives align infrastructure providers and fuel liquidity and value. The discussion covers considerations around hardware needs, revenue models, and mainstream adoption challenges. They also assess the differences between B2B and B2C models, approaches to token issuance, and evaluating timing for mainstream adoption. We hope you enjoy!

- -

Follow Kyle: https://twitter.com/KyleSamani

Follow Dimitriy: https://twitter.com/dberenzon

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

portal.arbitrum.io

- -

Harpie is the most advanced on-chain security solution for monitoring and protecting your crypto wallet from theft in real time. Harpie detects, blocks, and recovers compromised assets from malicious transactions before they execute, and is the only security tool to also protect users from off-chain signature attacks like the recent Ledger Connect Kit exploit.

Secure your wallet for free at harpie.io.

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE10 to get 10% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps:

(01:24) What is DePIN?

(09:33) Barriers to DePIN

(21:40) DePIN Flywheel

(24:22) B2C vs B2B DePIN Designs

(33:41) Arbitrum Ad

(34:28) Harpie Ad

(35:43) CapEx & OpEx Costs

(45:00) Filecoin Thesis

(49:28) Best Token Issuance Models for DePIN

(55:56) Open Sourcing Hardware

(57:48) Active vs Passive DePIN

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How the ETF Impacts Bitcoin's Price | Matt Hougan & Eric Balchunas Jan 19, 2024

In today's episode Jason is joined by ETF celebrities Eric Balchunas, a senior ETF analyst at Bloomberg, and Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer for Bitwise Asset Management. They start off by discussing the criticisms around underwhelming trading volumes and put the declines in GBTC into context. Discussion then leads to an inside scoop on how authorized participants source liquidity for the ETF and the real costs involved in running these funds. They also dive into how advisors are rethinking portfolio construction given crypto’s changing risk profile and the potential impacts on Bitcoin price. To close out they discuss the potential timing of an Ethereum ETF approval. Enjoy!

- -

Wormhole is a decentralized interoperability platform powering multi-chain applications and bridges. It provides developers with access to liquidity and users on over 30 leading blockchain networks, enabling use cases in DeFi, data queries, and governance. The platform is trusted by teams like Uniswap and Circle and, to date, the platform has facilitated the transfer of over 35 billion dollars through over 850 million cross-chain messages.

Claim your unique Wormhole NFT at

- -

Send your crypto to your PayPal account, swap it for PYUSD, and use it to checkout at millions of stores.

Pay how you want by getting started at:

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE10 to get 10% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/Matt_Hougan

Follow Eric: https://twitter.com/EricBalchunas

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Timestamps:

(01:46) The ETF Guys & Free Milkshakes

(04:05) BTC ETF Underwhelming?

(12:13) The ETF Launch Process

(18:49) Costs of an ETF Service

(22:10) What does Buying an ETF Mean?

(30:31) Wormhole Ad

(31:57) Paypal Ad

(32:55) Impact of ETF Flows on Bitcoin Price

(36:56) Role of Bitcoin in Portfolios

(47:15) Eth ETF Predictions

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Bitcoin ETF: What Everyone Missed | Michael Sonnenshein, Grayscale CEO Jan 16, 2024

In today's episode Jason is joined by Michael Sonnenshein, CEO of Grayscale Investments, to discuss the long-awaited approval of a Bitcoin spot ETF and its implications. They analyze the behind-the-scenes challenges for approval and the ensuing fee war between ETF issuers. They dig into Grayscales place in the spot ETF market and competitive angle. They also discuss trading volume and flows, the potential pathway for an Ethereum ETF, and the broader significance of crypto assets becoming embedded in mainstream finance. Hear all of this and much more!

- -

Follow Michael: https://twitter.com/Sonnenshein

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

- -

Harpie is the most advanced on-chain security solution for monitoring and protecting your crypto wallet from theft in real time. Harpie detects, blocks, and recovers compromised assets from malicious transactions before they execute, and is the only security tool to also protect users from off-chain signature attacks like the recent Ledger Connect Kit exploit.

Secure your wallet for free at harpie.io.

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE10 to get 10% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps:

01:43 Behind the Scenes of ETF Victory

06:06 The Fee Battles

11:07 Implications of the ETF

15:59 Arbitrum Ad

16:44 Harpie Ad

18:00 Outflows & Trading Volume

24:02 Grayscale Roadmap

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Unpacking the Bitcoin ETF and What's Next | Roundup Jan 12, 2024

In today's episode of Empire Santi and Jason are joined by Blockworks Senior Reporters Casey Wagner and Ben Strack to analyze the historic first approvals of Bitcoin spot ETFs. They discuss the early winners among top asset managers, with BlackRock, Fidelity, and Grayscale seeing significant early trading volumes. We also unpack the unfolding fee war between issuers as they slash prices to as low as 0.15% to stay competitive. We also dive into Coinbase's role as custodian for 9 of the 11 approved ETFs and discuss why their stock price surprisingly dropped. Stay tuned for all of this and much more!

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Casey: https://twitter.com/caseywagnerr

Follow Ben: https://twitter.com/strack_ben

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Send your crypto to your PayPal account, swap it for PYUSD, and use it to checkout at millions of stores.

Pay how you want by getting started at:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.bitwiseinvestments.com/Research/The-Bitwise-VettaFi-2023-Benchmark-Survey.pdf

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE10 to get 10% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Resources

Bitwise Survey

- -

Timestamps:

(01:24) ETF Approval History

(10:04) The Fee Battles & ETF Customers

(15:10) Grayscale Pivoting GBTC

(19:18) Flow and AUM Predictions

(24:09) DAS 2024

(25:24) PayPal Ad

(26:22) ETH ETF Outlook

(29:08) Coinbase Stock Pullback

(31:24) SEC Prosecution Impact

(36:59) Circle IPO

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Winning In 2024 With CMS Holdings | 1000x Jan 11, 2024

Follow 1000x On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3tFGmBv

Follow 1000x On Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/48JRV9i

Follow 1000x On YouTube: https://bit.ly/3DNc5C6

--

We're back with the first episode of 2024!

This week, Dan Matuszewski of CMS Holdings joins the show for a discussion on trading crypto's next bull market. We deep dive into CMS's trading strategy, surviving previous bear markets, narrative trading in crypto & what to expect in 2024 post Bitcoin ETF approval.

--

Follow CMS: https://twitter.com/cmsholdings

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:44) Trading Crypto Cycles

(09:48) CMS's Trading Strategy

(11:12) Surviving The 2022 Bear Market

(20:09) The BTC/Alt Rotation

(24:54) Trading The 2024 Cycle

(28:44) GBTC

(31:40) Narratives In Crypto

(39:05) Getting Rugged

(41:56) Crypto's 2017 Mania

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Solana 2024: Fee Markets, SVM Economics, and Saga Phone | Anatoly Yakovenko & Ben Sparango Jan 09, 2024

In today's episode Jason and Santi are joined by Solana Labs founder and CEO Anatoly Yakovenko and Ben Sparango, the Head of Strategic Business Development. The duo has returned to discuss Solana's progress beyond the FTX fallout. They dive into Solana's priorities around scaling, fees, and alignment incentives between builders and validators. Anatoly elaborates on the network effects of open-sourcing core technology like the SVM, while Ben highlights mobile adoption and NFTs as driving new crypto demand. They debate the trajectory for permissionless finance to run mainstream markets on Solana, and whether the Saga phone can make a dent in Apple and Google's distribution monopolies. We hope you enjoy!

- -

Follow Anatoly: https://twitter.com/aeyakovenko

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

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Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all.

Get started at:

portal.arbitrum.io

- -

Harpie is the most advanced on-chain security solution for monitoring and protecting your crypto wallet from theft in real time. Harpie detects, blocks, and recovers compromised assets from malicious transactions before they execute, and is the only security tool to also protect users from off-chain signature attacks like the recent Ledger Connect Kit exploit.

Secure your wallet for free at harpie.io.

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE10 to get 10% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps

(02:00) The Solana Recovery Post SBF

(10:30) Priorities for Solana Development

(22:14) The Next Gen L1 Case for Builders

(24:56) Economics of the SVM

(34:17) State of Solana Fee Market

(48:18) Inflation & Staking Dynamics

(51:17) DAS 2024

(52:32) Arbitrum Ad

(53:18) Harpie Ad

(54:32) Open Source & Security Approach

(01:02:02) Governance & Alignment

(01:12:25) The Value of Permisionless Systems

(01:19:04) Saga Mobile Strategy & Potential

(01:25:14) Remaining Moonshot Ideas

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Managing Leverage in Crypto, Risk of Restaking, and ETF Updates | Roundup Jan 05, 2024

In today's episode of Empire Santi and Jason dive into recent crypto market volatility triggered by an analyst report forecasting SEC rejection of a spot Bitcoin ETF. They discuss the risks of overleveraging during bull runs, debate the usefulness of "economic security," and managing greed in seek of high yields. The conversation then turns to an in-depth analysis of the emerging trend of "restaking" protocols and discuss concerns about adding fragility and centralization risks. To close out they discuss the pending SEC decisions around several Bitcoin ETF filings . Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

https://x.com/Rewkang/status/1742011188609712263

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- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE10 to get 10% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Resources

Andrew Kang Post

Marginal Revolution: Automatic Tax Filing?

https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2022/05/automatic-tax-filing.html

- -

Timestamps

(00:00) Buying Nike Sneakers & Meeting Fashion

(02:51) The Market Nuke

(10:51) Using Leverage vs Holding Spot

(27:32) ETF Updates

(34:07) Crypto Tax Reporting Obligations

(42:12) Restaking: A Risk?

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Our 2024 Predictions Jan 02, 2024

In today's episode of Empire Santi and Jason reveal their 2024 crypto predictions across Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, DeFi, NFTs, gaming, and more. They debate whether Solana can flip Ethereum, if restaking products and NFTs will explode, if Coinbase becomes a bank, and if prediction markets finally go mainstream. They also discuss macro trends, regulatory risks, social fi, and end with price targets. Don't miss their unfiltered predictions for 2024.

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

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- -

Harpie is the most advanced on-chain security solution for monitoring and protecting your crypto wallet from theft in real time. Harpie detects, blocks, and recovers compromised assets from malicious transactions before they execute, and is the only security tool to also protect users from off-chain signature attacks like the recent Ledger Connect Kit exploit. Secure your wallet for free at harpie.io.

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE20 to get 20% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Resources

https://www.helius.dev/blog/what-is-firedancer

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:20) 2024: The Risk On Year

(03:39) Solana Closes in on MC of Eth

(10:00) Growth of NFTs

(13:13) Unicorns made in Solana

(15:55) Bitcoin Wakes Up

(18:58) A Restaking Bug & Hottest Narrative

(22:19) AI Peak Mania

(25:19) Does OG DeFi Comeback?

(33:00) DAS 2024

(34:17) Harpie Ad

(35:32) L2 Predictions

(40:32) Coinbase Becomes a Bank

(48:13) Biggest Catalyst in Crypto

(57:49) NFA Price Predictions

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Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

AI and Crypto: Countering Centralization | Casey Caruso & Daniel Shorr Dec 29, 2023

In this episode, host Santi dives into AI and it's intersection with Crypto. Joined by Casey and Daniel, they investigate AI's key innovations, centralizing tendency, and the importance of zero-knowledge proofs in merging AI and crypto. They address the potential challenges and opportunities presented by decentralized networks and GPUs. The chat extends to AI regulation, non-deterministic AI's issues in production, and AI model insurance. Stay tuned for all of this and much more!

- -

Follow Casey: https://twitter.com/caseykcaruso

Follow Daniel: https://twitter.com/realDanielShorr

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- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE20 to get 20% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps

(00:02) Evolution and State of AI

(18:03) Model Specialization

(30:37) Productization of AI

(34:46) Crypto & AI Intersection

(49:34) DAS 2024

(50:51) How Real is AI & Crypto

(01:00:08) Performant Blockchains vs Ethereum

(01:09:32) Decentralized Compute & Equitable GPU Access

(01:17:18) First Crypto & AI Unlocks

(01:32:18) AI & Crypto Debate

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Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Recapping 2023 Dec 27, 2023

In today's episode of Empire Santi and Jason reflect on crypto's 2023 landscape and beyond. They revisit their 2023 predictions and the best products, founders, stars, and companies from the year. They also share their perspectives on their best and worst investments of the year. The episode further delves into sectors to watch and concludes with a debate on the most overhyped sectors of 2024 offering a critical look at market expectations versus reality. We hope you have a happy holidays!

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE20 to get 20% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps

(00:51) Beards & Ending 2023

(04:39) 2023 Predictions Reviewed

(08:38) Best Product

(12:00) Best Founder

(15:00) Breakout Stars

(18:18) Break out Companies

(25:00) Best Investment

(28:51) DAS 2024

(30:08) Worst Investment

(35:29) Sectors to Watch in Crypto

(40:37) Most Overhyped Sector of 2024

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Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How to Make an NFT Market for Traders | Richard Wu & Ilja Moisejevs Dec 22, 2023

In today's episode of Empire Santi is joined by Ilya and Richard, the Founders of Solana's leading NFT Marketplace Tensor. They detail Tensor's origin story, from meeting online during COVID to building Solana's leading NFT marketplace amidst the FTX fallout. They discuss critical issues like enhancing Solana's developer experience, decentralizing their protocol in 2024, evolving user behavior and adoption trends on Solana, and their grand vision for NFTs as the fundamental building blocks underpinning blockchain's adoption. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Follow Ilja: https://twitter.com/_ilmoi

Follow Richard: https://twitter.com/0xrwu

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE20 to get 20% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Origin Story of Tensor

(07:10) The NFT Marketplace for Traders

(18:12) The Grand Vision of Tensor

(27:09) Tensor Usecase

(32:45) DAS 2024

(34:02) Challenges of Initial Prodict Features

(39:38) Rethinking Standards

(45:47) Evolving Solana User Chains

(53:16) How does Solana Grow from here?

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Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How Much Money Do You Need To Retire? | 1000x Dec 21, 2023

Follow 1000x On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3NiKjm6

Follow 1000x On Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3TcDNks

Follow 1000x On YouTube: https://bit.ly/3DNc5C6

--

On today's episode of 1000x, Jonah and Avi discuss recent market price action as Bitcoin hovers just below $45,000. Ahead of expected Bitcoin ETF approvals in January 2024, we deep dive into the meme coin mania, crypto's most hated trade & defining success as a trader. To hear all this & more, you'll have to tune in!

--

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Referenced In The Show:

How Much Crypto Should You Own?: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-much-crypto-should-you-own-1000x/id1554930038?i=1000637803024

--

Timestamps

(0:00) Introduction

(3:29) Crypto Feels Frothy

(7:19) Meme Coins

(13:26) The Bitcoin ETF

(18:25) Ethereum

(23:43) Layer-1s: Ethereum, Solana & Avalanche

(30:00) How To Trade 2024's Crypto Cycle

(36:19) What Is Success In Trading?

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Avalanche: What are Subnets and What's Wrong With Appchains | Kevin Sekniqi & Patrick O'Grady Dec 19, 2023

In today's episode of Empire, Kevin Sekniqi, Co-Founder of Avalanche, and Patrick O'Grady, VP of Engineering at Avalanche, join the show to discuss the past, present, and future of Avalanche. They start by explaining the core thesis behind Avalanche - that the future will consist of thousands of highly optimized, specialized blockchains rather than one chain to rule them all. Kevin and Patrick provide an overview of Avalanche's architecture, clarifying common misconceptions around P-Chain, C-Chain, and subnets. They then do a deep dive into the rationale and economics behind subnets, contrasting them to solutions like rollups and how Warp and Hyper SDK fit in the overall strategy. For all of this and much more stay tuned!

- -

Follow Kevin: https://twitter.com/kevinsekniqi

Follow Patrick: https://twitter.com/_patrickogrady

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- -

Planning to grant token awards for your team? Toku makes implementing global token compensation and incentive awards simple.

With Toku, you get unmatched legal and tax support to grant and administer your global team’s tokens. Toku navigates it across the lifecycle — from easy to use token grant award templates through tracking vesting to managing tax withholdings.

Make it simple today, at

https://www.toku.com/empire

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE20 to get 20% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps:

(00:59) Why does Avalanche exist?

(09:38) Creating Optimized Chains

(16:30) Economics of Subnets

(25:56) Endgame Vision of Subnets

(34:05) DAS 2024

(35:10) Toku Ad

(36:40) Next Gen L1s

(40:20) Warp: Cross Subnet Messages

(48:02) HyperSDK: Launch your own Blockchain

(51:37) Dev Adoption & dApp Layer Innovation

(01:03:06) Future of Value Accrual to AVAX

(01:12:57) Decentralization & Performance for Blockchains

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How FASB Ruling Paves The Way for Bitcoin Corporate Treasuries | Roundup Dec 15, 2023

In today's episode of Empire Jason and Santi dive into the latest crypto news, including the FASB fair value ruling for Bitcoin, the Ledger exploit, and the controversy around Rainbow's new points system. They debate the pros and cons of new yield generating protocols like Manta and BLAST, make 2024 predictions about the proliferation of L2 platforms with native yield, and discuss whether investing in early DeFi protocols still makes sense. Tune in for all this and much more!

- -

Northstake simplifies the way institutional investors own a stake in Web3 by offering regulatory-compliant staking products. By ensuring institutional investors can participate in the burgeoning crypto market while adhering to the necessary legal and regulatory requirements.

To learn how Northstake is bridging the gap between crypto and institutions go to:

https://www.northstake.dk/tokenized-eth-staking

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

https://app.blockworksresearch.com/research/layer-zero-v2-the-decoupling-of-security-and-execution

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE20 to get 20% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps

(00:02) Introduction

(06:26) FASB Confirms 'Fair Value' Approach

(14:37) Ledger Connect Kit Exploit

(31:27) Point System Hate

(41:38) Layer0 Launch Video

(45:26) 2024 Predictions

(55:06) Are OG DeFi Protocols Investments?

- -

Resources

Layer0 Research Report & Video

https://x.com/LayerZero_Labs/status/1735317463032893946

Ledger Exploit

https://blockworks.co/news/ledger-statement-on-phishing-hack

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Solving Crypto's Oracle Problem | Mike Cahill Dec 12, 2023

In this episode Jason and Santi are joined by Mike Cahill, CEO of Douro Labs and contributor at Pyth Network, an oracle that publishes financial market data to multiple blockchains. The conversation delves into how Pyth Network addresses failings in both the current Oracle system in crypto and the traditional capital markets. Cahill discusses how the network has evolved, its present accomplishments, the benefits of their governance token, and their approach to rewards. To close out Mike outlines potential future developments and the network's greater aim of inviting widespread participation in its open-source projects.

- -

Follow Mike Cahill: https://twitter.com/mdomcahill

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Planning to grant token awards for your team? Toku makes implementing global token compensation and incentive awards simple.

With Toku, you get unmatched legal and tax support to grant and administer your global team’s tokens. Toku navigates it across the lifecycle — from easy to use token grant award templates through tracking vesting to managing tax withholdings.

Make it simple today, at

https://www.northstake.dk/tokenized-eth-staking

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE20 to get 20% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps:

00:00 The Market Data Monopoly

09:13 The Oracle Problem

21:19 Origins of Pyth

30:40 The Business Model & Revenue

40:21 DAS 2024

41:36 Toku Ad

41:56 The Role of PYTH Token

55:21 Reward Mechanism for Pyth Network

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Is Crypto Really Back? | Roundup Dec 08, 2023

From across the globe, today's episode of Empire brings Santi and Jason together to discuss Societe Generale's first-ever Euro stablecoin launch, Santi's reaction to feedback, and whether we truly are back. They also explore the implications of meme coin culture and if it damages the perception of the industry as whole. They also discuss Coinbase's recent easy crypto payments feature launch and the striking convenience it offers. They close out by deliberating on the future of gaming in the crypto space and upcoming content. Enjoy!

- -

Northstake simplifies the way institutional investors own a stake in Web3 by offering regulatory-compliant staking products. By ensuring institutional investors can participate in the burgeoning crypto market while adhering to the necessary legal and regulatory requirements.

To learn how Northstake is bridging the gap between crypto and institutions go to:

- -

Chronicle Protocol is a novel Oracle solution that has exclusively secured over $10B in assets for MakerDAO and its ecosystem since 2017. With a history of innovation, including the invention of the first Oracle on Ethereum, Chronicle Protocol continues to redefine Oracles. A blockchain-agnostic protocol, Chronicle overcomes the current limitations of transferring data on-chain by developing the first truly scalable, cost-efficient, decentralized, and verifiable Oracles, rewriting the rulebook on data transparency and accessibility.

Learn more about Chronicle Protocol: https://chroniclelabs.org/

Join the Chronicle Labs team: https://chroniclelabs.org/careers#open_roles

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

https://www.northstake.dk/tokenized-eth-staking

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- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE20 to get 20% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps

(00:13) The London DeFi and Crypto Scene

(10:24) Santi's Reaction to the Reaction

(17:06) Is the Bull Market here?

(24:53) Why does crypto exist if it's meme coin meta?

(31:24) DAS 2024

(32:39) Chronicle Ad

(33:54) Northstake Ad

(34:54) Where are we in this cycle?

(38:16) Euro-pegged Stablecoin

(50:13) Coinbase Wallet Payments

(54:27) Upcoming Content

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How Much Crypto Should You Own? | 1000x Dec 07, 2023

Follow 1000x On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sJOsIJ

Follow 1000x On Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/47MEsxe

Follow 1000x On YouTube: https://bit.ly/3DNc5C6

--

In today's episode of 1000x Jonah and Avi discuss the recent bullish price action in crypto markets. As Bitcoin broke out above $44,000, we dive into the best way to play the BTC/Alt rotation trade, crypto's cycle top & the most hated trade in crypto right now... Ethereum. To hear all this & more, you'll have to tune in!

--

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Referenced In The Show:

Solana's End Game with Anatoly Yakovenko: https://apple.co/3QuF7NZ

--

Timestamps

(0:00) Introduction

(1:19) Allocating To Crypto

(5:30) The BTC/Alt Rotation

(11:19) Ethereum

(15:10) Solana NFT's

(19:01) Crypto's Cycle Top

(27:46) Crypto's Biggest Mover's

(31:17) Why Own Crypto?

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How to Build Crypto’s First Breakout Game | Robbie Ferguson Dec 06, 2023

In this episode, host Santi dives into the world of Web3 gaming with Robbie Ferguson, co-founder of Immutable - an Ethereum gaming protocol enabling true digital asset ownership for gamers. Robbie explains how Immutable allows game developers to build Web3 mechanics into their titles. They also explore the intersection of blockchains and games, Ethereum's role, and the need for scalable solutions as adoption grows. To close out Robbie discusses the challenges and future landscape of Web3 gaming, including excitement around new collaborations and partnerships primed to redefine the space. We hope you enjoy!

- -

Follow Robbie: https://twitter.com/0xferg

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE20 to get 20% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps

(00:00) Introduction

(01:59) Immutable Origin Story

(17:07) Selecting the Base Layer

(25:18) State of Crypto Gaming

(32:02) Crypto Gaming Outlook

(36:42) Scalability of Web3 Games

(42:22) The Bear Case of Crypto Gaming

(44:44) GTM & What's Next for Immutable

(50:22) Challenges of Web2 Gaming

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

What's Next for the Cosmos Appchain Thesis? | Ethan Buchman and Sam Hart Dec 05, 2023

In today's episode of Empire, Jason and Santi are revisiting the Cosmos appchain thesis and are joined by Ethan Buchman, Cosmos co-founder, and Sam Hart, head of product & strategy at Skip Protocol. They revisit the App Chain thesis and how it is playing out both within Cosmos and L2-Ethereum based rollups. The ideal protocol for launching an App Chain is unpacked, addressing functionality needs, integration requirements, governance models and more. Sam and Ethan dive into IBC enabling multi-chain flows, shared security models and key learnings from governance processes in Cosmos. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Follow Ethan: https://twitter.com/buchmanster

Follow Sam: https://twitter.com/hxrts

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Planning to grant token awards for your team? Toku makes implementing global token compensation and incentive awards simple.

With Toku, you get unmatched legal and tax support to grant and administer your global team’s tokens. Toku navigates it across the lifecycle — from easy to use token grant award templates through tracking vesting to managing tax withholdings.

Make it simple today, at

https://www.toku.com/empire

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE20 to get 20% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) The App Chain Thesis Was Right

(05:49) Ideal Protocol for an App Chain

(12:31) Cosmos Tech vs BD Strategy

(19:32) Why Select Cosmos for an App Chain

(29:48) DAS 2024

(31:00) Toku Ad

(32:23) Bootstrapping Validator Sets

(45:53) How do Appchains Unlock Killer Apps

(51:28) Cosmos Governance Learnings

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Why Solana Could Flip Ethereum | Roundup Dec 01, 2023

In today's episode of Empire Santi and Jason unpack the biggest debates in crypto including integrated vs. modular blockchains and whether Solana can flip Ethereum. The conversation also explores the dynamics of hardware requirements, blockchain execution environments, parallel execution, network consensus, and how these factors shape the development and adoption of networks. To lighten the mood the duo chat about Spotify Wrapped, NFT collecting mindset, and their personal favorite songs. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Northstake simplifies the way institutional investors own a stake in Web3 by offering regulatory-compliant staking products. By ensuring institutional investors can participate in the burgeoning crypto market while adhering to the necessary legal and regulatory requirements.

To learn how Northstake is bridging the gap between crypto and institutions go to:

- -

Chronicle Protocol is a novel Oracle solution that has exclusively secured over $10B in assets for MakerDAO and its ecosystem since 2017. With a history of innovation, including the invention of the first Oracle on Ethereum, Chronicle Protocol continues to redefine Oracles. A blockchain-agnostic protocol, Chronicle overcomes the current limitations of transferring data on-chain by developing the first truly scalable, cost-efficient, decentralized, and verifiable Oracles, rewriting the rulebook on data transparency and accessibility.

Learn more about Chronicle Protocol: https://chroniclelabs.org/

Join the Chronicle Labs team: https://chroniclelabs.org/careers#open_roles

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE20 to get 20% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps:

01:29 Spotify Wrapped and Blockworks Merch

07:56 Modular vs Monolithic Debate

18:13 Protocol Layering vs Integrated Designs

34:57 DAS 2024

36:12 Chronicle Ad

37:27 Northstake Ad

38:28 Will Solana Flip Eth?

56:12 The Solana NFT Craze & NFT Investing Mindset

01:03:10 Drop your Spotify Wrap in the Comments

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Building Modular Move Networks on Ethereum | Nick White, Rushi Manche & Avery Ching Nov 30, 2023

In today's episode of Empire we explore the current state and future of modular blockchains. With special guests Avery Ching, Rushi Mache, and Nick White, the discussion revolves around the pros and cons of Modular and Monolithic Blockchain Architecture, aptness of execution environments, the importance of scalability, and the standardization and consolidation in the blockchain space. The conversation further dives into the performance and potential of Move Virtual Machine, the struggles of the Ethereum Virtual Machine, and the promise of innovative solutions like Celestia to offer more cost-effective and efficient data availability. We hope you Enjoy!

--

Follow Avery: https://twitter.com/AveryChing

Follow Nick: https://twitter.com/nickwh8te

Follow Rushi: https://twitter.com/rushimanche?lang=en

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

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Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE20 to get 20% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

02:00 The Modular Blockchain Thesis

04:26 MOVE-Based Blockchains

17:33 Is Monolothic Dated?

32:21 DAS London

33:38 Measuring Blockchain Performance & Scalability

43:31 The Future of DEV Activity

52:29 The Killer App

57:07 Will there be a Final Optimal Stack?

01:03:46 DAS London

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Why Polychain Capital Founder Never Sells His Crypto | Olaf Carlson-Wee Nov 28, 2023

In today's episode of Empire, Olaf Carlson, the founder of Polychain and first Coinbase employee, shares why he believes crypto is going to be the greatest wealth redistribution of the modern era. The conversation covers the impact of the leverage cycle, the viability of restaking, and the importance of privacy. They also touch on the L2 and Appchain thesis, embedding financial markets into social platforms, and the potential of wearables. Olaf breaks down why crypto is a one-way street and why it will outlive fiat currency. We hope you enjoy!

- -

Follow Olaf: https://twitter.com/zxocw

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

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Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Planning to grant token awards for your team? Toku makes implementing global token compensation and incentive awards simple.

With Toku, you get unmatched legal and tax support to grant and administer your global team’s tokens. Toku navigates it across the lifecycle — from easy to use token grant award templates through tracking vesting to managing tax withholdings.

Make it simple today, at

https://www.toku.com/empire

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE20 to get 20% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Crypto Sentiment Check

(06:38) The L2 Wave

(14:52) App-chain Thesis

(24:20) Impact of the Leverage Driven Cycle

(33:35) DAS 2023

(34:51) Toku Ad

(36:03) Crypto in 10 years

(43:44) Privacy Solutions, Shared Security, and Wearables

(53:24) Why Olaf Doesn't Sell

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

CZ Steps Down from Binance and a Blast L2 Debate | Roundup Nov 24, 2023

In today's episode of Empire Santi and Jason discuss the bombshell news of Binance pleading guilty and paying over $4 billion in fines related to money laundering violations. They analyze the implications for Coinbase, DeFi, and institutional adoption. They then shift gears to the controversial launch of L2 platform Blast and its native yield offerings. This takes the duo into a deep discussion of why should more L2s exist and what are vital heuristics for valuing these scaling solutions. We hope you enjoy!

- -

Northstake simplifies the way institutional investors own a stake in Web3 by offering regulatory-compliant staking products. By ensuring institutional investors can participate in the burgeoning crypto market while adhering to the necessary legal and regulatory requirements.

To learn how Northstake is bridging the gap between crypto and institutions go to:

https://www.northstake.dk/tokenized-eth-staking

- -

Chronicle Protocol is a novel Oracle solution that has exclusively secured over $10B in assets for MakerDAO and its ecosystem since 2017. With a history of innovation, including the invention of the first Oracle on Ethereum, Chronicle Protocol continues to redefine Oracles. A blockchain-agnostic protocol, Chronicle overcomes the current limitations of transferring data on-chain by developing the first truly scalable, cost-efficient, decentralized, and verifiable Oracles, rewriting the rulebook on data transparency and accessibility.

Learn more about Chronicle Protocol: https://chroniclelabs.org/

Join the Chronicle Labs team: https://chroniclelabs.org/careers#open_roles

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Crypto’s premier institutional conference returns to London in March 2024 and we’ve got a killer deal for Black Friday...or as we call it BlackRock Friday.

For a limited time we’re running a 20% promo on our 4 pack of DAS tickets. For just 399 GBP per ticket you can share the room with the world's top executives and hear from some of the largest institutions in crypto.

Grab 3 friends or 3 colleagues and use code BLACKROCK for 20% off on 4 pack tickets. Only valid until Nov 27th.

Use code "BLACKROCKEMPIRE" at: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps

(01:38) In-Laws, Working in Crypto, and Good Mood Santi

(04:00) Binance CZ Steps Down

(28:46) Blast L2 Controversial Launch

(38:08) DAS 2024

(39:23) Chronicle Ad

(40:38) Northstale Ad

(41:38) Bearish Takes on Blast L2

(01:04:33 )Why Does Paradigm Experiment?

(01:09:34) Coindesk Acquired by Bullish

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Trading Crypto Cycles With Ansem | 1000x Nov 23, 2023

Follow 1000x On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45htDli

Follow 1000x On Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3Kz0Bpw

Follow 1000x On YouTube: https://bit.ly/3DNc5C6

--

Happy thanksgiving! On today's episode of 1000x, Ansem joins the show for a discussion on trading crypto cycles.

We deep dive into Ansem's introduction to crypto, the Solana thesis & where we are in the cycle right now. To hear all this & more, you'll have to tune in!

--

Follow Ansem: https://twitter.com/blknoiz06

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Timestamps

(0:00) Introduction

(1:19) Binance Agrees to Settle $4.3B Fine

(2:59) Ansem's Introduction To Crypto

(6:01) Have Alt's Topped?

(8:47) The Solana Thesis

(13:47) Cycle Bags

(20:39) The Crypto Thesis

(26:33) Trading Crypto Cycles

(31:26) Sentiment In Crypto

(40:41) Only Possible On Solana

(46:30) NFTs & Meme Coins

(54:30) The Next Crypto Market Top

(1:04:45) Crypto Twitter

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Evolution of Synthetix and Onchain Perps | Kain Warwick Nov 21, 2023

In today's episode of Empire, Kane Warwick returns to unpack Synthetix V3, the design thinking behind Infinex, and the challenges of decentralized governance. We explore funding rates, arbitrage opportunities, and what it will take to bring the DeFi trading experience to parity with centralized exchanges. Kane also provides his philosophical views on building in public, the societal benefits of open source crypto, and the pressures of "decentralization theater." We hope you enjoy!

- -

Follow Kain: https://twitter.com/kaiynne

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

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Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Planning to grant token awards for your team? Toku makes implementing global token compensation and incentive awards simple.

With Toku, you get unmatched legal and tax support to grant and administer your global team’s tokens. Toku navigates it across the lifecycle — from easy to use token grant award templates through tracking vesting to managing tax withholdings.

Make it simple today, at

https://mirror.xyz/kain.eth/lVhI3TWwpzPHSsFwUvcRFTz_8IBhdrOYC0ojtkvLbNY

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks. Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE20 to get 20% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Timestamps

(01:20) The Infinex & Synthetix Experiment

(03:23) Synthetix Post Luna & FTX

(13:23) Matching the CEX Experience Onchain

(24:19) Perps Mechanism Explained

(34:46) DAS 2024

(36:00) Chronicle Ad

(37:21) Fragmentation of Users on L2s

(46:08) Revenue Model & DAO Governance

(54:25) The Case for Decentralized Governance

(01:06:22) Improving DAO Efficiency

(01:13:56) Benefits of Building in Public

- -

Resources:

Synthetix: A fork in the road.

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How We're Positioning for The Next Crypto Cycle | Roundup Nov 17, 2023

In today's episode of Empire Santi and Jason discuss the current crypto market conditions, reflecting on whether the recent rally signals the start of a new bull market or just a temporary surge. The duo reveals the indicators they pay attention to like Bitcoin stability, altcoin movement, and stablecoin inflows to assess the health of the market. Sharing personal experiences, Santi shares his portfolio strategy, stressing probabilistic thinking and controlling emotions like FOMO. To close out they discuss relative value investing, the private market, trading vs investing, and how to manage risk as prices increase. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Northstake simplifies the way institutional investors own a stake in Web3 by offering regulatory-compliant staking products. By ensuring institutional investors can participate in the burgeoning crypto market while adhering to the necessary legal and regulatory requirements, Northstake is bridging the gap between traditional finance and crypto.

https://www.northstake.dk/tokenized-eth-staking

- -

Chronicle Protocol is a novel Oracle solution that has exclusively secured over $10B in assets for MakerDAO and its ecosystem since 2017. With a history of innovation, including the invention of the first Oracle on Ethereum, Chronicle Protocol continues to redefine Oracles. A blockchain-agnostic protocol, Chronicle overcomes the current limitations of transferring data on-chain by developing the first truly scalable, cost-efficient, decentralized, and verifiable Oracles, rewriting the rulebook on data transparency and accessibility.

Learn more about Chronicle Protocol: https://chroniclelabs.org/

Join the Chronicle Labs team: https://chroniclelabs.org/careers#open_roles

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks. Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE20 to get 20% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Timestamps:

(00:00) DOXing, Marathons, and Influenza

(06:13) Timing the Crypto Market

(12:27) Buying Solana on a Break Out

(16:45) Trading vs Holding

(22:34) Santi Portfolio Construction

(30:31) Catalysts vs Fundamentals

(36:37) Allocation of Portfolios

(42:56) DAS 2024

(44:12) Northstake Ad

(45:10) Chronicle Ad

(46:26) Identifying Price Targets

(52:56) Evaluating Application Layer

(01:00:43) Managing Investing Anxiety

(01:07:24) Is the Bull Market Here?

(01:12:57) Companies Not Considering the Future

(01:15:54) The Coinbase Thesis

—

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How to Trade This Solana Rally | Joe McCann Nov 15, 2023

In this episode of Empire, Joe McCann, founder of Asymmetric, shares why he believes Solana offers unique technical architecture that enables new types of web3 applications not possible on Ethereum. He explains why he thinks Solana's scalability offers a better developer experience compared to building on Ethereum L2s. McCann dives into macro trends, analyzing market flows to evaluate if the recent market move has legs. To close out he evaluates risks to his Solana thesis. We hope you enjoy!

- -

Follow Joe: https://twitter.com/joemccann

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

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Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks. Use the link below to learn more, and use EMPIRE20 to get 20% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

- -

Planning to grant token awards for your team? Toku makes implementing global token compensation and incentive awards simple.

With Toku, you get unmatched legal and tax support to grant and administer your global team’s tokens. Toku navigates it across the lifecycle — from easy to use token grant award templates through tracking vesting to managing tax withholdings.

Make it simple today, at

https://www.toku.com/empire

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intellectual Convexity

(10:16) Identifying Institutions & Jurisdictions of Interest

(15:53) Bull Environment is Here?

(20:46) The Solana Thesis

(30:39) Bonk VS Solana Thesis

(33:07) DAS 2024

(34:22) TOKU ad

(35:35) Managing Risks & Taking Profit

(46:46) Solana Investment

(51:03) Factoring in Macro

(56:41) Event vs Fundamental Driven Trades

(01:03:51) Why L2s Won't Work

(01:15:49) What Could Derail Solana?

(01:22:06) Exciting Solana Applications

- -

Resources

Asymmetric

https://asymmetric.financial/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Institutionalizing Crypto & The Return of the Bull Market | Roundup Nov 10, 2023

In this week's roundup, the Michael power duo from the Bell Curve podcast team dive into the recent market rally and explore its implications in crypto including debt proceedings and VC appetite. They explore the Ethereum ETF approval potentially becoming a reality and the controversy surrounding Wintermute’s CEO Evgeny Gaevoy and the Near Foundation. To close out they discuss the future developments to look out for in the crypto, including the potential rise of alternative L1s and newer narratives. Thanks for watching!

- -

https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2024-london/home

Follow Michael A: https://twitter.com/im_manderson

Subscribe to Bell Curve on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3R1D1D9

Subscribe to Bell Curve on Apple: https://apple.co/3pQTfmD

Subscribe to Bell Curve on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3cpKZXH

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in London this March! DAS is the #1 institutional conference in crypto, hosted by Blockworks.

Use the link below to learn more, and use BELL20 to get 20% off your ticket! Sign up now because the price goes up every month. See you there!

- -

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:01) Are We Back?

(8:28) Token Prices Impacting Bankruptcy Proceedings

(10:31) An FTX Restart?

(20:11) Cycle Change Indicators?

(24:42) Institutionalizing Crypto

(35:23) DAS London Ad

(36:32) Bitcoin Hashrate Lag

(42:30) Near Foundation & Aurora Accusations

(48:44) End Game of Blockchain Stacks

- -

Resources

Wintermute CEO Accuses Near

https://blockworks.co/news/wintermute-ceo-accused-near-foundation-of-failing-to-redeem-stablecoins

BlackRock ETF Proposal

https://blockworks.co/news/blackrock-ishares-ether-etf

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Bell Curve is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Mike, Jason, Michael, Vance and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.tt and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Return Of The Bull Market | 1000x Nov 09, 2023

Follow 1000x On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45htDli

Follow 1000x On Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3Kz0Bpw

Follow 1000x On YouTube: https://bit.ly/3DNc5C6

--

In today's episode of 1000x Jonah and Avi discuss the return of the crypto bull market as positive sentiment about a Bitcoin ETF spurs a massive rally in Solana.

We also debrief on the episode with Anatoly, walk through how to find the best opportunities as a trader & how to navigate technical trades vs a fundamental investment thesis. To hear all this & more, you'll have to tune in!

--

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Referenced In The Show:

Solana's End Game with Anatoly Yakovenko: apple.co/3QuF7NZ

Fake bitcoin ETF report triggers price jump to $30k, $100M wave of liquidations: https://blockworks.co/news/bitcoin-etf-report-price-jump

--

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:06) The Solana Debrief

(8:32) Applications In Crypto

(12:51) Bitcoin's Move To $35,000, Catalyst For A Crypto Rally

(20:04) The Setup For A Bitcoin Bull Market

(25:57) Technical vs Fundamental Trading

(32:16) Opportunities In Crypto

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Why Resy Founder is Building in Crypto | Ben Leventhal & Li Jin Nov 07, 2023

In this episode of Empire, Li Jin from Variant Fund and Ben Leventhal from Blackbird and co-founder of Resy, cover the intersection of the consumer market and crypto. They delve into the history of consumer startups, the limitations of traditional businesses in the dining industry, and the potential of crypto to transform ownership. Ben discusses Blackbird and how it addresses issues in the restaurant industry by establishing better connection and understanding between restaurants and customers. To close out Li touches on her vision for consumer crypto leading into 2024. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Follow Li: https://twitter.com/ljin18

Follow Ben: https://twitter.com/benleventhal

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

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Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Planning to grant token awards for your team? Toku makes implementing global token compensation and incentive awards simple.

With Toku, you get unmatched legal and tax support to grant and administer your global team’s tokens. Toku navigates it across the lifecycle — from easy to use token grant award templates through tracking vesting to managing tax withholdings.

Make it simple today, at

https://www.toku.com/empire

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) End of Times for Consumer Apps

(05:58) Consumer Crypto's Advantage

(17:22) Identity Rails for Restaurants

(21:23) Balancing Blockchain & Consumer Rights

(27:45) Complexity of Building On Web3

(30:00) Toku ad

(31:16) Variant Fund Approach to Consumer Crypto

(36:23) Why Use Crypto?

(41:54) FLY Token & Progressive Ownership

(46:44) Mitigating Attack Vectors

(50:21) Consumer Crypto in 2024

- -

Resources

Blackbird Docs

https://www.blackbird.xyz/flypaper

Li Jin Barrier to Mainstream Adoption

https://variant.fund/articles/barrier-to-mainstream-crypto-adoption-is-product-market-fit/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Why DCG is Crypto's Enron Moment | Ram Ahluwalia Nov 03, 2023

In today's episode of Empire, we take an in-depth look at the controversies surrounding DCG (Digital Currency Group) with our special guest, Ram Ahluwalia. Ram sheds light on the complex DCG saga involving Barry Silbert, 3 Arrows Capital, and the 'Widow Maker' trade that entangled several entities, including Gemini and Grayscale. The team discusses the case and the roles played by various figures and corporations, challenging decisions made along the way, and contemplating what could have been done differently. To close out they speculate on the fate of Grayscale and the broader implications for the crypto and venture markets.

- -

Follow Ram: https://twitter.com/ramahluwalia

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Chronicle Protocol is a novel Oracle solution that has exclusively secured over $10B in assets for MakerDAO and its ecosystem since 2017. With a history of innovation, including the invention of the first Oracle on Ethereum, Chronicle Protocol continues to redefine Oracles. A blockchain-agnostic protocol, Chronicle overcomes the current limitations of transferring data on-chain by developing the first truly scalable, cost-efficient, decentralized, and verifiable Oracles, rewriting the rulebook on data transparency and accessibility.

Learn more about Chronicle Protocol: https://chroniclelabs.org/

Join the Chronicle Labs team: https://chroniclelabs.org/careers#open

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) DCG, Genesis, Gemini Case Overview

(04:17) The Widow Maker Trade

(12:45) Was this all avoidable?

(18:02) $1.1B Promissory Note

(23:21) Worse than Enron

(28:06) Systemic Risk & Recouping Creditors

(35:09) Chronicle Ad

(36:27) Is Gemini Responsible?

(43:46) Contagions and Second Order Effects

(50:23) Barry's Empire

(57:19) Does a New Genesis Happen?

- -

Resources

Ram DCG Threads

https://twitter.com/ramahluwalia/status/1594153586157670403

https://twitter.com/ramahluwalia/status/1716218498341597430

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Empire Debates: The Solana Comeback and BlackRock ETF Playbook Nov 02, 2023

In this episode of Empire Debates Santi, Tommy, and Ryan kick off with the anticipated approval of a Bitcoin ETF and its potential to usher institutional money into crypto. They then pivot to Ethereum's ascension as an asset and Solana's ability to attract developers and discuss if Solana will be the ultimate ETH killer. The conversation further explores the ramifications of institutional players entering the crypto space and examines the unique distribution strategy underpinning Telegram and Tron. Thanks for tuning in!

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Tommy, and Zach may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

- -

Follow Tommy: https://twitter.com/Shaughnessy119

Follow Ryan: https://twitter.com/kukulabanze

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:07) BlackRock ETF Approved?

(10:12) ETF Impact on Portfolio Decisions

(21:10) How Financial Systems Influence Decisions

(29:31) The Solana Thesis

(45:42) Aversion to Building on Ethereum

(52:50) Telegram and Tron Wallets

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Tommy, and Zach may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Why a $76B Asset Manager is Unlocking Onchain Yield to Institutions | Jan van Eck & Martin Leinweber Oct 31, 2023

In today's episode of Empire Jason is joined by Jan van Eck, CEO of VanEck, a firm overseeing $76.4 billion in assets, and Martin Leinweber, a digital asset strategist at Market Vector Indexes. They dive into conversation ranging from the macroeconomic climate to the prospects of a Bitcoin ETF approval. They dissect how MarketVector aims to capture crypto native value through Ethereum staking rewards and other on-chain metrics, the demand for these products from institutions, and how MarketVector creates investible crypto products for institutions to get exposure.

- -

Follow Jan van Eck: https://twitter.com/JanvanEck3

Follow Martin Leinweber: https://twitter.com/mleinweber2

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Planning to grant token awards for your team? Toku makes implementing global token compensation and incentive awards simple.

With Toku, you get unmatched legal and tax support to grant and administer your global team’s tokens. Toku navigates it across the lifecycle — from easy to use token grant award templates through tracking vesting to managing tax withholdings.

Make it simple today, at

https://www.toku.com/empire

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Macro Sentiment Check

(07:51) Budget Deficit Concern: Overblown?

(14:15) The van Eck Origin Story

(18:31) The 60-40 Portfolio

(22:23) Bitcoin ETF Likelihood in 2023 vs 2024

(28:11) Toku Ad

(29:25) MarketVector Changing Data and Indices

(40:46) Demand for Onchain Yield

(45:19) Corporate Strategy Focus on Crypto

(48:48) Identifying Tokens with Economic Traction

(53:15) Central Banks Buying BTC

- -

Resources

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Policy Series: Crypto Terrorism, FinCEN vs Mixers, and IRS Tax Updates | Rebecca Rettig and Jake Chervinsky Oct 30, 2023

In the latest episode of the Empire Policy Series, Santi hosts Rebecca Rettig and Jake Chervinsky to delve into recent allegations of Hamas leveraging cryptocurrency for terrorism funding, FinCEN's upcoming rules concerning crypto mixers, and the IRS's evolving crypto tax regulations. The trio also dissect the the forthcoming 3-6 months of crypto regulation and discuss recent bipartisan legislative triumphs in the stablecoin domain. To close out both Rebecca and Jake highlight the need for industry-wide collaboration to ensure regulations both foster innovation and effectively mitigate inherent risks.

- -

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:31) Is Crypto Financing Terrorism?

(11:37) Policy Maker Responses to Crypto Terrorism

(18:34) Chainalysis Ad

(19:38) Mixer Rule by Financial Crimes Enforcement Network

(31:49) Defining the Mixer Use Case

(45:22) Tax Provision for Crypto

(51:59) Regulatory Outlook

- -

Follow Rebecca: https://twitter.com/RebeccaRettig1

https://www.protectdefi.org/

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Chainalysis.

Chainalysis is the blockchain data platform. We provide data, software, services, and research to government agencies, web3 companies, financial institutions, and insurance and cybersecurity companies. Our data powers investigation, compliance, and business intelligence software that has been used to solve some of the world’s most high-profile criminal cases.

For more information, visit www.Chainalysis.com/empire.

- -

Resources

Submit a comment on regulation

DeFi Education Fund

https://www.defieducationfund.org/

The Blockchain Association

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How to Position for a New Crypto Bull Market | Ben Forman and Jason Kam Oct 27, 2023

In today's episode of Empire Santi is joined by Jason Kam, Founder of Folius Ventures,and Ben Forman, Mananging Partner of ParaFi Capital, to find out if the bear market really is over. They dive into the recent crypto price action and whether an Ethereum ETF could be a catalyst for DeFi. They then look to the future and discuss how gaming and prediction markets could drive adoption, the opportunities in tokenizing real world assets, and why this environment rhymes with late 2019 when fundamentals were emerging but prices were low. Ben and Jason also discuss their outlook on the macro landscape, remaining opportunities in liquid and illiquid markets, and why they believe we may be in the early innings of a new bull market driven by growing institutional interest and real use cases.

- -

Follow Jason Kam: https://twitter.com/MapleLeafCap

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Chronicle Protocol is a novel Oracle solution that has exclusively secured over $10B in assets for MakerDAO and its ecosystem since 2017. With a history of innovation, including the invention of the first Oracle on Ethereum, Chronicle Protocol continues to redefine Oracles. A blockchain-agnostic protocol, Chronicle overcomes the current limitations of transferring data on-chain by developing the first truly scalable, cost-efficient, decentralized, and verifiable Oracles, rewriting the rulebook on data transparency and accessibility.

Learn more about Chronicle Protocol: https://chroniclelabs.org/

Join the Chronicle Labs team: https://chroniclelabs.org/careers#ope...

- -

MetaMask Portfolio is your one-stop shop for all things web3. Instead of connecting to multiple exchanges, dapps, and tools, you just need to connect to one simple dapp to track and manage all your assets across different networks and accounts. MetaMask Portfolio provides a secure and convenient way to perform common tasks such as Buy, Sell, Swap, Bridge, and Stake.

Try MetaMask Portfolio at https://blckwrks.co/MetaMaskEmpire

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Sentiment Check-in with Private Investors

(08:48) Portfolio Positioning

(18:08) Investing Outside of the Majors

(24:00) Investing in Crypto Layers

(30:44) Deciding Thesis Invalidation

(35:40) DeFi Catalysts

(45:13) Chronicle Ad

(46:30) Metamask Ad

(47:15) Unique Use Cases Outside of RWAs

(54:12) Timing Investments & Managing Risk

(59:41) Value in Gaming and Blockchain

(01:12:39) How Financialization Complicates Social Behaviors

(01:18:48) Why is Scaling Usage Hard?

(01:35:26) Are We in a New Cycle?

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Solana's End Game with Anatoly Yakovenko | 1000x Oct 26, 2023

Follow 1000x On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45htDli

Follow 1000x On Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3Kz0Bpw

Follow 1000x On YouTube: https://bit.ly/3DNc5C6

--

In today's episode of 1000x Jonah and Avi welcome Anatoly Yakovenko to the show for a discussion on Solana's end game. After a tweet from Jonah questioning the future of Solana, we thought why not invite Anatoly himself to the show to explain Solana's ultimate vision.

We deep dive into finding crypto's perfect use case, disrupting legacy financial rails, the challenges of building through a bear market & crypto's killer use case. To hear all this & more, you'll have to tune in!

--

Follow Anatoly: https://twitter.com/aeyakovenko

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Timestamps

(0:00) Introduction

(3:23) Solana's Ultimate Vision

(7:57) Value Within A PoS Chain

(10:25) Running A Solana Validator

(13:03) Firedancer: Boosting Solana's Scalability

(17:21) TVL & Volume On Solana

(21:56) Crypto's Perfect Use Case

(25:10) Stablecoins

(31:05) The Future Of Solana

(38:01) The Waves Of Adoption In Crypto

(43:54) Building Community In Solana

(48:06) Solana's Perfect Product Market Fit

(54:47) What Solana Has Learnt From Ethereum

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Bull Case for Crypto ETFs | Matt Hougan & Hunter Horsley Oct 24, 2023

In today's episode of Empire Jason and Santi are joined by Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley and CIO Matt Hougan to dive into the world of ETFs. They discuss the early skepticism and misconceptions around ETFs, why a Bitcoin ETF approval could be transformative for crypto adoption and maturity, the layers of security and regulation with ETFs, and the potential timeline and sequence for crypto ETF products. They close out by exploring how an ETF could boost crypto's credibility and accessibility for traditional investors and revisiting the bull case for Coinbase.

- -

Follow Hunter: https://twitter.com/HHorsley

Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/Matt_Hougan

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Planning to grant token awards for your team? Toku makes implementing global token compensation and incentive awards simple.

With Toku, you get unmatched legal and tax support to grant and administer your global team’s tokens. Toku navigates it across the lifecycle — from easy to use token grant award templates through tracking vesting to managing tax withholdings.

Make it simple today, at

https://blockworks.co/news/0xresearch-bitwise-spot-bitcoin-etf

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) False ETF News

(02:30) What is an ETF?

(09:03) Market Manipulation in Crypto

(14:52) Investment Reality in Crypto

(21:47) Who Wins if ETFs are Approved?

(29:52) Regulatory Concerns for ETFs

(35:15) Toku Ad

(36:30) Voting and Delegate Structure of ETFs

(40:26) Safety and Reporting of Crypto ETFs

(46:43) Timeline and Sequence of ETF Types for Crypto

(53:52) Can Crypto Change ETFs?

(56:35) Coinbase Thesis

--

Resources

Bitwise ETFs

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

SBF Trial Update: Damning Testimonies and What's at Stake Oct 20, 2023

In today's episode of Empire the Jason and Santi are back, diving into In this week's Empire Roundup, Jason and Santi welcome Blockworks' Senior Reporter, Casey Wagner, for an in-depth look into the unfolding Sam Bankman-Fried trial in the Southern District of New York. Casey shares firsthand observations, including compelling witness accounts from Caroline Ellison and Nishad Singh that implicate SBF. The trio delve into the prosecution's tactics, jury sentiment, and anticipates the defense's forthcoming arguments. Additionally, the episode explores the ripple effects of these developments on GBTC's prospects for Bitcoin ETF conversion, the future viability of Genesis and DCG amid NYAG lawsuit allegations, and the recent controversy surrounding Uniswap's fee structure changes.

- -

MetaMask Portfolio is your one-stop shop for all things web3. Instead of connecting to multiple exchanges, dapps, and tools, you just need to connect to one simple dapp to track and manage all your assets across different networks and accounts. MetaMask Portfolio provides a secure and convenient way to perform common tasks such as Buy, Sell, Swap, Bridge, and Stake.

Try MetaMask Portfolio at https://blckwrks.co/MetaMaskEmpire

- -

Chronicle Protocol is a novel Oracle solution that has exclusively secured over $10B in assets for MakerDAO and its ecosystem since 2017. With a history of innovation, including the invention of the first Oracle on Ethereum, Chronicle Protocol continues to redefine Oracles. A blockchain-agnostic protocol, Chronicle overcomes the current limitations of transferring data on-chain by developing the first truly scalable, cost-efficient, decentralized, and verifiable Oracles, rewriting the rulebook on data transparency and accessibility.

Learn more about Chronicle Protocol: https://chroniclelabs.org/

Join the Chronicle Labs team: https://chroniclelabs.org/careers#open_roles

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Timestamps:

(00:00) SBF Trial Updates

(23:20) Timeline for SBF Sentencing

(29:24) Chronicle Ad

(30:40) Metamask Ad

(31:26) Gemini, Genesis, DCG Sued by New York AG

(50:00) Ramifications of Explosions in Crypto

(55:34) Uniswap Fee Switch

(01:04:33) Pudgy Penguins LIVE Unboxing

—

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Convo: Overlooked Projects and Navigating Nuance in Crypto Oct 17, 2023

In today's Empire Debates episode Santi, Tommy, and Ryan discuss overlooked aspects in this bear market including the importance of nuance in analyzing projects, the potential for decentralized storage despite current low demand, and how poor regulation and lack of clarity opened the door for bad actors like FTX. They then cover why jurisdictional competition will shape the future of crypto and capital formation. Despite crypto Twitter sentiment seeming very negative, the team remains optimistic in identifying quality investments throughout the crypto space.

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Tommy, and Zach may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

- -

Follow Tommy: https://twitter.com/Shaughnessy119

Follow Ryan: https://twitter.com/kukulabanze

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Planning to grant token awards for your team? Toku makes implementing global token compensation and incentive awards simple.

With Toku, you get unmatched legal and tax support to grant and administer your global team’s tokens. Toku navigates it across the lifecycle — from easy to use token grant award templates through tracking vesting to managing tax withholdings.

Make it simple today, at

https://www.toku.com/empire

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) What is Overlooked?

(14:46) Managing Portfolios After FTX

(20:08) Attractiveness of Alt L1 Investments

(31:45) Toku Ad

(33:00) What Needs to be Decentralized?

(45:22) Recovering From Valuation Crashes

(50:22) Treasury Funds and VC Activism

(54:33) VCs Selecting Jurisdictions

(01:02:54) Future of Capital Formation

(01:07:45) Rapid Fire Questions

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Tommy, and Zach may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How VCs Cause Layoffs and BlackRock-Barclays on JPMorgan Chain | Roundup Oct 13, 2023

In today's episode of Empire Jason and Santi are back, diving into the latest revelations from the FTX trial, including Caroline Ellison's testimony about Sam Bankman-Fried's priorities and losses. They also cover a landmark trade between BlackRock and Barclays using JPMorgan's blockchain Onyx, showcasing blockchain power in collateral transfers. They move on to discuss crypto layoffs, the failure of real estate-backed stablecoin USDR, and the mainnet launch of crypto project Scroll. They close with reflections on declining ACT scores, their love for David Beckham's documentary, and what it'd take for Jason to shave his head.

- -

MetaMask Portfolio is your one-stop shop for all things web3. Instead of connecting to multiple exchanges, dapps, and tools, you just need to connect to one simple dapp to track and manage all your assets across different networks and accounts. MetaMask Portfolio provides a secure and convenient way to perform common tasks such as Buy, Sell, Swap, Bridge, and Stake.

Try MetaMask Portfolio at https://blckwrks.co/MetaMaskEmpire

- -

Chronicle Protocol is a novel Oracle solution that has exclusively secured over $10B in assets for MakerDAO and its ecosystem since 2017. With a history of innovation, including the invention of the first Oracle on Ethereum, Chronicle Protocol continues to redefine Oracles. A blockchain-agnostic protocol, Chronicle overcomes the current limitations of transferring data on-chain by developing the first truly scalable, cost-efficient, decentralized, and verifiable Oracles, rewriting the rulebook on data transparency and accessibility.

Learn more about Chronicle Protocol: https://chroniclelabs.org/

Join the Chronicle Labs team: https://chroniclelabs.org/careers#open_roles

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Timestamps:

00:00 Israel Based Start-up Support

05:30 SBF Trial Updates

17:00 BlackRock - Barclays Trade on JPMorgan Chain

21:16 Crypto Layoffs

25:00 Chronicle ad

26:15 Metamask ad

27:00 USDR Stablecoin Depeg

33:38 What We're Reading and Watching

—

Resources

Israel Start-up Support

https://twitter.com/ShalvaGozland/status/1711938126111768852

SBF Trial Updates

https://blockworks.co/news/caroline-ellison-cross-examination

BlackRock-Barclays Trade

https://blockworks.co/news/blackrock-barclays-jpmorgan-chase-dapp-tcn

USDR Stablecoin Depeg

https://blockworks.co/news/tangible-real-usd-illiquid-stablecoin-real-world-assets

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

What Is Crypto's Bullish Catalyst? | 1000x Oct 12, 2023

Follow 1000x On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45htDli

Follow 1000x On Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3Kz0Bpw

Follow 1000x On YouTube: https://bit.ly/3DNc5C6

--

In today's episode of 1000x Jonah and Avi discuss market forces introducing increasing risk in the crypto markets. With a recent bond market sell-off, geopolitical tensions & rising oil prices, could these forces spill over into risk asset's, and how would that impact crypto?

We then move onto discuss what is crypto's next bullish catalyst that will bring the greatest returns for both traders & investors, but to hear that, you'll have to tune in!

--

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:45) Markets During Geopolitical Events

(04:32) We're In A Shaky Environment For Risk Asset's

(10:38) Surging Yield's, Geopolitical Conflict & Rising Oil

(12:51) Stars Arena

(15:22) FTX Hack

(16:36) Ethereum Faces L2 Scaling Headwinds, But The Pendulum Will Swing

(24:10) Stablecoins

(30:15) Are L1's In Trouble?

--

Referenced In The Show:

Iran Helped Plot Attack on Israel Over Several Weeks: https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-israel-hamas-strike-planning-bbe07b25

New report shows ‘chaos’ during FTX hack last November: Wired: https://blockworks.co/news/ftx-hack-wired-bankruptcy-chaos

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Dollarization 2.0: How Stablecoins Unlock Emerging Markets | Nic Carter & Martin Carrica Oct 10, 2023

In today's episode of Empire Jason and Santi are joined by Crypto investor Nic Carter and Martin Carrina, founder of Mountain Protocol, to discuss the past and future of stablecoins. They compare stablecoins to the rise of Eurodollars, arguing they meet a real demand for dollar exposure and could ultimately strengthen US interests, yet also face hostility akin to offshore banking. The guests debate whether crypto yields rising above fiat rates or expanding use cases like high-yield accounts are needed to drive stablecoin growth. To close things out the team covers the endgame for stablecoins and the vectors for mass adoption.

- -

Follow Nic: https://twitter.com/nic__carter

Follow Martin: https://twitter.com/mcarrica

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Planning to grant token awards for your team? Toku makes implementing global token compensation and incentive awards simple.

With Toku, you get unmatched legal and tax support to grant and administer your global team’s tokens. Toku navigates it across the lifecycle — from easy to use token grant award templates through tracking vesting to managing tax withholdings.

Make it simple today, at

https://www.toku.com/empire

- -

Bumper is an innovative DeFi protocol that protects the value of the crypto you hold from the downside & simultaneously preserves gains when the price climbs.

- A superior alternative to crypto options for traders

- 30% cheaper and more efficient than traditional tools

- Liquidity providers earn 3-18% real yield on USDC

- Get a share in $250,000 of BUMP rewards for Early Adopters

Visit bumper.fi for more info!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Stablecoins Today

(10:25) Efficiencies of Stablecoins

(15:36) Emerging Markets & USDT on Tron

(25:53) Time Horizon for Stablecoin Standard

(30:42) Mobile Money Apps Powered by Stables

(36:20) Bumper Ad

(37:23) Toku Ad

(38:36) Market Structure of Stables

(41:32) Algorithmic Stablecoin Design

(46:28) Peg Designs and Risks

(50:20) Acceptance of US Dollars

(56:40) SigNet Design and Fiat Speed Limits

(01:03:28) Economic Outlook of US Dollar

(01:15:04) Growth Catalysts for Stablecoins

- -

Resources

Nic Carter Token2049

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD2Au5JwhZ0

Mountain usdm

https://mountainprotocol.com/

Articles Shared by Jason

https://www.lanacion.com.ar/

https://twitter.com/BowTiedMara/statu...

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

SBF Trial: Week 1 Unpacked | Roundup Oct 06, 2023

In today's episode of Empire all eyes are on Sam Bankman-Fried. Santi is joined by Blockworks Senior Reporter Casey Wagner who is covering SBF's criminal trial live from the Southern District of New York court. She provides details on the jury selection process, opening statements from the prosecution and defense, and testimony so far from witnesses like Bankman-Fried's former best friend and roommate. Casey covers the nuanced strategies of the prosecution and defense while providing unique insights into the sentiment in the courtroom. She also discusses potential witness testimony over the next few weeks which may shed more light on Bankman-Fried's knowledge and actions leading up to FTX's collapse.

- -

Planning to grant token awards for your team? Toku makes implementing global token compensation and incentive awards simple.

With Toku, you get unmatched legal and tax support to grant and administer your global team’s tokens. Toku navigates it across the lifecycle — from easy to use token grant award templates through tracking vesting to managing tax withholdings.

Make it simple today, at

- -

Chronicle Protocol is a novel Oracle solution that has exclusively secured over $10B in assets for MakerDAO and its ecosystem since 2017. With a history of innovation, including the invention of the first Oracle on Ethereum, Chronicle Protocol continues to redefine Oracles. A blockchain-agnostic protocol, Chronicle overcomes the current limitations of transferring data on-chain by developing the first truly scalable, cost-efficient, decentralized, and verifiable Oracles, rewriting the rulebook on data transparency and accessibility.

Learn more about Chronicle Protocol: https://chroniclelabs.org/

Join the Chronicle Labs team: https://chroniclelabs.org/careers#open_roles

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

https://blockworks.co/news/sbf-trial-day-1

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Timestamps:

(00:00) Southern District of New York Court Coverage

(15:44) Prosecution Strategy

(25:00) Will Sam Testify?

(30:34) Chronicle Ad

(31:50) TOKU ad

(33:00) Witnesses

(41:25) Sam's Best Friend Testifies

(51:00) Prosecution and Defense Teams

(54:47) How is SBF?

(58:55) Courtroom Sentiment

--

Resources

SBF Trial Live Updates

—

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Blockchain Capital's $580M Dollar Bet on Crypto | Spencer Bogart & Aleks Larsen Oct 03, 2023

In today's episode of Empire Jason and Santi interview Blockchain Capital General Partners Aleks and Spencer. Blockchain Capital recently closed two new funds, early stage and opportunity, totaling $580 million. Since its inception in 2013, Blockchain Capital has invested in more than 110 companies, protocols and crypto assets across the ecosystem. Today's discussion dives into their fund thesis and overall managing strategy, the time horizon for mass adoption, deploying capital in U.S. based projects, and existing discounts in later stage start-ups.

- -

Follow Aleks: https://twitter.com/_alekslarsen

Follow Spencer: https://twitter.com/CremeDeLaCrypto

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Get 5% off your business insurance today with Vouch, the leading insurer of crypto startups. With over 4000 clients, Vouch offers exclusive coverages with crypto enhancements including Directors & Officers with digital asset regulatory defense and Cyber that includes smart contract vulnerabilities.

Get started today at https://vouch.us/web3/blockworks

- -

Bumper is an innovative DeFi protocol that protects the value of the crypto you hold from the downside & simultaneously preserves gains when the price climbs.

- A superior alternative to crypto options for traders

- 30% cheaper and more efficient than traditional tools

- Liquidity providers earn 3-18% real yield on USDC

- Get a share in $250,000 of BUMP rewards for Early Adopters

Visit bumper.fi for more info!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) $580M Fund Raise

(08:00) Fund Performance and Power Dynamics

(16:45) Time Horizon for Mass Adoption

(22:04) Allocating Capital in U.S.

(29:58) Exciting Innovation

(38:30) Bumper Ad

(39:34) Vouch ad

(40:42) Balancing Portfolio Competition

(44:50) Investment Stage Discount

(47:18) What's Misunderstood about WorldCoin

(51:01) Potential of AI & Crypto

(54:09) Lessons Learned from Previous Cycles

(58:56) Revisiting Old Ideas

- -

Resources:

Blockchain Capital

https://www.blockchaincapital.com/blog/doubling-up-while-doubling-down-announcing-our-latest-funds

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Empire Debates: Is Using Binance Negligence? Oct 02, 2023

In today's Empire Debates episode Santi, Tommy, and Ryan dive into several spicy takes. To start things off they discuss the general climate of funds in crypto and how founders are utilizing VC money to pivot project visions. They move on to break down the Binance rumors and discuss the potential struggles the exchange giant may be facing.

- -

Follow Tommy: https://twitter.com/Shaughnessy119

Follow Ryan: https://twitter.com/kukulabanze

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(06:31) Fund Returns in Crypto

(19:26) Founders Pivoting on Investor Money

(23:02) Token Treasury Management

(27:07) Binance Rumors & Speculation

(41:26) Investing in a Bear

(52:09) Evaluating Token Cash-flows

(55:20) Advancements of zk Tech

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Pudgy Penguins in Walmart and Coinbase Perps Approved | Roundup Sep 29, 2023

In today's episode of Empire Jason and Santi cover the biggest news this week including Coinbase's massive approval for a non-US retail perpetuals trading and Pudgy Penguins invading 2000 Walmarts. They also dive into the market structure of crypto perps and whether Coinbase can claw marketshare. The duo also unpack the Gensler hearing and why AI valuations may be in a local top. They close out this week's RU by discussing locked token deals and how they have impacted projects throughout the space. Thanks for tuning in!

- -

Planning to grant token awards for your team? Toku makes implementing global token compensation and incentive awards simple.

With Toku, you get unmatched legal and tax support to grant and administer your global team’s tokens. Toku navigates it across the lifecycle — from easy to use token grant award templates through tracking vesting to managing tax withholdings.

Make it simple today, at

https://www.toku.com/empire

- -

Chronicle Protocol is a novel Oracle solution that has exclusively secured over $10B in assets for MakerDAO and its ecosystem since 2017. With a history of innovation, including the invention of the first Oracle on Ethereum, Chronicle Protocol continues to redefine Oracles. A blockchain-agnostic protocol, Chronicle overcomes the current limitations of transferring data on-chain by developing the first truly scalable, cost-efficient, decentralized, and verifiable Oracles, rewriting the rulebook on data transparency and accessibility.

Learn more about Chronicle Protocol: https://chroniclelabs.org/

Join the Chronicle Labs team: https://chroniclelabs.org/careers#open_roles

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Timestamps:

(00:00) Discovering Apples & Marathons

(08:35) Global Crypto Climate

(14:32) Pudgy Penguins in Walmart

(21:00) Coinbase Perps Trading

(33:38) Chronicle ad

(34:54) TOKU

(36:07) Gensler Congressional Hearing

(39:14) AI Valuations

(50:13) Locked Token Deals

(56:32) Upcoming Pods

—

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Crypto & Oil Synergy, Leading L2s and zk Implementations | 1000x Sep 28, 2023

In today's episode of 1000x Jonah and Avi are back from a brief hiatus and ready to dive into the biggest movements in the crypto markets. The duo begin by diving into the potential opportunities that lay within crypto and oil and uniquely discuss oil & USDT use-cases for global oil transactions. Turning to crypto, the guys dive into Polygon's significant lead in zk implementations and how Asia based investors are particularly interested in this innovation. To close things out they discuss their market outlooks and why altcoins may struggle to perform.

We'll drop a new 1000x episode on Empire's RSS feed and the 1000x YouTube channel every two weeks. Hit the links below and give us a follow!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:33) Jonah's Update

(04:13) From Crypto to Oil

(13:28) Token2049 Reflection

(16:58) Best zkEVM Implementation?

(20:38) Optimism's ROI on Base Chain

(23:14) Telegram Wallet Release

(30:01) Market Outlook

(33:06) Altcoin Avoidance

- -

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3FuSarX

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Wallets and MEV: Decoding Ethereum’s Supply Chain | Matt Cutler, Blocknative Sep 26, 2023

In today's episode of Empire Jason interviews Matt Cutler, CEO & co-founder of Blocknative. They dive deep into the supply chain of blockchains, exploring the various layers of what a transaction actually means on a blockchain network. They discuss the power balances of validators, block builders, relayers, sequencers, and users when considering the supply chain of transactions. They close out the conversation by digging into MEV and how wallets are positioned to capture major value with the adoption of account abstraction and the usage of intents.

- -

Follow Matt Cutler: https://twitter.com/mcutler

https://www.blocknative.com/

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Get 5% off your business insurance today with Vouch, the leading insurer of crypto startups. With over 4000 clients, Vouch offers exclusive coverages with crypto enhancements including Directors & Officers with digital asset regulatory defense and Cyber that includes smart contract vulnerabilities.

Get started today at https://vouch.us/web3/blockworks

- -

Bumper is an innovative DeFi protocol that protects the value of the crypto you hold from the downside & simultaneously preserves gains when the price climbs.

- A superior alternative to crypto options for traders

- 30% cheaper and more efficient than traditional tools

- Liquidity providers earn 3-18% real yield on USDC

- Get a share in $250,000 of BUMP rewards for Early Adopters

Visit bumper.fi for more info!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) From Early Internet to Ethereum

(05:41) Supply Chain of Eth Transactions

(17:49) Power Struggles & Economics of MEV Layers

(29:09) Business Model of Relays

(44:15) Vouch Ad

(45:24) Bumper Ad

(46:27) Private Transactions and Mempools

(01:01:38) Wallet Value Capture

(01:10:58) Uniswap MEV Market Share

(01:17:50) Ethereum Outlook

- -

Resources

Blocknative

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Why Protocols Should Advertise and When to Buy Your Watchlist | Roundup Sep 22, 2023

In today's episode of Empire Jason and Santi are checking-in on their market sentiments. Jason explains how ad-revenue may be a helpful indicator of market sentiment. Santi explores portfolio construction, decision making, and market potential. To finish out the cover the latest news including Blockchain Capital $580M, FTX disclosures, Eclipse SVM L2 Launch, and Paypal pyUSD on Venmo.

- -

Bumper is an innovative DeFi protocol that protects the value of the crypto you hold from the downside & simultaneously preserves gains when the price climbs.

- A superior alternative to crypto options for traders

- 30% cheaper and more efficient than traditional tools

- Liquidity providers earn 3-18% real yield on USDC

- Get a share in $250,000 of BUMP rewards for Early Adopters

Visit bumper.fi

- -

Chronicle Protocol is a novel Oracle solution that has exclusively secured over $10B in assets for MakerDAO and its ecosystem since 2017. With a history of innovation, including the invention of the first Oracle on Ethereum, Chronicle Protocol continues to redefine Oracles. A blockchain-agnostic protocol, Chronicle overcomes the current limitations of transferring data on-chain by developing the first truly scalable, cost-efficient, decentralized, and verifiable Oracles, rewriting the rulebook on data transparency and accessibility.

Learn more about Chronicle Protocol: https://chroniclelabs.org/

Join the Chronicle Labs team: https://chroniclelabs.org/careers#open_roles

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Timestamps:

0:00 Sentiment Check

05:11 Ad-Revenue Proxy for Sentiment

16:57 Impact of Marketing

22:15 Evaluating Portfolio

26:31 Decision Making in Bear Markets

38:23 Bumper Ad

39:27 Chronicle Ad

40:43 Blockchain Capital Raises $580M

43:39 Paypal pyUSD on Venmo

45:54 FTX Disclosed

48:28 Eclipse SVM L2 Launch

—

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Permissionless II Recap: RWAs, DeFi Resurgence, Top Takeaways Sep 19, 2023

After a week filled with panels, keynote speaking, and expo visiting Santi and Jason share their biggest takeaways from the Permissionless 2 conference. They dive into the awakening of the RWA DeFi narrative, regulatory discussions, crypto investment landscape and much more.

- -

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Get 5% off your business insurance today with Vouch, the leading insurer of crypto startups. With over 4000 clients, Vouch offers exclusive coverages with crypto enhancements including Directors & Officers with digital asset regulatory defense and Cyber that includes smart contract vulnerabilities.

Get started today at https://vouch.us/web3/blockworks

- -

Chronicle Protocol is a novel Oracle solution that has exclusively secured over $10B in assets for MakerDAO and its ecosystem since 2017. With a history of innovation, including the invention of the first Oracle on Ethereum, Chronicle Protocol continues to redefine Oracles. A blockchain-agnostic protocol, Chronicle overcomes the current limitations of transferring data on-chain by developing the first truly scalable, cost-efficient, decentralized, and verifiable Oracles, rewriting the rulebook on data transparency and accessibility.

Learn more about Chronicle Protocol: https://chroniclelabs.org/

Join the Chronicle Labs team: https://chroniclelabs.org/careers#open_roles

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Permissionless 2 Reflection

(07:39) Are RWAs Coming?

(13:48) Crypto Investment Landscape

(23:13) Crypto Skepticism

(30:36) Chronicle Ad

(31:53) Vouch Ad

(33:01) Regulation Takeaways

- -

Resources:

Erik Vorhees "Why are we here?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XlYSmIlpfs&t=35s

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

JPMorgan Crypto Strategy Revealed | Tyrone Lobban Sep 12, 2023

In this episode of Empire, Tyrone Lobban, Head of Onyx Digital Assets from JPMorgan Chase joins us to dive into how traditional financial institutions are adopting onchain capabilities. They explore Onyx digital assets goal, project guardian's aim to unlock institutional access to DeFi, and how JPM views blockchain.

- -

Follow Tyrone: https://twitter.com/TyLobban

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Get 5% off your business insurance today with Vouch, the leading insurer of crypto startups. With over 4000 clients, Vouch offers exclusive coverages with crypto enhancements including Directors & Officers with digital asset regulatory defense and Cyber that includes smart contract vulnerabilities.

Get started today at https://vouch.us/web3/blockworks

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) What is Onyx?

(08:43) 4 Aspects of Onyx

(22:10) USDC and Stablecoin Market

(26:24) Project Guardian & DeFi Interaction

(34:24) Vouch ad

(35:34) Rights and Wrongs in Crypto

(42:30) ETF Approval

(47:59) JPMorgan Crypto Buy-in

(49:22) Onyx Hackathon

- -

Resources

Institutional DeFi

https://www.jpmorgan.com/onyx/content-hub/institutional-defi.htm

Digital Identity

https://www.jpmorgan.com/onyx/content-hub/digital-identity-in-web3.htm#second-article

Onyx Digital Assets

https://www.jpmorgan.com/onyx/onyx-digital-assets.htm

JPM Coollateral Settlement

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-26/jpmorgan-finds-new-use-for-blockchain-in-collateral-settlement?leadSource=uverify%20wall

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

MakerDAO and Visa Adopt Solana, Nima Capital MIA, Spot Ether ETF | Roundup Sep 08, 2023

In today's round-up, Jason and Santi dive into MakerDAO selection of Solana codebase, Visa using Solana for payments, Nima Capital going dark, and recent Spot Ether ETF news. Find out why Solana was selected for Maker's NewChain and how Visa aims to provide merchants transactions at the speed of light.

- -

Bumper is an innovative DeFi protocol that protects the value of the crypto you hold from the downside & simultaneously preserves gains when the price climbs.

- A superior alternative to crypto options for traders

- 30% cheaper and more efficient than traditional tools

- Liquidity providers earn 3-18% real yield on USDC

- Get a share in $250,000 of BUMP rewards for Early Adopters

Visit bumper.fi

- -

Use code EMPIRE30 to get 30% off Permissionless 2023 in Austin: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-2023

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

05:24 MakerDAO Chain on Solana Codebase

27:50 Bumper ad

28:53 Permissionless

30:17 Visa x Solana Crypto Payments

46:59 Nima Capital Goes Dark

55:16 Spot Ether ETF

59:31 Metamask Sell Feature

—

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Policy Corner: Grayscale ETF, Uniswap Dismissal, Tornado Cash Indictment | Rebecca Rettig, Jake Chervinsky Sep 07, 2023

Jason is joined by Rebecca Rettig and Jake Chervinsky in today's special Policy Series episode to tackle the monumental implications of Grayscale ETF decision, Uniswap case dismissal and Tornado Cash indictments. They discuss how these decisions could impact the broader industry and what's coming up next for Bitcoin ETF decisions.

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:37)The Importance of Grayscale ETF Victory

(11:20) “Chainalysis Ad”

(12:24) ETF Consequences & What's Next?

(28:48) Uniswap Case Dismissal

(36:52) Impacts of Decisions

(39:39) Creating a New Asset Class

(41:27) Cravath Paper & Tornado Cash Indictment

- -

Follow Rebecca: https://twitter.com/RebeccaRettig1

https://twitter.com/jchervinsky/status/1696544309699363201

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Chainalysis.

Chainalysis is the blockchain data platform. We provide data, software, services, and research to government agencies, web3 companies, financial institutions, and insurance and cybersecurity companies. Our data powers investigation, compliance, and business intelligence software that has been used to solve some of the world’s most high-profile criminal cases.

For more information, visit www.Chainalysis.com/empire.

- -

Resources:

Grayscale ETF

https://blockworks.co/news/judges-grayscale-sec-ruling

https://twitter.com/MTCoppel/status/1696856472762683814

Uniswap Case Dismissal

https://blockworks.co/news/uniswap-class-action-dismissed

https://twitter.com/haydenzadams/status/1696991910370411003

Cravath Paper & Tornado Cash

https://twitter.com/Cravath/status/1697693810363351358?s=20

https://twitter.com/RebeccaRettig1/status/1697716451358982364

Crypto Use-cases

thevaluedrop.io

The Blockchain Association

https://polygon.technology/blog/introducing-polygon-2-0-the-value-layer-of-the-internet

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Inside Polygon 2.0: Sandeep on L2 Wars and Business Model Sep 05, 2023

In this episode of Empire, Sandeep Nailwal, co-founder of Polygon, elaborates on Polygon 2.0's bold approach to achieving infinite scalability in blockchain networks. Sandeep outlines his thesis for Polygon as not just a scalability solution, but as the foundational "Value Layer of the Internet." The conversation explores various components of Polygon 2.0 including it's innovation of zk EVM, POL Tokenomics, and the 3 pillars for governance. Nailwal also touches on Polygon's strategic partnerships with big brands like Reddit, Nike, and Starbucks, emphasizing their role in accelerating the mass adoption of the network.

- -

Follow Sandeep: https://twitter.com/sandeepnailwal

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Get 5% off your business insurance today with Vouch, the leading insurer of crypto startups. With over 4000 clients, Vouch offers exclusive coverages with crypto enhancements including Directors & Officers with digital asset regulatory defense and Cyber that includes smart contract vulnerabilities.

Get started today at https://vouch.us/web3/blockworks

- -

Use code EMPIRE30 to get 30% off Permissionless 2023 in Austin: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-2023

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Why Polygon 2.0?

(07:53) Why is ZK the solution?

(25:06) Polygon 2.0 Competition

(28:49) Vouch Ad

(29:58) Permissionless

(31:22) POL Tokenomics

(38:17) 3 Governance Pillars

(43:56) The BD Chain Narrative

(53:11) The Business Model of Polygon

(58:32) Polygon CDK

- -

Resources

Polygon 2.0

zkEVM

https://polygon.technology/blog/whats-happening-on-polygon-zkevm-summer-edition

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Grayscale ETF Triumph, Uniswap case dismissal, and 10 Brian Armstrong Ideas | Roundup Sep 01, 2023

In today's round-up, Jason and Santi dive into the Greyscale ETF victory and why it matters, the Uniswap case dismissal, and the 10 things Brian Armstrong is most excited to see in crypto. Their conversation digs into why ETFs have deep implications for the space, complexities of P2P markets, Web3 ad verticals, and much much more!

- -

Use code EMPIRE30 to get 30% off Permissionless 2023 in Austin: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-2023

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

10 Things - Brian Armstrong

https://twitter.com/brian_armstrong/status/1696923807855042601?s=20

Greyscale ETF Triump

https://twitter.com/jchervinsky/status/1696544309699363201?s=20

Uniswap - Paradigm Case Dismissal

https://twitter.com/BillHughesDC/status/1696897567500505514?s=20

--

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:45) Grayscale ETF Triumph

(17:06) Why does the ETF Matter?

(31:43) Permissionless

(33:10) Uniswap Case Dismissal

(37:40) Brian Armstrong 10 Things Needed in Crypto

—

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Empire Debates: L2 Wars, FriendTech, Crypto Regs, Digital Art Movement Sep 01, 2023

In today's special premiere Empire Debate episode, Santiago, Tommy, and Ryan dissect the biggest debates affecting Crypto. They dive into the L2 wars, whether Base needs a token, or if decentralization even matters for mass adoption. Also discussed are ETF approval chances, Crypto regs on the horizon, and NFTs new movement as fine digital art.

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Follow Tommy: https://twitter.com/Shaughnessy119

Follow Ryan: https://twitter.com/kukulabanze

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Use code EMPIRE30 to get 30% off Permissionless 2023 in Austin: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-2023

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(05:38) Narrative Emergence

(12:42) Friend.Tech & Base Adoption Narratives

(16:54) Will Tokens Attract Mainstream Adoption?

(26:56) “Permissionless Promotion”

(28:19) Does Decentralization Matter for Mass Adoption?

(40:47) Ethereum & Bitcoin ETFs

(56:43) Crypto Regulation Impact & Timeline

(1:04:16) NFTs as Fine Digital Art

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Web3 Ad Markets Explained | Antonio García Martínez Aug 29, 2023

In this episode of Empire, we're joined by Antonio García Martínez, Founder of Spindle, New York Times best selling author, and tech leader with experience ranging from Facebook to Goldman Sachs. Today's episode delves into the intricate world of advertising, contrasting traditional Web2 paradigms with emerging Web3 possibilities. Learn about the the decentralization of advertising platforms, evolving monetization models, and the ethical implications surrounding data privacy.

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Follow Antonio: https://twitter.com/antoniogm

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Get 5% off your business insurance today with Vouch, the leading insurer of crypto startups. With over 4000 clients, Vouch offers exclusive coverages with crypto enhancements including Directors & Officers with digital asset regulatory defense and Cyber that includes smart contract vulnerabilities.

Get started today at https://vouch.us/web3/blockworks

- -

Use code EMPIRE30 to get 30% off Permissionless 2023 in Austin: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-2023

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Who is Antonio García Martínez?

(06:35) The Facebook Ad Market

(10:41) Sourcing Off-Platform Data

(18:46) The State of the Ad Market

(24:14) Ad Space Landscape

(26:41) Are Web2 Platforms Listening to you?

(29:10) Hardware VS Software Layer

(32:02) The State of Crypto Ad Markets

(36:48) Vouch ad

(37:56) Permissionless Ad

(39:21) Web3 Impact on Ad Markets

(44:32) Ad Marketplaces

(51:25) Web3 Master of Ads

(55:35) How Does Spindl Work?

(01:00:25) Web3 User Tracking

- -

Resources:

Ghostery Pixel Tracking

https://www.ghostery.com/

LumaScape - A visual guide

https://lumapartners.com/lumascapes/

Facebook isn't Listening to you (Antonio Wired Piece)

https://www.wired.com/story/facebooks-listening-smartphone-microphone/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Solana & Shopify, Tornado Cash vs DOJ, Coinbase & Circle | Roundup Aug 25, 2023

In today's round-up, Jason and Santi discuss Solana & Shopify's partnership, DOJ's arrest of Tornado Cash's Co-founder, and Coinbase's acquisition of Circle. They explore the collaboration's implications between Solana and Shopify. When discussing the DOJ's arrest of Tornado Cash's Co-founder, they address legal aspects and community impact. Finally, they analyze Coinbase's acquisition of Circle, highlighting strategic significance and revenue potential.

- -

Use code EMPIRE30 to get 30% off Permissionless 2023 in Austin: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-2023

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

FriendTech Links

https://dune.com/austin_adams/friendstech-dashboard

https://twitter.com/friendtech/status/1693745768145063954?s=20

Coinbase Circle

https://www.coinbase.com/blog/ushering-in-the-next-chapter-for-usdc

Solana x Shopify

https://solana.com/news/solana-pay-shopify

David Marcus Article

https://medium.com/@davidmarcus/why-building-a-new-protocol-for-money-is-the-only-way-to-truly-change-the-game-for-people-254c55407e22

--

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:31) Friend.Tech Updates

(13:02) DOJ Arrests Tornado Cash Co-founder

(23:30) Permissionless ad

(24:57) Coinbase & Circle Deal

(35:58) Shopify x Solana Integration

(45:26) Final Thoughts

—

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Trading Principles, Friend.tech's "Perfect Use Case" & Bitcoin's Sell-Off | 1000x Aug 24, 2023

Follow 1000x On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45htDli

Follow 1000x On Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3Kz0Bpw

Follow 1000x On YouTube: https://bit.ly/3DNc5C6

--

On today's episode of 1000x, Avi & Jonah discuss the recent Bitcoin sell-off, perfecting a trading strategy to avoid periods of volatility & key principles for a successful trading strategy.

We then dive deep into crypto's latest hype & potential "perfect use case"... Friend.tech. Arguing that you need to be paying attention, Avi & Jonah weight in on the bull vs bear case for the social media platform. To hear all this & more, you'll have to tune in!

--

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:48) Bitcoin Tumbles To $26,000

(09:13) Finding A Trading Process

(17:28) Defining Value In Crypto

(23:01) A Debate On Friend.tech

(36:17) The Financialization Of Friend.tech

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Friend.tech Debate: Innovation or Implosion? | Ansem Aug 22, 2023

In today's episode, Ansem joins us to dive into Friend.Tech, Crypto twitter's latest hot narrative. The discussion dives into Friend.Tech, a Base chain native app that allows users to create and trade tokens associated with their online profiles. They explore how Friend.tech enables trading of personal tokens and its potential impact on independent artists, debate its ethical considerations, and future potential of social tokens.

- -

Follow Ansem: https://twitter.com/blknoiz06

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Use code EMPIRE30 to get 30% off Permissionless 2023 in Austin: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-2023

- -

Timestamps:

(00:52) Friend.Tech Explained

(15:24) Friend.Tech Social Betting Model

(22:57) Friend.Tech Bull Case

(26:41) Bear Case

(33:23) Speculation vs Fandom

(37:55) Permissionless ad

(39:23) Social Token Price Manipulation

(45:49) Will Social Tokens Cause Harm?

(48:40) Airdrop Point System

(51:34) BitClout VS Friend.Tech

(53:17) Social Token Exit Plans

(01:00:34) Social Fractionalization

(01:02:42) L2 Wars

(01:09:22) Stock Ownership

(01:16:24) Fan Base Monetization

- -

Resources

Friend.Tech

https://twitter.com/friendtech

https://www.friend.tech/

BitClout

https://bitclout.com/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Ending the Modular vs Monolithic Debate | Kyle Samani Aug 18, 2023

We're joined by Kyle Samani, the co-founder of Multicoin Capital and one of crypto's most independent thinkers. In this episode, we cover why "monolithic L1s" is a misnomer, the value of global state, how a protocol establishes moats, why DePIN is finding product-market fit, how Kyle synthesizes new ideas and more!

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:34) The Modular vs Monolithic Debate

(07:43) Bootstrapping Communities

(09:17) A Case for Rollups and Appchains

(15:33) The Value of Composability and Globally Shared State

(23:22) Crypto’s Moats, Meat Space and the Saga Phone

(28:38) Don’t Sleep on DePIN

(45:11) Spatial Computing and New Form Factors

(53:42) Kyle’s Thinking Process

(57:49) Zero Knowledge Proof Use Cases

(01:04:21) How Kyle Cultivated His Communication Style

(01:06:03) Advice for Founders

- -

Although our guests this week are managing partners of a registered investment adviser, nothing in this podcast should be considered an offer of Multicoin’s investment advisory services or should otherwise be confused for investment, tax, legal or other financial advice.

- -

Follow Kyle: https://twitter.com/KyleSamani

Follow Mert: https://twitter.com/0xMert_

Follow Garrett: https://twitter.com/GarrettHarper_

Follow Lightspeed: https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/43o3Syk

Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3OhiXgV

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3OkF7PD

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Use code EMPIRE30 to get 30% off Permissionless 2023 in Austin: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-2023

- -

Resources:

Multicoin Capital

https://multicoin.capital/

Unlocking Payments Over Crypto Rails

https://multicoin.capital/2022/12/08/unlocking-payments-over-crypto-rails/

Stratechery (Ben Thompson)

https://stratechery.com/

- -

Disclaimers:

Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation.

Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Mert, Garrett and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Solana’s Ultimate Vision | Anatoly Yakovenko Aug 15, 2023

Anatoly joins us to discuss why Solana is uniquely designed to utilize ever-increasing bandwidth and compute. We cover Solana's core thesis, how blockchains benefit from hardware improvements, the fundamental flaws of L2s, Anatoly's favorite applications, decentralization and more! Anatoly is a legend, you don't want to miss this one!

- -

Follow Anatoly: https://twitter.com/aeyakovenko

Follow Mert: https://twitter.com/0xMert_

Follow Garrett: https://twitter.com/GarrettHarper_

Follow Lightspeed: https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/43o3Syk

Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3OhiXgV

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3OkF7PD

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Use code EMPIRE30 to get 30% off Permissionless 2023 in Austin: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-2023

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Solana’s Core Thesis

(10:40) The Scaling Bottleneck

(13:58) Do All Blockchains Equally Benefit From Hardware Improvements?

(17:57) Pros and Cons of Parallel Execution

(21:12) The Realities of Decentralization

(24:43) Solana’s Design Moat

(28:10) Permissionless ad

(29:37) The Fundamental Tradeoffs of L2s

(44:12) How Should Solana Approach Business Development?

(48:12) The Role of Solana Labs and the Solana Foundation

(49:47) The Compressed NFT Opportunity

(53:31) We Need to Fix DAO Governance

(55:14) Anatoly’s Metric of Success for Solana

(57:58) Why Anatoly Hasn’t Left Crypto

(01:00:03) Why an Average Joe Would Use Solana

(01:01:39) Rapid Fire

- -

Resources

Endgame: Proof of Governance by Jon Charbonneau

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toPd1vgHjVE&t=0s

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Future of Stablecoins | Bell Curve Roundup Aug 11, 2023

This week we're excited to bring you the Round Up episode from our Bell Curve Podcast, a show where we breakdown the most important themes in crypto. In today’s episode, Mike and Michael discuss all things Stables and more! The guys kick things off with PayPal, discussing their PYUSD Stablecoin launch and what it means for the wider ecosystem and future Stablecoin market structure. We then take a closer look at Coinbase’s Q2 earnings, before touching on future Rollup value accrual. We then close with a Ripple update, Cantina (Web3’s security marketplace), the endgame for Stablecoins, and more!

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:28) PYUSD: PayPal stablecoin

(07:37) Future Stablecoin Market Structure

(11:31) Coinbase Update

(24:39) Portnoy's Barstool Sports $1 Buy Back

(26:10) Rollup Value Accrual

(44:43) Ripple XRP Update

(50:04) Web3 Security Marketplace: Cantina

(55:10) News-to-price Incongruities

(58:15) The Stablecoin Endgame

- -

Follow Michael: https://twitter.com/im_manderson

https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-2023

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3R1D1D9

Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3pQTfmD

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3cpKZXH

--

Research, news, data, governance and models – now, all in one place. As a listener of Bell Curve, you can use code "BELLCURVE10" for a 10% discount when signing up to Blockworks Research https://www.blockworksresearch.com/

--

Use code BELLCURVE30 to get 30% off Permissionless 2023 in Austin:

- -

Resources:

PYUSD: PayPal stablecoin:

https://www.paypal.com/us/digital-wallet/manage-money/crypto/pyusd

Coinbase earnings:

https://blockworks.co/news/crypto-stocks-stumble-earnings

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire or Bell Curve is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Mike, Jason, Michael, Vance and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Crypto Is Entering A Paradigm Shift | 1000x Aug 10, 2023

Follow 1000x On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45htDli

Follow 1000x On Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3Kz0Bpw

Follow 1000x On YouTube: https://bit.ly/3DNc5C6

--

On today's episode of 1000x, Avi & Jonah discuss the major shift happening in crypto markets. As green shoots emerge across the industry, are there signs of liquidity beginning to return?

We also deep dive into the performance of crypto hedge funds throughout 2023, how a Bitcoin ETF would open up a "gateway of liquidity" and PayPal's stablecoin launch. To hear all this & more, you'll have to tune in!

--

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Referenced In The Show:

PayPal launches stablecoin tied to the US dollar, issued on Ethereum: https://blockworks.co/news/paypal-launches-stablecoin

--

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:26) How Have Crypto Hedge Funds Performed In 2023?

(05:52) Has Bitcoin Dominance Peaked?

(07:56) Alt Coin Season & The Bitcoin ETF

(12:28) Re-Thinking The Multi Chain Thesis

(19:38) PayPal Launches A Stablecoin

(24:50) Tether

(29:48) From Crypto To Crude Oil

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Base: Decentralization Funding, Public Infrastructure, & Onchain Native Life | Jesse Pollak Aug 09, 2023

In today's episode, Santi is joined by Jesse Pollak, a Base contributor. Base is an Ethereum Layer 2 (L2) chain incubating inside of Coinbase with plans to progressively decentralize the chain over time. They discuss Coinbase role in the ecosystem, account messaging & abstraction, privacy approach, and ecosystem growth trajectories.

- -

Follow Jesse: https://twitter.com/jessepollak

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news.

Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Use code EMPIRE30 to get 30% off Permissionless 2023 in Austin: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-2023

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Base: High Level Overview

(07:08) Base Neutrality

(10:25) Base Bridging

(13:52) Base dApp Development

(19:15) Base Privacy Approach

(21:27) Permissionless Ad

(22:54) Base Value to Coinbase Revenue

(25:57) Coinbase Wallet Adoption

(30:32) User Incentives

(37:05) Onchain Identity

(41:25) Bald Meme Coin Season

(46:13) Real Consumer Experiences on Base

(48:44) Sequencer Decentralization

(51:53) Onchain Messaging

(58:42) USDC Importance

- -

Resources

Introducing Base

https://www.coinbase.com/blog/introducing-base

https://base.mirror.xyz/lt3JR-mZ51q9eIOtGO36L3ZVzCTXmZVnbIiXz6crqzQ

Onchain Summer

https://www.coinbase.com/blog/celebrate-onchain-summer-with-coinbase

Prop House

https://prop.house/base

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Blockworks Origin Story | Michael & Jason Aug 08, 2023

In today's episode, the tables have flipped. Santi & Michael interview Co-founders of Blockworks Michael and Jason. They dive into the Blockworks origin story, from conception, surviving COVID, the hiring difference, and the evolving thesis for Blockworks growth & trajectory.

- -

Follow Michael I: https://twitter.com/MikeIppolito_

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Michael A: https://twitter.com/im_manderson

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Use code EMPIRE30 to get 30% off Permissionless 2023 in Austin: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-2023

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) The Blockworks Start

(08:20) Entrepreneur Mindset Origination

(11:42) Determining Product Categories

(19:18) The COVID Pivot

(24:12) Competitive Landscape

(30:26) The Hiring Difference

(34:36) Cycle Sentiment Check-in

(39:24) Aligning Teams in Crypto

(43:37) Target Audience

(47:04) Permissionless

(48:30) Evolving Thesis Approach

(57:03) Narrative Pulse Check-in

(01:00:02) Crypto's Killer App

(01:02:38) Why Back Blockworks?

(01:13:11) The Biggest Mistake

(01:16:16) DAO Bullishness

(01:23:12) Staying Interested Advice

- -

Resources

Go to Permissionless

https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-2023

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Curve Hack Explained | Roundup Aug 04, 2023

In today's round-up, we dive into the $70M Curve Exploit. Joined by Ren, a blockworks research analyst, and Andrew, blockwork's lead data reporter, the team dives into how the exploit happened, the impacted pools, MEV & White Hat recovery efforts, and Egorov's liquidation hunt.

- -

Use code EMPIRE30 to get 30% off Permissionless 2023 in Austin: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-2023

- -

https://hackmd.io/@LlamaRisk/BJzSKHNjn

Follow Ren: https://twitter.com/purplepill3m

Follow Andrew: https://twitter.com/Blockanalia

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

Technical Post-mortem

Egorov's Debank Profile

https://debank.com/profile/0x7a16ff8270133f063aab6c9977183d9e72835428?chain=eth

Egorov's Aave

https://aave.blockanalitica.com/v2/ethereum/wallets/0x7a16ff8270133f063aab6c9977183d9e72835428/

OTC Deals

https://twitter.com/thiccythot_/status/1686728604326002688

--

Timestamps

(00:00) Introduction

(00:24) What is Curve?

(03:49) Exploit Explained

(08:59) Impacted Curve Liquidity Pools

(16:01) Vyper Code Exploit

(20:25) Permissionless Ad

(21:51) Centralized War Rooms

(25:54) MEV Bots vs Hackers

(31:29) Egorov Liquidation Hunt

(38:09) Abracadabra Governance Proposal

(40:25) Bad Debt Stand-off

(44:06) OTC Deals

(49:04) Lending Protocol Watershed Moment

—

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Why VC is Dumb Money, OpenSea Token, and The NFT Comeback | Nick Tomaino Aug 01, 2023

In today's episode, Nick Tomaino, GP of 1confirmation, joins Santiago and Jason. They dive into why the Next Gen L1 Thesis is wrong, Opensea token launch, VC issues, and his thesis for NFTs moving forward.

- -

Follow Nick Tomaino: https://twitter.com/NTmoney

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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- -

This episode is brought to you by Carbon.

Carbon is a new DEX on Ethereum that makes concentrated liquidity easy. LPs can automate their liquidity strategy with custom on-chain limit and range orders: all from a beautiful UI. Check out Carbon today at https://www.carbondefi.xyz/.

- -

Use code EMPIRE30 to get 30% off Permissionless 2023 in Austin: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-2023

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Why Crypto VC is Dumb Money

(08:06) Narrative Investing

(17:48) The Key to VC Success

(23:10) Bull Case for Prediction Markets

(31:40) Carbon Ad

(32:59) Permissionless

(34:24) The NFT Thesis

(44:19) NTS & RWAs

(49:02) NFT Fractionalization

(54:52) The Future of Open Sea

(01:00:04) Coinbase and Wallstreet

(01:04:15) Timeline for Mainstream Adoption

(01:12:25) 2024 US Election Outlook

- -

Resources

Polymarket

https://polymarket.com/

https://twitter.com/Polymarket

The Scapegoat by Rene Girard

https://www.amazon.com/Scapegoat-Ren

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Centralized Builders Bull Case, Bear Market Conference, zkEVM Problems | EthCC Reflection Jul 28, 2023

In today's episode Dan and Sam are joined by host of Bell Curve Podcast & Blockworks Co-Founder Michael and Blockworks research analyst Matt. The team dives into their key takeaways of the EthCC and converse on zkEVM problems, the bull case for centralization, scaling solutions, interoperability, and much more!

- -

Follow 0xResearch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3foDS38

Subscribe to 0xResearch on Apple: https://apple.co/3SNhUEt

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- -

Follow Michael: https://twitter.com/MikeIppolito_

Follow Sam: https://twitter.com/swmartin19

Follow Dan: https://twitter.com/smyyguy

Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/MattFiebach

Follow Blockworks Research: https://twitter.com/blockworksres

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3foDS38

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--

Use code EMPIRE30 to get 30% off Permissionless 2023 in Austin: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-2023

- -

Resources

Alex Blania Interview

spoti.fi/3BuCzab

https://apple.co/3W94QN6

https://youtu.be/ImPvUOwFR68

McHenry Bill Derailing

https://blockworks.co/news/house-stablecoin-markup

Vitalik Buterin - A history of account abstraction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLf8qpOmxQc

LayerZero

https://layerzero.network/

—

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:27) EthCC Vibe Check

(09:30) Discussions on zkEVM Problems

(15:11) Takeaways for Interoperability

(23:52) The Bull Case for Centralized Builders

(39:49) Enshrining Eigen Layer in Ethereum Protocol

(46:21) Are Scaling Solutions Too Much?

(55:01) Lido Bribe Mechanism

(59:45) Web2 at EthCC

(01:01:55) Permissionless Discount

(01:03:19) What Does Institutional Adoption Look Like?

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Will AI Agents Use Crypto? | Qiao Wang Jul 25, 2023

In today's episode, Jason is joined by Qiao Wang, Partner at Alliance DAO. They start today's episode by sentiment checking the market, reflecting on the current building landscape, and the types of founders and projects currently raising funds. They wrap up the show by diving into the intersection of Crypto & AI, decentralizing AI, and consumer crypto AI products.

- -

Follow Qiao Wang: https://twitter.com/QwQiao

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

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Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Carbon.

Carbon is a new DEX on Ethereum that makes concentrated liquidity easy. LPs can automate their liquidity strategy with custom on-chain limit and range orders: all from a beautiful UI. Check out Carbon today at https://www.carbondefi.xyz/.

- -

Use code EMPIRE30 to get 30% off Permissionless 2023 in Austin: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-2023

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Bear Market Sentiment Check

(08:23) The Stages of a Bear Market

(13:19) What Buildoors are Building

(18:50) What Layer has the Buildoors?

(21:55) Types of Founders

(29:44) Characteristics of a Successful Founder

(33:47) Where Web3 Innovation is

(37:03) Permissionless ad

(38:28) Carbon ad

(39:47) Is AI on the Gartner Hype Cycle?

(43:07) The Intersection of AI

(50:06) Decentralizing AI

(59:41) Is There a Crypto Element for AI?

(01:05:43) Consumer Crypto & AI Products

- -

Resources

Alliance DAO

https://twitter.com/alliancedao

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Chainlink CCIP Bomb, UniswapX, & Synthetix upgrades explained | Roundup Jul 21, 2023

In today's episode special edition cross-over episode Jason and Santi are joined by Michael, Co-founder at Framework Ventures and Co-host of the Bell Curve podcast. They cover EthCC Account Abstraction takeaways, Infinex, UniswapX, Chainlink CCIP & LayerZero, the VC landscape and MUCH much more.

- -

This episode is brought to you by Kwenta, the premier derivatives trading platform on Optimism that offers deep liquidity, low fees and up to 50x leverage across 24+ assets.

Go to Kwenta.io and start trading today!

--

This episode is brought to you buy Thales.

Thales is an innovative digital options platform on Arbitrum and Optimism that gets you exposure to crypto assets in the simplest way possible. As simple as choosing UP or DOWN! Experience the simplicity and power of Thales by visiting:

https://thalesmarket.io/?mtm_campaign=blockworks

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

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- -

Resources

UniswapX

https://twitter.com/Uniswap/status/1680955621343129600

Infinex

https://twitter.com/DefiantNews/status/1679838219201028097

Chainlink CCIP

https://twitter.com/chainlink/status/1680970793331613697

Celo Move to L1

https://blockworks.co/news/celo-return-home-ethereum

--

(00:00) EthCC

(03:46) Account Abstraction & Crypto UX

(06:48) Infinex: The CEX Killer?

(10:25) UniswapX Release

(17:19) Chainlink CCIP

(27:43) LayerZero vs Chainlink

(31:04) Policy Episode Takeaways

(36:23) Thales

(37:19) Kwenta

(38:15) CoinDesk Acquired

(41:25) Sequoia Shakes Up Crypto Arm

(48:24) Crypto VC Competitive Landscape

(52:16) Crypto VC Strategies & Investment Practices

(01:03:13) Most Important Factor for L1s

(01:12:43) Celo Transition to Ethereum L2

—

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Bear Case for Risk Assets | 1000x Jul 20, 2023

In today's episode of 1000x, Avi & Jonah explore the bear case despite the XRP rally. Also discussed are the impact of XRP versus ETF news, Ripple effect on Alt Market, the multi-chain thesis, on-chain RWAs, and much more!

We'll drop a new 1000x episode on Empire's RSS feed and the 1000x YouTube channel every two weeks. Hit the links below and give us a follow!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:17) Market Sentiment Check-in

(06:40) Market Insights From News

(12:18) Impact of XRP vs ETF News

(17:19) Ripple Effect on Alt Market

(22:18) Is Multi-chain the Future?

(26:35) Are Useful On-chain RWAs Here?

(32:19) The Bear Case for Risk Assets

- -

https://blockworks.co/news/traders-profit-cautious-markets-ripple

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3FuSarX

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources:

XRP (Ripple) Case News

Figure Technologies (RWAs On-Chain)

https://twitter.com/Figure

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Policy Series: The Ripple Effect | Rebecca Rettig, Jake Chervinsky Jul 20, 2023

Join Santi and guests Rebeca Rettig and Jake Chervinsky in today's special Policy Series episode as they discuss the landmark Ripple case and its monumental impact. Explore the implications for future legislation, token sales practices, decentralization & governance, and get updates on MiCA & EU regulations.

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:24) Landmark Ripple Case

(14:00) Verdict Impact on Industry Financing

(19:08) What's Next for Ripple Case?

(24:35) Influence on Future Legislation

(28:36) Token Sales in Practice

(38:31) Decentralization & Governance

(48:57) Digital Asset Market Structure Proposal

(56:25) Updates on MiCA & EU

(01:01:18) Call Your Representatives

(01:09:02) Futures Curve

(01:15:07) Recession Risk

- -

Follow Rebecca: https://twitter.com/RebeccaRettig1

Follow Jake: https://twitter.com/jchervinsky

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Chainalysis.

Chainalysis is the blockchain data platform. We provide data, software, services, and research to government agencies, web3 companies, financial institutions, and insurance and cybersecurity companies. Our data powers investigation, compliance, and business intelligence software that has been used to solve some of the world’s most high-profile criminal cases.

For more information, visit www.Chainalysis.com/empire.

- -

Resources

Crypto Usecases

thevaluedrop.io

The Blockchain Association

https://theblockchainassociation.org/

https://twitter.com/BlockchainAssn

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Pudgy Penguins Path to Legacy Brand & IP Powerhouse | Luca Netz Jul 18, 2023

In today's episode, Jason is joined by Luca Netz, CEO of Pudgy Penguins, to discuss his journey, Pudgy Penguins' business model, IP Houses, Brand Licensing, and Pudgy Penguins future.

- -

Follow Luca Netz: https://twitter.com/LucaNetz

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

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Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Carbon.

Carbon is a new DEX on Ethereum that makes concentrated liquidity easy. LPs can automate their liquidity strategy with custom on-chain limit and range orders: all from a beautiful UI. Check out Carbon today at https://www.carbondefi.xyz/.

- -

This episode is brought to you by Synthetix.

This episode is brought to you by Synthetix. Synthetix Perps is the most efficient decentralized perpetual futures engine, with 5/10 bp fees and up to 25x leverage. With a growing list of over 20 tradable markets, Synthetix Perps are available on Optimism via Kwenta.io and Polynomial.fi, with more coming soon! As a permissionless liquidity layer, Synthetix makes it easy for any protocol to integrate perps and earn 5%-10% of trade fees.

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Who is Luca Netz?

(04:35) Buying Pudgy Penguins

(10:47) Pudgy Penguins' Business Model

(25:16) Pudgy Penguins as an IP House

(31:44) Carbon Ad

(33:03) Synthetix Ad

(34:43) Monetization & NFT Bear Markets

(38:22) Confidence In NFT Projects

(44:23) The Future of Pudgy Penguins

- -

Resources

Pudgy Penguins

https://twitter.com/pudgypenguins

https://www.pudgypenguins.com/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Reboot | Uncommon Core 2.0 with Hasu and Jon Charbonneau Jul 17, 2023

Uncommon Core - one of my favorite podcasts of all time - is back! This reboot is hosted by Hasu and Jon Charbonneau, two of the brightest minds in crypto. We are dropping their first episode here to share the news and because you’ll want to add this show to your podcast lineup!

__

In this episode, we explore Jon’s journey into crypto and our mutual passion for research and the writing process. We then give an overview of the key areas of crypto infrastructure today. Finally, we zoom into rollup decentralization roadmaps, and Jon shares a controversial new thesis about sequencer decentralization.

__

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(02:42) Interview start

(03:44) Jon's work week

(08:04) ChatGPT & writing

(10:57) Jon's start in crypto

(14:45) How to pick things to work on

(17:08) Outsider's perspective on crypto

(19:05) Jon's research process

(22:00) Jon's proudest moment in crypto

(23:06) Crypto Infrastructure overview

(29:58) Why crypto infrastructure is interesting

(35:57) Rollup decentralization overview

(42:44) Challenges decentralizing the sequencer

(47:46) Ethereum vs Cosmos approach to governance & decentralization

(53:35) User ability to opt out

(56:37) Staking vs. governance deciding sequencers

(01:08:31) L3s

(01:13:34) Superchain

(01:16:38) Summary of rollup decentralization

(01:21:08) Outro

__

Hasu - https://twitter.com/hasufl

Jon Charbonneau - https://twitter.com/jon_charb

UCC2 - https://twitter.com/UCC2_xyz

Website - https://ucc2.xyz

__

Disclaimer: The material and information presented in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the speakers and are not the views of any entity or other person with whom the speaker is affiliated, including, without limitation, DBA Crypto, LLC. The “DBA Crypto” name and all forms thereof are the sole property of its owner, and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.

Landmark Ripple & SEC Case: XRP Not a Security (maybe) | Roundup Jul 14, 2023

In today's episode, Jason and Santiago dive into Ripples landmark victory over the SEC, Celsius CEO's arrest, the first smart contract exploit criminal case, On-chain RWAs, and Coinbase's Wallet-to-wallet messaging.

--

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

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Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by QuickNode.

QuickNode is an end-to-end blockchain developer platform that makes building Web3 apps easy. Go to QuickNode.com and use code Empire for a free month on their feature-packed Build Plan!

--

Use code EMPIRE30 to get 30% off Permissionless 2023 in Austin: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-2023

- -

Resources

Solana Hacker

https://cointelegraph.com/news/new-york-prosecutor-charges-hacker-over-exploit-of-solana-dex

SEC Ripple Lawsuit

Ripple Determination

Celsius CRO Notes

https://twitter.com/tier10k/status/1679486245754535936?s=20

--

Timestamps:

(00:00) Federal Judge Sides with Ripple

(17:09) Alex Mashinsky Charged with Fraud

(20:41) First Ever Smart Contract Exploit Criminal Case

(24:12) Patek Philippe NFT & RWAs On-Chain

(37:20) Quicknode ad

(39:09) Permissionless ad

(40:34) Coinbase Wallet-to-wallet Messaging

(46:10) Google Play to Earn Crypto

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Superstate: Unlocking On-Chain RWAs | Rob Leshner Jul 11, 2023

In today's episode, Jason is joined by Rob Leshner, former founder of Compound, to discuss his newly created venture Superstate. We cover the challenges & impacts of bringing RWAs on-chain, the go-to-market strategy and competitive landscape for Superstate, and the upcoming battleground for stablecoins.

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) What is Superstate

(08:06) Challenges of bringing RWAs on-chain

(18:27) Impact of Trad Assets on Crypto

(28:52) Quicknode ad

(30:39) Carbon Ad

(32:18) Superstate Raise & Competitive Landscape

(38:07) Legal Challenges of Superstate GTM

(41:24) Taking on Stablecoins & Token Model

(47:48) Exploring On-Chain KYC

(51:31) Business Model & Founding a Company

- -

Follow Rob Leshner: https://twitter.com/rleshner

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Carbon.

Carbon is a new DEX on Ethereum that makes concentrated liquidity easy. LPs can automate their liquidity strategy with custom on-chain limit and range orders: all from a beautiful UI.

Don't miss out on Carbon's "ROI Trading Competition" that's live until July 11! Here’s how to play:

Click this Carbon link: https://bit.ly/43Vo2AB

Create a new Carbon strategy

Boom. You're eligible to win USDC rewards based on the performance of your strategy

- -

This episode is brought to you by QuickNode.

QuickNode is an end-to-end blockchain developer platform that makes building Web3 apps easy. Go to QuickNode.com and use code Empire for a free month on their feature-packed Build Plan!

- -

Resources

Superstate Website

https://superstate.co/

https://twitter.com/superstatefunds

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Larry Fink Just Ignited BTC's Institutional Adoption Narrative | Roundup Jul 07, 2023

In today's episode, Jason and Santiago discuss institutional impacts on crypto including BlackRock CEO Larry Fink's comments on Bitcoin as digital gold and Coinbase ETF rally affect. We also cover the NFT market capitulation, Blur scapegoating, Lido treasury conversion, and the excitement around Permissionless.

- -

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

3:10 Threads: The Twitter Killer?

13:41 Larry Fink on BTC as Digital Gold

21:09 Coinbase ETF Rally

26:50 NFT Capitulation: Is Blur a scapegoat?

37:43 Lido Converts Ethereum Treasury

40:30 Permissionless & Crypto Conferences

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

Adam Mosseri on ActivityPub Support

https://www.threads.net/t/CuRtcYTNY3J/

Blur Founder: Why Optimizing for Creators is a Bad Strategy

https://blockworks.co/podcast/empire/76db49fe-b1b0-11ed-97b4-1ff56c36f1b8

Blend: Unlock The Value of Your NFTs | Pacman, Blur

https://blockworks.co/podcast/empire/bc263054-e9a6-11ed-b6cc-e309579281c5

Bell Curve: The End Game for Liquid Staking | S5 Premiere

https://blockworks.co/podcast/bellcurve/51960928-1a55-11ee-b504-7700561a4789

--

Research, news, data, governance and models – now, all in one place. As a listener of Empire, you can use code "EMPIRE10" for a 10% discount when signing up to Blockworks Research https://www.blockworksresearch.com/

--

Use code EMPIRE30 to get 30% off Permissionless 2023 in Austin: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-2023

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How to Analyze the ETH:BTC Trade | 1000x Jul 06, 2023

In today's episode of 1000x, Jonah and Avi discuss markets and trading ETH:BTC. We also cover our worst trades and what we learned, why OG DeFi tokens pumped, how most NFTs resemble brands (not art), trading a BTC ETF approval, the setup for the next bull run and more!

We'll drop a new 1000x episode on Empire's RSS feed and the 1000x YouTube channel every two weeks. Hit the links below and give us a follow!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:56) Our Worst Trades and Lessons from History

(17:18) Addressing Crypto Naysayers

(19:23) The OG DeFi Token Pump

(24:51) Why Are You Bullish NFTs?

(35:01) What Happens to ETH:BTC if an ETF is Approved?

(43:40) The Setup for a Bull Run in 24/25

- -

https://www.amazon.com/Great-Game-Emergence-Street-1653-2000/dp/0743200438/

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3FuSarX

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources:

The Great Game

The Alchemy of Finance

https://www.amazon.com/Alchemy-Finance-George-Soros-ebook/dp/B0BHR5B749

Baruch My Own Story

https://www.amazon.com/Baruch-My-Own-Story-Bernard/dp/163823289X/

The Prize

https://www.amazon.com/The-Prize-Daniel-Yergin-audiobook/dp/B001GX9W5Y

Golden Tree

Cumberland

https://twitter.com/CumberlandSays

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

A Historian's Take on the Bear Market | Josh Rosenthal Jul 04, 2023

Today we are joined by Josh Rosenthal to learn how history predicts crypto's future. We discuss how history's revolutions shaped our beliefs and culture, what happens when technology outpaces society, what's next for crypto, why increased volatility is coming and more!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Technology Drives History

(07:11) How the Renaissance Changed Everything

(13:41) Global Revolutions: The Domino Effect

(33:26) Carbon Ad

(35:08) The SEC’s Clampdown Contextualized by History

(57:44) How Crypto Will Shape Society

(01:12:30) Incoming Chaos and Managing Volatility

- -

Follow Josh: https://twitter.com/JoshuaRosenthal

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

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Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Carbon. Carbon is a new DEX on Ethereum that makes concentrated liquidity easy. LPs can automate their liquidity strategy with custom on-chain limit and range orders: all from a beautiful UI.

Don't miss out on Carbon's "ROI Trading Competition" that's live until July 11! Here’s how to play:

Click this Carbon link: https://bit.ly/43Vo2AB

Create a new Carbon strategy

Boom. You're eligible to win USDC rewards based on the performance of your strategy

- -

Resources

Josh Rosenthal on Empire (The Crypto Renaissance, May 2021)

https://spoti.fi/3NLnh8c

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Should I Buy a Punk? | Roundup Jun 30, 2023

In today's episode, Jason and Santiago discuss if now is the time to buy a Punk! We also cover our takeaways from the Punk6529 interview, how to pick which NFT to buy, NFT business models, Santi's view on the current investing/fundraising environment, the Prime Trust debacle and more.

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:31) Punk6529 Interview Takeaways

(06:16) Is Now the Time to Buy a Punk?

(021:24) “Blockworks Research Ad”

(22:56) Azuki’s “New” Collection & NFT Business Models

(27:43) Santi on Crypto Fundraising/Investing

(42:32) The Prime Trust Debacle

(49:59) Superstate: Rob Leshner’s New Company

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-2023

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources:

Punk6529: Why Crypto Matters

https://spoti.fi/3JDghrv

--

Research, news, data, governance and models – now, all in one place. As a listener of Empire, you can use code "EMPIRE10" for a 10% discount when signing up to Blockworks Research https://www.blockworksresearch.com/

--

Use code PODS20 to get 20% off Permissionless 2023 in Austin:

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Punk6529: Why Crypto Matters Jun 27, 2023

We are joined by Punk6529 to discuss how NFTs and Web3 rails will shape our digital lives. We cover the evolution of the metaverse, why we need permissionless protocols, the need for digital ownership, why 6529 bought The Goose and loves generative art, community-owned NFTs and more!

- -

Timestamps:

00:00 Defining the Metaverse

13:53 Why We Need Permissionless Protocols

36:48 The Value of Digital Ownership

53:38 Thales ad

54:33 Carbon Ad

56:13 NFT Deep Dive

01:08:54 The Pushback on NFTs

01:13:32 The Goose & Generative Art

01:30:11 Punk 6529’s Museum

01:46:18 Community-Owned NFTs and Punk 6529’s Fund

01:56:58 Thoughts on Punks, CryptoDickbutts and the NFT Future

- -

Follow Punk6529: https://twitter.com/punk6529

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Carbon. Carbon is a new DEX on Ethereum that makes concentrated liquidity easy. LPs can automate their liquidity strategy with custom on-chain limit and range orders: all from a beautiful UI.

Don't miss out on Carbon's "ROI Trading Competition" that's live until July 11! Here’s how to play:

Click this Carbon link: https://bit.ly/43Vo2AB

Create a new Carbon strategy

Boom. You're eligible to win USDC rewards based on the performance of your strategy

- -

This episode is brought to you by Thales.

Thales is an innovative digital options platform on Arbitrum and Optimism that gets you exposure to crypto assets in the simplest way possible. As simple as choosing UP or DOWN! Experience the simplicity and power of Thales by visiting https://thalesmarket.io/mtm_campaign=blockworks today!

- -

Resources

"The Goose" Twitter thread

https://twitter.com/punk6529/status/1669733924317143042

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Trading Crypto's Reflexive Markets and Mispriced Volatility | 1000x Jun 24, 2023

In today's episode of 1000x, Jonah and Avi discuss markets and how to trade crypto's mispriced volatility. We cover options strategies, how to evaluate the GBTC trade, why alts look dead, the bifurcation of crypto, if traders can pre-position telegraphed events and more!

We'll drop a new 1000x episode on Empire's RSS feed and the 1000x YouTube channel every two weeks. Hit the links below and give us a follow!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:04) How to Spot Mispriced Volatility

(16:34) Evaluating the GBTC Trade

(24:13) Blackrock’s BTC ETF Filing

(28:02) What’s Going on with Alts?

(33:02) The Bifurcation of Crypto

(38:40) Reflexivity and Macro Bullishness

(41:52) Pre-Positioning Telegraphed Events

(44:25) Miners are Pivoting to AI

- -

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3FuSarX

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources:

Golden Tree

https://www.goldentree.com/

Cumberland

https://cumberland.io/

https://twitter.com/CumberlandSays

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How BTC's Rally Could Kickstart Crypto's Flywheel | Bell Curve Jun 23, 2023

In today's episode, the fellas discuss what a Blackrock BTC ETF would mean for crypto, why you should watch BTC's dominance, if NFTs will make a comeback, Binances L2 and more!

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:24) BTC ETF Filings & The Clash of Narratives

(24:33) “Valora Ad”

(25:31) Who Will Trade on EDX Markets?

(33:11) SAP’s Announcement: Cross-Border USDC Payments

(40:49) The Ethscriptions Thesis

(45:46) Will NFTs Make a Comeback?

(52:02) Binance’s L2 Announcement

- -

Follow Michael: https://twitter.com/im_manderson

https://blogs.sap.com/2023/06/15/cross-border-payments-made-easy-with-digital-money-experience-the-future-today/

Follow Vance: https://twitter.com/pythianism

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3R1D1D9

Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3pQTfmD

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3cpKZXH

- -

This episode is brought to you by Valora. Valora is a self-custody, mobile-first wallet... and the easiest way to send, swap, collect and purchase digital goods on the Celo blockchain. Download the app and start exploring today at valoraapp.com/empire.

- -

Resources:

SAP USDC blog post

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Bell Curve or Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Mike, Jason, Michael, Vance and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How to Discover Crypto's Next Narrative Using Onchain Activity | Icebergy Jun 20, 2023

00:00 Icebergy's Crypto Story

4:23 Finding Narratives from On-Chain Activity

11:17 Trading Tokens in Solana's Eco

14:24 Why Trade in Crypto vs Traditional Markets?

18:12 DeFi’s Underperformance

22:19 Evolving Investment Styles and Frameworks

40:39 Thales Ad

41:35 Carbon Ad

43:14 Inter-Rollup Competition

48:53 The Most Understood Thing in Crypto

50:26 What Could Revitalize DeFi?

58:12 Web3 Social Media and Social tokens

01:07:17 Why We Crypto

Uniswap v4: The Start of a DeFi Super App Jun 16, 2023

In today’s episode, the team debates the launch of Uniswap v4! We explore the details of Uniswap v4, what this means for the future of Curve and other AMMs, as well as looking at the fee switch debate and how the industry could look to implement an interoperability standard.

--

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(04:13) Uniswap’s Origin Story and Product Journey

(12:19) “Valora Ad”

(13:14) Uniswap v4: The Design and Opportunity

(32:58) How Will This Impact Curve and Other AMMs?

(36:15) Should Uniswap Launch an AppChain?

(41:00) The Fee Switch Debate

(44:05) Did Uniswap Copy-Pasta?

(47:15) Crypto Needs an Interoperability Standard

(55:04) Liquidity Migration from v3 to v4

--

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Ren: https://twitter.com/RebeccaRettig1

Follow EffortCapital: https://twitter.com/EffortCapital

Follow Purplepill: https://twitter.com/purplepill3m

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Valora. Valora is a self-custody, mobile-first wallet... and the easiest way to send, swap, collect and purchase digital goods on the Celo blockchain. Download the app and start exploring today at valoraapp.com/empire.

- -

Resources:

Article on Uniswap’s history:

https://blog.uniswap.org/uniswap-history

Hyperstructure article:

https://jacob.energy/hyperstructures.html

Cosmos episode:

https://spoti.fi/3NbI0Ax

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Policy Series: It's Time To Go On Offense | Rebecca Rettig, Jake Chervinsky Jun 14, 2023

Today we are joined by Rebecca Rettig and Jake Chervinsky to discuss the SEC's attack on crypto and how the industry needs to respond. Rebecca and Jake explore the SEC lawsuits, the McHenry-Thompson Bill, their expected US regulation timeline, DC's sentiment and more! Regulation and policy are becoming must-know topics for crypto participants, and this is your go-to source for everything you need to know. This is the second episode in an ongoing regulatory and policy series with Jake and Rebecca!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:53) The SEC Lawsuits: What’s Next?

(10:53) “Chainalysis Ad”

(11:57) The SEC Lawsuits: What’s Next?

(16:02) We Need a Use Case to Show Regulators

(21:06) The McHenry-Thompson Bill

(38:23) Unprecedented Action by the SEC

(45:47) MiCA, Global Legislation and the US’s Timeline

(54:10) Non-Custodial Tax Reporting

(56:18) DC's Sentiment: FTX Still Lingers

- -

Follow Rebecca: https://twitter.com/RebeccaRettig1

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Chainalysis. Chainalysis is the blockchain data platform. We provide data, software, services, and research to government agencies, web3 companies, financial institutions, and insurance and cybersecurity companies. Our data powers investigation, compliance, and business intelligence software that has been used to solve some of the world’s most high-profile criminal cases. For more information, visit www.Chainalysis.com/empire.

- -

Resources:

The Blockchain Association

https://polygon.technology/

Polygon

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Why Our Investment Thesis Hasn't Changed | Avichal Garg, Haseeb Qureshi Jun 13, 2023

Today we are joined by Avichal Garg and Haseeb Qureshi to explain their investment frameworks and why their crypto thesis hasn't changed. We talk about the US crypto exodus, mental models for investing, why TAM (total addressable market) is useless, investing in private vs public markets, what crypto got wrong and more!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) The SEC, Binance and Coinbase: We Ripped the Bandaid Off

(09:38) How Does This Affect Your Investment Decisions?

(17:00) Mental Models for Investing

(20:44) Value Creation vs Value Capture

(23:33) Why TAM is Meaningless

(28:19) Crypto’s Most Important Applications

(31:06) How to Evaluate a Projects Potential

(35:15) Bullish Decentralized vs Centralized Projects?

(43:48) Thales ad

(44:44) Carbon Ad

(46:26) The Investment Environment, Layoffs and Shrinking Runways

(01:06:01) Startups vs Liquid Tokens

(01:11:38) What Crypto Got Wrong

(01:16:53) Value Accrual: Should Protocols Flip the Fee Switch?

- -

Follow Avichal: https://twitter.com/avichal

Follow Haseeb: https://twitter.com/hosseeb

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Carbon. Carbon is a new DEX on Ethereum that makes concentrated liquidity easy. LPs can automate their liquidity strategy with custom on-chain limit and range orders: all from a beautiful UI.

Don't miss out on Carbon's "ROI Trading Competition" that's live until July 11! Here’s how to play:

Click this Carbon link: https://bit.ly/43Vo2AB

Create a new Carbon strategy

Boom. You're eligible to win USDC rewards based on the performance of your strategy

- -

This episode is brought to you by Thales.

Thales is an innovative digital options platform on Arbitrum and Optimism that gets you exposure to crypto assets in the simplest way possible. As simple as choosing UP or DOWN! Experience the simplicity and power of Thales by visiting https://thalesmarket.io/?mtm_campaign=blockworks today!

- -

Resources

Electric Capital

https://www.electriccapital.com/

https://twitter.com/ElectricCapital

Dragonfly

https://www.dragonfly.xyz/

https://twitter.com/dragonfly_xyz

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The SEC's Attack On Crypto: Binance Stumbles, Coinbase Fights Back | Roundup Jun 09, 2023

In today's episode, Jason and Santiago discuss the SEC's attack on crypto. We discuss the differences between the Coinbase and Binance lawsuits, tokens as securities, how regulation will impact US crypto innovation and more. We also discuss Louis Vuitton's new NFTs, Arbitrum FUD and the Apple Vision Pro!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:12) The SEC Oversteps: Binance and Coinbase

(42:41) “Valora Ad”

(43:35) Louis Vuitton Launches Soul Bound NFTs

(52:25) Arbitrum Bug, Apple Vision Pro & Recommendations

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

https://twitter.com/adamscochran/status/1666473028610408450?s=20

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Valora. Valora is a self-custody, mobile-first wallet... and the easiest way to send, swap, collect and purchase digital goods on the Celo blockchain. Download the app and start exploring today at valoraapp.com/empire.

- -

Resources

Binance employee chatlogs

Fundamental Difference’ Between SEC’s Binance, Coinbase Suits

https://blockworks.co/news/coinbase-binance-suits-different

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Mike Novogratz on Crypto's Outlook, Trading & Storytelling | 1000x Jun 08, 2023

In today's episode of 1000x, we are joined by Mike Novogratz, legendary trader and founder of Galaxy Digital. We talk about how Mike built an intuition for markets, how to synthesize trades, crypto's outlook, macro policy expectations, Mike's favorite trade and more!

We'll drop a new 1000x episode on Empire's RSS feed and the 1000x YouTube channel every two weeks. Hit the links below and give us a follow!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:55) Developing an Intuition for Markets

(03:25) How to Synthesize Trading Opportunities

(07:17) Trading Crypto vs Macro: Similarities and Differences

(11:42) Maintaining Conviction in Crypto

(18:27) Crypto’s Most Interesting Opportunities

(20:51) The Relationship Between BTC and Monetary/Fiscal Policy

(30:41) Retail Adoption: Crypto Needs More Storytellers

(37:19) Why Mike Started Galaxy

(39:40) Favorite Trade of All Time

(42:37) When to Sell vs Hold

(48:22) Investing in Your Community and Making an Impact

- -

Follow Mike: https://twitter.com/novogratz

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3FuSarX

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources:

Golden Tree

Cumberland

https://twitter.com/CumberlandSays

DRW

https://drw.com/

https://twitter.com/DRWTrading

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Sovereign Rollup Thesis & Inevitability of Modular Tech Stacks | Mustafa Al-Bassam (Celestia), Preston Evans (Sovereign) Jun 06, 2023

Today we are joined by Preston Evans and Mustafa Al-Bassam to discuss the sovereign rollup thesis. We discuss social vs technical sovereignty, the Sovereign SDK, why light clients are critical to scale, limitations of optimistic rollups, value accrual in a modular world and more!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Rollup Designs

(05:40) Social Sovereignty vs Technical Sovereignty

(09:58) Why Does the Rollup Debate Matter?

(18:09) Limitations of the EVM

(20:39) A Blockchains 3 Core Tasks

(24:21) Thales

(25:18) Security Guarantees & the Benefit for Users

(32:21) Modular Inevitability & Breaking the Layer One Loop

(42:34) Why Preston is Bearish on Optimistic Rollups

(46:00) Value Accrual and Moats

(53:40) Sovereign’s Alpha Release & Celestia’s Mainnet Incoming

- -

Follow Preston: https://twitter.com/prestonevans__

Follow Mustafa: https://twitter.com/musalbas

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Thales. Thales is an innovative digital options platform on Arbitrum and Optimism that gets you exposure to crypto assets in the simplest way possible. As simple as choosing UP or DOWN! Experience the simplicity and power of Thales by visiting https://thalesmarket.io/?mtm_campaign=blockworks today!

- -

Resources

Celestia

https://celestia.org/

https://twitter.com/CelestiaOrg

Sovereign

https://www.sovereign.xyz/

https://twitter.com/sovereign_labs

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Santi Announces He's Building A Crypto Bank | Roundup Jun 02, 2023

In today's episode, Jason and Santiago discuss their outlook on the bear market, why Lido FUD is overblown, Animoca's red flags to watch, the SEC's show of weakness and Santi's big announcement (he's building a new crypto bank!).

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:38) Why This Bear Market Seems So Dark

(13:47) Santi Announces He's Building a Crypto Bank

(24:54) “Valora Ad”

(25:49) Lido FUD

(33:34) Animoca's Red Flags

(43:16) The SEC Shows Weakness

(47:53) Book/Show Recommendations

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

https://www.animocabrands.com/

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Valora. Valora is a self-custody, mobile-first wallet... and the easiest way to send, swap, collect and purchase digital goods on the Celo blockchain. Download the app and start exploring today at valoraapp.com/empire.

- -

Resources:

Animoca

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

MakerDAO's Endgame: The Boldest Gamble in Crypto History | Rune Christensen May 31, 2023

Today we are joined by Rune Christensen to discuss MakerDAO's Endgame. The Endgame is MakerDAO's roadmap to create the world's most widely used stablecoin. We discuss how Maker has evolved since 2015, MKR's underperformance, the 5 phases of the Endgame, what could go wrong and more!

- -

Timestamps:

00:00 MakerDAO's History: From Creation to Today

08:51 Codifying Rules to Scale

19:36 MKR’s Underperformance vs DAI’s Growth

24:36 Quicknode

26:25 Phase 1: Rebranding, New Tokens, Farming

37:37 Phase 2: SubDAOs, RWA Collateral & Tokenomics

55:59 Phase 3: Implementing AI

01:01:20 Phase 4 & 5: Voting Rewards and a Special Purpose Blockchain

01:05:40 The Bear Case

01:10:10 Allocator DAOs and Internalizing Value

- -

Follow Rune: https://twitter.com/RuneKek

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Quicknode. QuickNode is an end-to-end blockchain developer platform that makes building Web3 apps easy. Go to QuickNode.com and use code Empire for a free month on their feature-packed Build Plan!

- -

Resources

The Endgame Plan parts 1&2 (May 2022)

https://forum.makerdao.com/t/the-endgame-plan-parts-1-2/15456

The 5 phases of Endgame (May 2023)

https://forum.makerdao.com/t/the-5-phases-of-endgame/20830

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Solana's Metaplex Sparks Heated Protocol Funding Debate | Roundup May 26, 2023

In today's episode, we discuss how Metaplex, Solana's leading NFT infrastructure provider, surprised the community by announcing usage fees, causing a heated debate on public goods funding and protocol business models. We also explore the intersection of AI and crypto, the dangers of restaking, if crypto has PMF and Ledger's PR nightmare!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:57) Nvidia and AI Take Center Stage

(14:20) Metaplex: Public Goods and Protocol Funding

(31:26) “Valora Ad”

(32:24) Should ETH Embrace Restaking?

(38:28) Ledger’s PR Nightmare

(49:32) Does Crypto Have PMF?

(58:01) Fred Wilson: “When They Want to Shut Down, Double Down”

(1:04:41) What We’re Watching and Blockworks’ New Podcast

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

https://vitalik.ca/general/2023/05/21/dont_overload.html

Follow Garrett: https://twitter.com/GarrettHarper_

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

This episode is brought to you by Valora. Valora is a self-custody, mobile-first wallet and the easiest way to send, swap, collect and purchase digital goods on the Celo blockchain.

Try out Masa Prosperity Passport in Valora to claim your free 5+ character .celo domain and get additional rewards from Celo ecosystem partners. Download the app and start exploring today at valoraapp.com/empire."

- -

Resources:

EigenLayer episode (Empire)

https://spoti.fi/45yUdr6

Shared Sequencer episode (Empire)

https://spoti.fi/3MSIw7n

Vitalik's new article on restaking

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Mike, Jason, Michael, Vance and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How Don Wilson Built His Trading Empire | 1000x May 25, 2023

In today's episode of 1000x, we are joined by Don Wilson, the founder of DRW and one of the world's most successful traders. Don explains how to use probability distributions to make decisions, how he founded DRW, why BTC has negative convexity, how AI will change financial markets and more!

We'll drop a new 1000x episode on Empire's RSS feed and the 1000x YouTube channel every two weeks. Hit the links below and give us a follow!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:57) How Don First Became a Trader

(06:28) Custom Valuation Models and Strategies

(10:37) The Transition to Electronic Trading

(14:56) Bitcoin’s Appeal: Removing Intermediaries

(19:21) Cumberland's Origin Story

(21:15) BTC's Negative Convexity

(26:35) How Will AI Impact Financial Markets?

(30:16) Crypto’s Evolution and Market Structure

(35:15) When Will RWAs Move to Crypto Rails?

(37:50) Today’s Infrastructure Shortfalls and the Canton Blockchain

(42:54) Don’s Decision-Making Process

(47:51) Favorite Trades of All Time

- -

Follow Don: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donwilsonjr/

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3FuSarX

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Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources:

Golden Tree

https://www.goldentree.com/

Cumberland

https://cumberland.io/

https://twitter.com/CumberlandSays

DRW

https://drw.com/

https://twitter.com/DRWTrading

Digital Asset

https://www.digitalasset.com/

Canton Network

https://www.canton.network/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Should Bitcoin Embrace New Use Cases? | Lyn Alden, Jordi Alexander May 23, 2023

Today we are joined by Lyn Alden and Jordi Alexander to discuss the Bitcoin blockspace debate, Bitcoin's long-term security and money vs tech crypto. Lyn and Jordi are two of the most prominent macro and Bitcoin investors. You don't want to miss their hot (and often conflicting) takes on the evolution and future of Bitcoin!

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Bitcoin Blockspace Debate

(10:59) The Bear Case and Long-Term Security

(36:03) Quicknode

(37:50) Kwenta

(38:45) Money Crypto vs Tech Crypto

(51:53) Bitcoin's Attack Vectors

(57:56) Incentives for Bitcoin Development

(01:09:29) Macro’s Impact on BTC

(01:14:45) The Bitcoin Halvening

- -

Follow Lyn: https://twitter.com/LynAldenContact

Follow Jordi: https://twitter.com/gametheorizing

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Quicknode. QuickNode is an end-to-end blockchain developer platform that makes building Web3 apps easy. Go to QuickNode.com and use code Empire for a free month on their feature-packed Build Plan!

- -

This episode is brought to you by Kwenta, the premier derivatives trading platform on Optimism that offers deep liquidity, low fees and up to 50x leverage across 24+ assets. Go to Kwenta.io and start trading today!

- -

Resources

Lyn Alden's website

https://www.lynalden.com/

Selini Capital

https://www.selinicapital.com/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Should Protocols Share Revenue With Token Holders? | Roundup May 19, 2023

Jason’s traveling this week so we’ve dropped today’s Bell Curve episode in its place!

In today's episode, we discuss if protocols should distribute revenue to token holders. This debate was sparked by a Lido proposal for a token revenue share mechanism that now has all of Crypto Twitter debating the merits of revenue distribution, buyback and burn vs dividends, protocol treasuries and more. Tokenomics is a theme you can no longer ignore.

We also discuss roadblocks at Stacks (a Bitcoin scaling solution), the viability of Bitcoin's blockspace for arbitrary use cases and Tether's new BTC buying program.

- -

This episode is brought to you by Valora. Valora is the easiest way to send, swap, collect, and grow your crypto on the Celo blockchain. Download the app and start exploring dapps like

JumpTask today at valoraapp.com/empire. Sign up and use the code ‘HelloValora’ to get a 20% bonus after completing your first task in JumpTask!

- -

Resources

Lido revenue share proposal

https://research.lido.fi/t/proposal-introducing-ldo-staking/4636

Hasu's Lido response

https://research.lido.fi/t/proposal-introducing-ldo-staking/4636/25?u=hasu

Alex's SNX thread

https://twitter.com/thiccythot_/status/1659278056035348485

0xResearch hosted by Dan and Sam

https://spoti.fi/3NlP1hA

https://apple.co/3SNhUEt

- -

Follow Dan: https://twitter.com/smyyguy

Follow Sam: https://twitter.com/swmartin19

Follow Mike: https://twitter.com/MikeIppolito_

Follow Myles: https://twitter.com/MylesOneil

Follow Bell Curve: https://twitter.com/thebellcurvepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3R1D1D9

Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3pQTfmD

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3cpKZXH

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Bell Curve is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Mike, Jason, Michael, Vance and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Why Proof-of-Humanity Matters in an AI Future | Alex Blania May 16, 2023

Today we are joined by Alex Blania to discuss Worldcoin and its attempt to solve proof-of-humanity. ChatGPT and AI have hit the world by storm, making it harder to distinguish humanity from machine. In this episode, we discuss how proof of humanity is necessary in an AI-driven world, why Worldcoin uses biometric data and crypto rails, how privacy concerns are mitigated, questions around UBI, and how Worldcoin will be crypto's largest onboarding catalyst over the next 12 months.

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Timestamps:

(01:26) The Origin Story

(06:39) How AI Impacts Proof-of-Humanity

(11:24) Why Biometrics and the Orb

(19:37) Data and Privacy Concerns

(26:01) Related Government Experiments

(30:07) Why Should People Care About Proof-of-Humanity

(32:38) Quicknode ad

(34:23) Kwenta ad

(35:21) The Crypto Tech Stack

(40:02) Biggest Challenges, Success Metrics and Revenue Model

(46:37) Criticisms and Reactions from Governments

(49:37) Universal Basic Income

(52:16) Scary Vibes and Removing Trust

- -

Follow Alex: https://twitter.com/alexblania

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Quicknode. QuickNode is an end-to-end blockchain developer platform that makes building Web3 apps easy. Go to QuickNode.com and use code Empire for a free month on their feature-packed Build Plan!

- -

This episode is brought to you by Kwenta, the premier derivatives trading platform on Optimism that offers deep liquidity, low fees and up to 50x leverage across 24+ assets. Go to Kwenta.io and start trading today!

- -

Resources

Worldcoin

https://worldcoin.org/

https://twitter.com/worldcoin

Sam Altman

https://twitter.com/sama

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How to Value Crypto Tokens: Fees, Flows or Fugazi | Roundup May 12, 2023

In today's episode, we discuss frameworks for valuing crypto projects. The fellas debate token buybacks vs dividends, fundamentals vs flows, protocol revenue vs supply-side revenue and how these factors impact investor valuation frameworks. We also explore activist crypto investing, jaredfromsubway's MEV strategy and more.

Santi's out so it's Jason with the Bell Curve crew today!

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:16) Activist Investing: Aragon DAO

(13:51) Will TradFi Have a Luna Moment?

(20:22) How to Value Tokens

(33:23) “Valora Ad”

(34:19) Uniswap's Fee Switch & the Changing Liquidity Landscape

(45:55) How Jared fromsubway.eth Eats Everyone’s MEV Lunch

--

Follow Michael: https://twitter.com/im_manderson

https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/Blockworks/236ee9e8-f4ea-47ac-9eb6-f95a44d6c93b

Follow Vance: https://twitter.com/pythianism

Follow Bell Curve: https://twitter.com/thebellcurvepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3R1D1D9

Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3pQTfmD

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3cpKZXH

- -

Resources:

Blockworks Podcast Producer application

Arbitrum proposal

https://forum.arbitrum.foundation/t/distribution-of-dao-revenue-to-arb-token-holders/14412

Uniswap proposal

https://gov.uniswap.org/t/making-protocol-fees-operational/21198

Robert Miller MEV thread

https://twitter.com/bertcmiller/status/1656392876438462464

Relay Scan

https://www.relayscan.io/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire or Bell Curve is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Mike, Jason, Michael, Vance and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Meme Mania: Why You Should Pay Attention | 1000x May 11, 2023

In this episode, Avi and Jonah discuss Bitcoin's outlook and recent meme coin mania. We start with a discussion on Bitcoin and if bank failures are priced in, what it will take for BTC to break past the 30K range and if institutions are buying. Avi and Jonah then debate if we'll ever see 2021s perfect storm again. Meme coins are pumping, blockspace demand is saturated, and market sentiment is shifting. Is this a market turning point or just a short-term phenomenon? Tune in to find out!

We'll drop a new 1000x episode on Empire's RSS feed and the 1000x YouTube channel every two weeks. Hit the links below and give us a follow!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:32) Are Bank Failures Priced In?

(07:31) The Impact of a Potential US Default

(12:51) Repeating 2021’s Perfect Storm

(18:03) Meme Mania: Why You Should Pay Attention

(31:30) Deflationary ETH and Blockspace Fee Generation

(36:34) BTC Miner Revenue and BRC-20s

- -

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3FuSarX

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources:

Golden Tree

Cumberland

BRC-20.io

https://brc-20.io/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Justin Sun: Tron’s Vision, Liquidity Mining & Binance May 09, 2023

Today we are joined by Tron's founder, Justin Sun. Justin describes Tron's role as the leading stablecoin network, USDT's falling market share, Huobi's competition with Binance, his potential acquisition of DCG's assets and more. You will be shocked to hear what dollar amounts Justin has staked in Lido and other DeFi protocols. Tune in to find out!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(00:56) Tron’s Vision

(04:25). Huobi: Competing with Binance

(07:44) The Threat of USDT’s Falling Market Share

(11:14) $56M TUSD Binance Transfer

(13:21) Quicknode Ad

(15:08) KWENTA Ad

(16:04) Yield Farming, Staking and Bribing Liquidity

(22:43) Tron’s Team, Acquisitions and DCG

(25:40) SEC vs TRX and Regulation

- -

Follow Justin: https://twitter.com/justinsuntron

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Quicknode. QuickNode is an end-to-end blockchain developer platform that makes building Web3 apps easy. Go to QuickNode.com and use code Empire for a free month on their feature-packed Build Plan!

- -

This episode is brought to you by Kwenta, the premier derivatives trading platform on Optimism that offers deep liquidity, low fees and up to 50x leverage across 24+ assets. Go to Kwenta.io and start trading today!

- -

Resources

Tron

https://tron.network/

Huobi

https://www.huobi.com/en-us/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Policy Series: Why The US Is Falling Behind | Rebecca Rettig, Jake Chervinsky May 08, 2023

Today we are joined by Rebecca Rettig and Jake Chervinsky to discuss the state of crypto regulation. Rebecca and Jake explain how the US is falling behind, the EU's MiCA regulation, the SEC's attack on Coinbase, Gary's false sense of control and the hottest crypto bills in DC. Regulation and policy are becoming must-know topics for crypto participants, and this is your go-to source for everything you need to know. This is the first episode in an ongoing regulatory and policy series with Jake and Rebecca!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:40) The State of Crypto Regulation

(02:36) Europe's MiCA Legislation

(11:10) “Chainalysis Ad”

(12:14) Coinbase’s Offshore Expansion

(14:11) The UK’s Approach and What’s Next for the EU

(19:07) Gary Gensler’s April Testimony

(22:45) Coinbase’s Fight with the SEC

(30:08) Warren Marshall Bill

(35:21) The US Policy Outlook

- -

Follow Rebecca: https://twitter.com/RebeccaRettig1

https://www.coinbase.com/blog/coinbase-responds-to-the-secs-wells-notice

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Chainalysis.

Chainalysis is the blockchain data platform. We provide data, software, services, and research to government agencies, web3 companies, financial institutions, and insurance and cybersecurity companies. Our data powers investigation, compliance, and business intelligence software that has been used to solve some of the world’s most high-profile criminal cases. For more information, visit www.Chainalysis.com/empire.

- -

Resources:

Coinbase's response to the SEC’s Wells notice

The Blockchain Association

https://polygon.technology/

Polygon

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Fellas Debate the Financialization of JPEGs | Bell Curve May 05, 2023

SPECIAL EPISODE: We decided to skip Empire's roundup this week and replace it with this epic roundup from Bell Curve! Bell Curve is our sister podcast that features Jason, Mike (Blockworks' other co-founder) and Vance + Michael from Framework Ventures.

In this episode of Bell Curve, the crew discusses Coinbase's earnings beat and Blur's new NFT lending product! Coinbase crushed revenue, meme coins are pumping and NFTFi is here. Is this all noise or have markets finally turned after the wild year? Tune in as we debate our market outlook, Blur and the financialization of NFTs, Curve's new crvUSD stablecoin, LST Summer and more!

- -

Timestamps:

00:00) Introduction

(02:54) Coinbase Earnings Predictions

(18:17) “Valora Ad”

(19:13) Blend: The Financialization of NFTs

(39:51) Protocol Stablecoins: crvUSD Launch

(50:34) Degens are Back

(53:34) ETH’s Economics: Burn vs Distribution

(57:32) Coinbase Beats Earnings and LST Summer

(1:07:26) Nate from OpenSea Convicted

- -

Follow Michael: https://twitter.com/im_manderson

https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz/status/1654179131171512320

Follow Vance: https://twitter.com/pythianism

Follow Bell Curve: https://twitter.com/thebellcurvepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3R1D1D9

Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3pQTfmD

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3cpKZXH

- -

This episode is brought to you by Valora. Valora is a self-custody, mobile-first wallet... and the easiest way to send, swap, collect and purchase digital goods on the Celo blockchain. Download the app and start exploring today at valoraapp.com/empire.

- -

Resources:

GovHub

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Bell Curve or Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Mike, Jason, Michael, Vance and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Blend: Unlock The Value of Your NFTs | Pacman, Blur May 03, 2023

Today we are joined by Pacman to discuss Blend, Blur's new perpetual NFT lending platform. Blend is peer-to-peer, doesn't require oracles and offers non-expiring loans. Pacman explains how these mechanics work, why Blend focuses on institutional liquidity provision, borrower liquidation risk and more! Blend could be the NFT primitive that ignites the next NFT run - you don't want to miss this one.

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:10) Blend: A Peer-to-Peer Lending Platform

(07:30) How Refinancing Auctions Work

(22:27) Institutional Liquidity Provision

(30:15) Strategies, Market Inefficiencies & Adding New Collections

(38:09) The Yield Curve and User Preferences

(45:28) Catering to Consumers vs Professionals

(52:44) Liquidation Coordination Risk

(55:36) Lending Incentives

(58:46) Blur’s Roadmap

(1:06:01) Infrastructure Unlocks Economic Value

- -

Follow Pacman: https://twitter.com/PacmanBlur

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Garrett: https://twitter.com/GarrettHarper_

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources:

Blur

https://blur.io/

https://twitter.com/blur_io

Blur Dune Dashboard

https://dune.com/beetle/blur-loans

Empire's first Blur episode

https://spoti.fi/3HxWgkK

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How Rollups Will Decentralize Their Sequencer | Josh Bowen, Ben Fisch May 02, 2023

Today we are joined by Josh Bown (Astria) and Ben Fisch (Espresso Systems) to discuss the role of shared sequencers in the modular future. Josh and Ben explain the risks of centralized sequencers, why rollups will use a shared sequencer and the core tradeoffs. What is the value proposition of a shared sequencer? How will MEV be allocated between rollups and sequencers? Why haven't rollups already decentralized their sequencer? We discuss these questions and more in this epic conversation!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(04:27) The Role of a Sequencer

(11:24) The Risks of Centralized Sequencers

(20:13) Using the L1 as the Sequencer

(23:12) Why Use a Shared Sequencer?

(34:56) Quicknode

(36:43) Kwenta

(37:40) The Tradeoffs

(40:35) Who will be the Sequencers?

(45:23) The AWS Analogy

(50:27) Economic Capture and Allocation Challenges

(58:28) How Block Times Impact Shared Sequencing

(01:01:12) Competition

(01:05:04) Restaking Risk and Timelines

- -

Follow Josh: https://twitter.com/Jskybowen

Follow Ben: https://twitter.com/benafisch

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Quicknode. QuickNode is an end-to-end blockchain developer platform that makes building Web3 apps easy. Go to QuickNode.com and use code Empire for a free month on their feature-packed Build Plan!

- -

This episode is brought to you by Kwenta, the premier derivatives trading platform on Optimism that offers deep liquidity, low fees and up to 50x leverage across 24+ assets. Go to Kwenta.io and start trading today!

- -

Resources

Espresso Systems

https://www.espressosys.com/

https://twitter.com/EspressoSys

Astria

https://www.astria.org/

https://twitter.com/AstriaOrg

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Why Santi Bought SOL | Roundup Apr 28, 2023

In today's episode, Jason and Santiago discuss why Santi is bullish on Solana. We start with a debate on how low liquidity creates wild volatility, BTC's correlation to the S&P and if shared sequencers are overhyped. This leads to a conversation on the MadLads mint, Santi's allocation to the Solana ecosystem, Circle's CCTP launch and more!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:38) Low Liquidity Side Effects

(06:42) First Republic Bank & BTC's S&P Correlation

(019:46) “Valora Ad”

(20:45) Shared Sequencer Hype

(30:00) MadLads Mint

(34:01) Why Santi is Bullish on Solana

(41:45) “Crypto is Dead”

(44:16) Base’s Adoption, Franklin Templeton & CCTP launch

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/Blockworks/adb7324a-0635-4dbc-ac40-aec73474daad

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Valora. Valora is a self-custody, mobile-first wallet... and the easiest way to send, swap, collect and purchase digital goods on the Celo blockchain. Download the app and start exploring today at valoraapp.com/empire.

- -

Resources:

1000x Episode

https://spoti.fi/41VjYPU

Frank Templeton fund

https://bit.ly/446T09Q

Director of Podcasts application

Empire Multicoin episode

https://spoti.fi/3AxlrQP

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Return of Retail: Where's The Fast Money? | 1000x Apr 27, 2023

1000x is officially back! If you're new here, 1000x is a crypto markets podcast by professional traders Avi Felman and Jonah Van Bourg. We bring on experts to dive deep into the macro and micro factors that represent the lifeblood of digital money and web3.

In this episode, Avi and Jonah discuss how markets responded to the banking crash, what catalysts are on the horizon and where prices will trend next. Where was retail in the last rally? What catalysts could revive BTC? What metrics should you watch for the next Alt L1 narrative? Tune in to find out!

We'll drop a new 1000x episode on Empire's RSS feed and the 1000x YouTube channel every two weeks. Hit the links below and give us a follow!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:36) Market Outlook: Retail Didn’t Show Up

(08:06) The Mystery BTC Buyer

(13:01) Event-Driven Price Movements

(18:47) The Debt Ceiling Opportunity

(27:22) Pepe, Shiba & New Money

(31:57) The AppChain Thesis and Alt L1s

(40:37) Crypto: 24/7 Dopamine

(44:04) Moving Beyond the Casino Use Case

- -

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3FuSarX

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources:

Golden Tree

Cumberland

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Doodles: The Pixar of Web3 | Julian Holguin Apr 25, 2023

Today we are joined by Julian Holguin, the CEO of Doodles. Julian reveals how Doodles is creating an IP powerhouse that will become the Pixar of Web3. The OG Doodles NFT collection is just the tip of the iceberg (their "Toy Story"), with even more exciting things to come.

In this episode, Julian explains the power of combining narrative with technology, Doodles' business plan and collaboration with global brands, the secret to community content creation, Doodles' growth strategy and more! You won't want to miss this inside look at one of the most captivating NFT/IP houses in Web3!

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:26) Doodles Origin Story

(08:44) Julian’s Digital Media Background

(15:41) Building the Pixar of Web3

(20:09) Why Leverage NFTs?

(23:47) The Impact of Doodle’s Floor Price

(27:16) Quicknode

(29:04) Synthetix

(30:43) The Business Model

(39:29) Collaborations with Global Brands

(44:32) Why Choose Flow for Doodles 2?

(51:12) Scarcity, Utility and Community Content Creation

(58:49) The Doodle Bank

(01:04:46) Doodle’s Audience and Value Accrual

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Follow Julian: https://twitter.com/jholguin

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Quicknode. QuickNode is an end-to-end blockchain developer platform that makes building Web3 apps easy. Go to QuickNode.com and use code Empire for a free month on their feature-packed Build Plan!

- -

This episode is brought to you by Synthetix. Synthetix Perps is the most efficient decentralized perpetual futures engine, with 5/10 bp fees and up to 25x leverage. With a growing list of over 20 tradable markets, Synthetix Perps are available on Optimism via Kwenta.io and Polynomial.fi, with more coming soon! As a permissionless liquidity layer, Synthetix makes it easy for any protocol to integrate perps and earn 5%-10% of trade fees.

- -

Resources

Doodles

https://doodles.app/

https://twitter.com/doodles

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Gary Gensler’s Crypto Crusade | Roundup Apr 21, 2023

In today's episode, Jason and Santiago discuss Gary Gensler's crypto crusade. The SEC Chair has continually attacked crypto and revealed this week that... he has never owned or interacted with any "digital asset". We debate Garry's comments from this week's committee meeting, if regulators are pushing companies like Coinbase out of the US and why we remain optimistic.

We also cover Flashbot's new MEV Share protocol, an ongoing mystery wallet exploit, the meme coin craze and more!

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(05:06) Gary Gensler: An Anti-Crypto Cruade

(20:32) “Valora Ad”

(21:26) Coinbase's Global Expansion

(28:27) Flashbots Launches MEV Share

(30:00) On-Going Mystery Wallet Exploit

(39:49) Meme Coins, MEV & Jared from Subway

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Valora. Valora is a self-custody, mobile-first wallet... and the easiest way to send, swap, collect and purchase digital goods on the Celo blockchain. Download the app and start exploring today at valoraapp.com/empire.

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

L2s Won’t Scale Ethereum | Multicoin Apr 18, 2023

Although our guests this week are managing partners of a registered investment adviser, nothing in this podcast is investment, tax, legal or other financial advice.

In this episode of Empire, Kyle Samani and Tushar Jain of Multicoin join us in their first public discussion since the fall of FTX and Solana's crash. We start with a detailed discussion about Multicoin's relationship with SBF and FTX: how they met, their views on SBF, watching the blow-up and the implications for Multicoin's fund.

Kyle and Tushar then explain why they are still betting big on Solana, why most funds don't earn excess returns, how L2s offer false security, why defi isn't ready yet, prioritizing speed of security and more! Prediction: This will be the best episode of 2023.

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:37) SBF and FTX Backstory

(15:48) Multicoin’s Solana Bet

(23:04) Quicknode

(24:51) Synthetix

(26:34) Conviction, Sizing and Earning Excess Returns

(33:43) The Intersection of AI and Crypto

(42:15) Why DeFi Isn’t Ready

(45:50) Decentralized Sequencers and the EVM

(52:51) Poritizing Speed and L2 [False] Security

(01:01:33) Multicoin’s Bet on Filecoin

(01:08:47) BTC and the SoV Use Case

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Follow Kyle: https://twitter.com/KyleSamani

Follow Tushar: https://twitter.com/TusharJain_

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Quicknode. QuickNode is an end-to-end blockchain developer platform that makes building Web3 apps easy. Go to QuickNode.com and use code Empire for a free month on their feature-packed Build Plan!

- -

This episode is brought to you by Synthetix. Synthetix Perps is the most efficient decentralized perpetual futures engine, with 5/10 bp fees and up to 25x leverage. With a growing list of over 20 tradable markets, Synthetix Perps are available on Optimism via Kwenta.io and Polynomial.fi, with more coming soon! As a permissionless liquidity layer, Synthetix makes it easy for any protocol to integrate perps and earn 5%-10% of trade fees.

- -

Resources

Multicoin Capital

https://multicoin.capital/

https://twitter.com/MulticoinCap

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Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

ETH's Shapella Upgrade: Bull vs Bear | Roundup Apr 14, 2023

In today's episode, Jason and Santiago discuss the bull vs bear case for ETH's Shapella upgrade. Since December 2021, ETH staking was one way. You could stake your ETH, but it was locked until the Shapella upgrade finally arrived. Shapella is here, and ETH is unlocked for the first time! Does this mean a giant supply of ETH sell pressure will hit the market? Will institutions embrace ETH now that Ethereum's roadmap is de-risked? Tune in to find out!

We also discuss the NFT killer use case, Multicoin's L2 thesis and if the bear market has ended!

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(03:23) NFT NYC and the NFT Killer Use Case

(12:47) Shapella is Here

(26:04) “Valora Ad”

(27:10) Multicoin’s Thesis: Solana, L2s & Speed vs Security

(43:37) Is the Bear Market Over?

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Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

https://app.metrika.co/ethereum/dashboard/withdrawals-overview?tr=1d

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Valora. Valora is a self-custody, mobile-first wallet... and the easiest way to send, swap, collect and purchase digital goods on the Celo blockchain. Download the app and start exploring today at valoraapp.com/empire.

- -

Resources:

ETH Withdrawal Dashboard

ETH Staking Dashboard

https://dune.com/hildobby/eth2-staking

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Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

What DeFi Get’s Wrong About RWAs | Robert Leshner Apr 11, 2023

In this episode of Empire, Robert Leshner - founder of Compound Labs - joins us to discuss how DeFi will evolve in the wake of Operation Choke Point 2.0 and the coordinated effort to debank crypto. We discuss what this means for today's DeFi protocols, the end of the DeFi Mullet thesis and how teams will respond. Then we explore Robert's thoughts on why MakerDAO's RWA strategy is short-sighted, the stablecoin landscape, the AppChain thesis and more!

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Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:24 Operation Choke Point 2.0

07:24 Compound Treasury and the DeFi Mullet

11:19 The Return of DeFi?

16:09 BTC vs ETH

19:17 Building in the US vs Offshore

26:25 Real World Assets

28:52 Quicknode ad

30:38 Synthetix Ad

32:17 Stablecoin Landscape

39:48 The AppChain Thesis and Value Accrual

48:24 Reputation, Limit Orders and Security

- -

Follow Rob: https://twitter.com/rleshner

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Quicknode. QuickNode is an end-to-end blockchain developer platform that makes building Web3 apps easy. Go to QuickNode.com and use code Empire for a free month on their feature-packed Build Plan!

- -

This episode is brought to you by Synthetix. Synthetix Perps is the most efficient decentralized perpetual futures engine, with 5/10 bp fees and up to 25x leverage. With a growing list of over 20 tradable markets, Synthetix Perps are available on Optimism via Kwenta.io and Polynomial.fi, with more coming soon! As a permissionless liquidity layer, Synthetix makes it easy for any protocol to integrate perps and earn 5%-10% of trade fees.

- -

Resources

Compound

https://compound.finance/

Bell Curve, S4 Premiere: A Journey Into The Dark Forest

https://spoti.fi/3MpTjWH

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

ETH L2s Have The Same Flaws As Alt L1s | Roundup Apr 07, 2023

In today's episode, we debate Mike's tweet that Eth L2s have every feature Alt L1s are criticized for: centralized, downtime, opaque resource allocation and wild valuations. To get close to the metal, we compare Solana vs Arbitrum based on economics, network effects and future roadmap. If you listen to one conversation this week, this is it.

We also discuss Arbitrum's governance debacle, the value of protocol BD deals, a $25M MEV exploit, Euler's $200M recovery and Shanghai predictions!

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Folow Mike: https://twitter.com/MikeIppolito_

Follow Miles: https://twitter.com/MylesOneil

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Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is sponsored by Public.com. Put your cash to work in a Treasury Account on https://Public.com/empire and get access to a 5.3% yield today!

- -

This episode is brought to you by Valora. Valora is a self-custody, mobile-first wallet... and the easiest way to send, swap, collect and purchase digital goods on the Celo blockchain. Download the app and start exploring today at valoraapp.com/empire.

- -

Resources

Mike's Eth L2 vs Alt L1 debate tweet

https://twitter.com/mikeippolito_/status/1642262306712109057

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Cosmos SDK of Rollups | Preston Evans, Sovereign Labs Apr 05, 2023

Today's episode is a bonus episode from our podcast 0xResearch, produced by the Blockworks Research team. This is one of my favorite episodes they've done, a deep dive into the future of rollups, scaling and zk-tech. The first 15 minutes is the "analyst bullpen" segment on Arbitrum's recent governance debacle, followed by an interview with Preston Evans from Sovereign Labs (use the Timestamps if you want to skip ahead). If you enjoy this episode, follow the link in the show notes below to subscribe!

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Join us on 0xResearch as we interview Preston Evans, the Chief Scientist of Sovereign Labs. Why should you care about Sovereign? Because they're building the Sovereign SDK. Like the Cosmos SDK that enables modular plug-and-play experimentation for L1s, the Sovereign SDK is a modular toolkit for building zk-rollups on any chain with seamless composability. In this episode, we discuss how Sovereign's design compares to the Cosmos SDK and IBC, smart contract vs Sovereign rollups, the role of data availability, decentralized sequencer design and more! This is my favorite 0xResearch episode yet.

And as usual, we start the episode with our analyst bullpen to discuss the recent governance drama at Arbitrum!

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:45) Arbitrum's Governance Blunder

(15:04) Blockworks Research

(16:03) Interview Start: What is Sovereign?

(22:23) The Sovereign SDK vs Cosmos SDK

(23:59) Settlement on Smart Contract vs Sovereign Rollups

(28:14) The Role of Data Availability

(32:24) Decentralized Sequencers

(37:54) Optimistic Rollup Tradeoffs

(41:24) Composability and IBC

(52:22) What Is Sovereign’s X Factor?

(54:17) Building Rollups on Bitcoin

(59:11) Sovereign’s Business Model and Timeline

- -

Follow Preston: https://twitter.com/prestonevans__

Follow Westie: https://twitter.com/WestieCapital

Follow Dan: https://twitter.com/smyyguy

Follow Sam: https://twitter.com/swmartin19

Follow Purplepill: https://twitter.com/purplepill3m

Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/MattFiebach

Follow Blockworks Research: https://twitter.com/blockworksres

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3foDS38

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources:

Delegate ARB to Blockworks Research

https://twitter.com/blockworksres/status/1639279479368368132

Sovereign Labs

https://www.sovereign.xyz/

https://twitter.com/sovereign_labs

- -

Check out Blockworks Research today! Research, data, governance, tokenomics, and models – now, all in one place

Blockworks Research: https://www.blockworksresearch.com/

Free Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 0xResearch is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Dan, Sam, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Centralized Insanity: Kain Warwick, Synthetix Apr 04, 2023

In this episode of Empire, we are joined by Kain Warwick, founder of Synthethix and crypto OG. Kain explains the concept of centralized insanity and how crypto is finally ready for the next bull cycle. We cover Synthetix's evolution, Ethereum's outlook, crypto infrastructure, what will cause the shift to decentralized products, DeFi's most important metric and more! Kain is one guest you won't want to miss!

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:18) DeFi Summer 2020

(05:29) The Synthetix Evolution

(09:29) Ethereum’s Outlook and Alt L1 Cycles

(23:25) A Shift From Infra to Apps

(27:47) Quicknode Ad

(29:34) Synthetix Ad

(31:13) Centralized vs Decentralized Trading

(36:20) Regulators are Stuck in the Past

(43:43) Future of Stablecoins

(47:08) Centralized Insanity, Base and DeFi Summer 2.0

(52:43) A Focus on Revenue

(01:01:30) Synthetix v3 and the Value of Composability

(01:18:34) Fire Round

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Follow Kain: https://twitter.com/kaiynne

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Quicknode. QuickNode is an end-to-end blockchain developer platform that makes building Web3 apps easy. Go to QuickNode.com and use code Empire for a free month on their feature-packed Build Plan!

- -

This episode is brought to you by Synthetix. Synthetix Perps is the most efficient decentralized perpetual futures engine, with 5/10 bp fees and up to 25x leverage. With a growing list of over 20 tradable markets, Synthetix Perps are available on Optimism via Kwenta.io and Polynomial.fi, with more coming soon! As a permissionless liquidity layer, Synthetix makes it easy for any protocol to integrate perps and earn 5%-10% of trade fees.

- -

Resources

Synthetix

https://synthetix.io/

https://twitter.com/synthetix_io

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Day DeFi Almost Died | Ben Forman Mar 31, 2023

Today we are joined by Ben Forman, one of the most prolific investors in crypto, to discuss the day DeFi almost died: Black Thursday. The industry was a few liquidations away from an extinction event. Tune in to hear the riveting story and how Black Thursday has shaped MakerDAO and crypto's development!

We also discuss why Ben believes RWAs and permissioned DeFi is the next narrative, Binance FUD, investing in private vs liquid markets, return dispersion, incoming regulation and more!

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:34) Binance FUD: Signal or Noise?

(07:36) Operation Choke Point 2.0

(11:19) Return Dispersion

(16:29) The Moment of Reckoning

(23:16) Base’s Market Impact

(26:16) Early Stage vs Liquid Market Investing

(38:35) MakerDAO’s Black Thursday Almost Killed DeFi

(45:50) “Valora Ad”

(46:50) The State of DeFi

(54:07) USDC, A Structural Reset and Regulation

(1:05:00) Tokenization of RWAs and Permissioned DeFi

(1:08:00) Key Learnings and Fire Round

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Valora. Valora is a self-custody, mobile-first wallet... and the easiest way to send, swap, collect and purchase digital goods on the Celo blockchain. Download the app and start exploring today at valoraapp.com/empire.

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Celo: An L1 Focused On Real World Use Cases | Marek Olszewski, Rene Reinsberg Mar 28, 2023

In this episode of Empire, I'm joined by Marek Olszewski and Rene Reinsberg to discuss how Celo is building an L1 focused on a mobile-first user experience and real-world use cases. We start with the Celo origin story and how Celo is building scalable tech while maintaining the focus on where it belongs: the user. Marek and Rene explain how Celo and Valora (Celo's wallet) provide the infrastructure used by local communities throughout the globe to provide real-world use cases for payments and restorative finance. We then explore Celo's partnership with Deutsche Telekom, why Celo is an L1 and not a rollup, the importance of on/off ramps and more!

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Follow Marek: https://twitter.com/marek_

Follow Rene: https://twitter.com/RegenRene

https://twitter.com/CeloOrg

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

Celo

https://celo.org/

Valora

https://valoraapp.com/about

https://twitter.com/Valora

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Morgan Stanley: Could A Banking Crisis Drive Adoption? Mar 27, 2023

In this episode of Empire, we are joined by Amy Oldenburg and Andrew Peel from Morgan Stanley to discuss how the banking crises will impact crypto's adoption. We start by exploring how far the banking crises will go, the similarities between today and 2008, and the market outlook. Amy and Andrew then explain how crypto is prime for adoption in a world that desperately needs new banking rails and an alternative store of value. We discuss institutional adoption, ETH vs BTC, why BTC just had its most important rally and more!

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Follow Amy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-oldenburg-395b09

Follow Andrew: https://twitter.com/andrewlpeel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Quicknode. QuickNode is an end-to-end blockchain developer platform that makes building Web3 apps easy. Go to QuickNode.com and use code Empire for a free month on their feature-packed Build Plan!

- -

Resources

Morgan Stanley

https://www.morganstanley.com/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Crypto's End Game: Coinbase vs the SEC | Roundup Mar 24, 2023

Crypto's timeline keeps getting more surreal and the SEC just added fuel to the fire by issuing a Wells Notice to Coinbase. In this episode, we explore the implications for Coinbase, BTC's opportunity and why crypto isn't going anywhere. This podcast will make you sweat it's so hot

We then discuss Arbitrum's airdrop, the wild Euler x Ronin hacker story, DeFi Llama drama and more. Tune in for this epic episode!

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(03:38) Coinbase receives SEC Wells Notice

(18:20) BTC’s path to mass adoption

(30:00) Self-custody, regulation & crypto’s staying power

(50:20) Abritrum’s airdrop

(50:29) Blockworks Research

(56:55) Wild Euler x Ronin hacker story

(1:00:35) DeFi Llama Drama

(1:03:37) Sushi subpoena, Do Kwon and Justin Sun

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

Bell Curve podcast

https://spoti.fi/42uqCxH

Blockworks' Grantfarm

https://blockworks.co/grantfarm

Arbitrum Airdrop dashboard by Blockworks Research

https://dune.com/blockworks_research/arb-airdrop

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Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

A Paradigm Shift: Chaos Fuels BTC’s Fire | Avi Felman, Jonah Van Bourg Mar 20, 2023

In this episode of Empire, Avi Felman and Jonah Van Bourg explain how macro and banking turmoil has ignited a market paradigm shift. Funds will be hunting for the assets that will perform well in this new paradigm, and it won't be bonds... Tune in as we discuss BTC's prime moment, why supply is the story of 2023, BTC vs ETH, the USDC depeg and more. If you listen to one Empire episode this year, this is it!

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:06) The market is consistently wrong

(07:24) A new paradigm and BTC's opportunity

(27:14) Bitcoin vs ETH vs Alts

(35:34) Quicknode

(37:19) The implications of USDC's depeg

(38:05) What other trades are you watching?

(45:27) Expected sources of leverage in the next cycle

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Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Quicknode. QuickNode is an end-to-end blockchain developer platform that makes building Web3 apps easy. Go to QuickNode.com and use code Empire for a free month on their feature-packed Build Plan!

- -

Resources

GoldenTree

https://www.goldentree.com/

Cumberland

https://cumberland.io/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Arbitrum Founders on L2 Competition | Steven Goldfeder, Harry Kalodne Mar 17, 2023

In this episode of Empire, we are joined by Steven Goldfeder and Harry Kalodner to discuss all things Arbitrum. We start with Coinbase's decision to leverage the OP Stack, where the "modular vision" falls apart and Arbitrum's core vision.

We then ask about Arbitrum's token strategy, which leads to a unique conversation around decentralized sequencers and MEV. Steven and Harry explain the design philosophy of Abritrum and how innovations like Styles (Rust is coming to Arbitrum) will onboard the next million developers!

Note: This episode was recorded prior to the ARB token and Orbit L3 announcement

- -

Follow Steven: https://twitter.com/sgoldfed

Follow Harry: https://twitter.com/hkalodner

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

Arbitrum

https://arbitrum.io/

https://twitter.com/arbitrum

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

$ARB Airdrop and Arbitrum's L3 Solution | Steven Goldfeder, Harry Kalodner Mar 17, 2023

Arbitrum just announced the $ARB token airdrop and their new L3 solution called Orbit! The L2 wars are now in full force. Tune in as we deep dive into Arbitrum's token and L3 strategy with Steven Goldfeder and Harry Kalodner!

PS: We are dropping a second Arbitrum episode this afternoon that covers fraud proofs, decentralizing sequencers, value capture and more. These are two banger episodes. Don't miss out!

- -

Follow Steven: https://twitter.com/sgoldfed

Follow Harry: https://twitter.com/hkalodner

https://twitter.com/arbitrum

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

Arbitrum

https://arbitrum.io/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Signature Bank's Demise: Who's Next? | Joseph Wang Mar 13, 2023

Signature and Silicon Valley Bank have collapsed. In this breaking news episode, hosts Jason Yanowitz and Jack Farley interview Joseph Wang to discuss the banking system failures and what to expect next. Joseph dives deep into the risk both banks took by not hedging interest rate risk, how this could have been avoided and whether other banks are in a similar position?

We then discuss if the Fed's Bank Term Funding Program was the right move? To hear all this and more, you'll have to tune!

- -

Follow Joseph: https://twitter.com/FedGuy12

Follow Jack: https://twitter.com/JackFarley96

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Follow Forward Guidance: https://twitter.com/ForwardGuidance

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is brought to you by Quicknode. QuickNode is an end-to-end blockchain developer platform that makes building Web3 apps easy. Go to QuickNode.com and use code Empire for a free month on their feature-packed Build Plan!

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Silvergate Liquidates, Coinbase Innovates [Again] | Roundup Mar 10, 2023

In today's episode of Empire, we start with Jason's big takeaways from ETH Denver. What was the vibe? What innovations are on the horizon? And most interesting, what crypto sector was conspicuously missing from the conversation?

We then discuss Silvergate's unwind, Coinbase's wallet announcement (bullish), Amazon NFT rumors, MakerDAO's 1.25B treasury proposal and more!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:33) ETH Denver Takeaways

(09:15) Silvergate Unwinds

(21:06) Coinbase's WaaS Announcement

(28:49) Amazon NFT Rumors

(33:07) Public.com

(34:29) GBTC & Legal Wins for Crypto

(40:24) MakerDAO Proposal to Buy $1.25B US Treasuries

(44:04) Bitcoin Innovations

(51:44) Predictions: Hong Kong, Bitcoin stablecoins, Coinbase

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

Silvergate Twitter thread

https://twitter.com/ramahluwalia/status/1633669035924529152

Empire episode with Eric Peters

https://spoti.fi/3yqRcdd

Empire episode with Rebecca Rettig

https://spoti.fi/3ynCF1Z

Empire episode with Muneeb Ali (Ordinals/Stacks)

https://spoti.fi/3L6xXgB

MakerDAO US Treasury proposal

https://bit.ly/3T4oqbF

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Dan Matuszewski's (CMS) Trading Playbook Mar 06, 2023

In this episode of Empire, we are joined by one of crypto's best traders: Dan Matuszewski. Dan is the founder of CMS, a crypto OG and a prolific trader/investor. We discuss upcoming catalysts, the Coinbase trade, punting on L1s vs L2s, lending markets, what it's like managing a crypto fund and more. This is one of my favorite conversations that you won't want to miss!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:35) Surviving FTX

(08:52) Market update and upcoming catalysts

(15:41) The industry is starved for action

(17:40) Deploying in private vs public markets

(21:50) Trading macro

(23:43) Is the lending market dead?

(27:02) Base and the Coinbase trade

(31:30) Punting L1s vs L2s

(34:10) Regulation

(41:25) Anything under a $50M fund doesn’t make sense

(44:11) Blockworks Research

(45:45) Anything under a $50M fund doesn’t make sense

(49:16) Fund sentiment, LSD trade and inefficient markets

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Follow Dan: https://twitter.com/cmsholdings

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

CMS Peary on LSDs

https://cmsholdings.substack.com/p/lsds-rocketpool

https://twitter.com/cmspeary

CMS Intern

https://twitter.com/cmsintern

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Ordinals Will Spark Bitcoin's Application Era | Muneeb Ali Mar 03, 2023

In this episode of Empire, Muneeb Ali, the founder of Stacks, joins us to discuss Bitcoin's sudden transformation. Until the last two months, Bitcoin was (perceived as) simply a store of value, a religion. However, Ordinals, a Bitcoin NFT project, has redirected the spotlight to Bitcoin’s underlying tech and utility - a technology that can support NFTs, DeFi and more. Muneeb provides his unique insights in this eye-opening episode!

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:53) Bitcoin is a technology, not a religion

(06:43) Building apps on Bitcoin

(12:36) Has Ordinals transformed Bitcoin’s future?

(24:42) Stacks and Bitcoin DeFi

(29:30) Blockworks Research

(31:04) Stacks and Bitcoin DeFi

(35:57) What will Bitcoin look like in 12 months?

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Follow Muneeb: https://twitter.com/muneeb

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

Empire's first-ever episode (with Muneeb)

https://tinyurl.com/4vnbxwkz

Stacks

https://www.stacks.co/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Liquid Staking: The Battle for Liquidity | cbETH, Rocketpool Feb 27, 2023

In this episode of Empire, Darren Langley (Rocketpool) and John Zettler (Coinbase) join us to discuss why liquid staking is taking over Ethereum. We start with the LSD landscape, how cbETH and Rocketpool approach product strategy, and Lido's dominance. Then we get into the real fun stuff. Darren and John explain the 2/3rd order effects of the Shanghai upgrade, how to drive on-chain liquidity, the evolving fee market and more. Liquid staking is poised to take over Ethereum - don’t miss out!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:45) The LSD market overview

(13:34) Rocketpool’s focus on decentralization

(16:44) Lido’s dominance

(19:59) Coinbase’s partnership with Rocketpool

(24:41) Shanghai predictions

(33:55) Blockworks Research

(40:55) A reshuffling of market share?

(46:18) Driving on-chain liquidity

(50:08) Fee markets and multi chain

(57:00) Future outlook

(1:02:44) Regulation

(1:08:48) LSDs on L2s

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Follow John: https://twitter.com/JohnZettler

Follow Darren: https://twitter.com/langerstwit

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Mike: https://twitter.com/MikeIppolito_

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

cbETH

https://help.coinbase.com/en/coinbase/trading-and-funding/staking-rewards/cbeth

Rocket Pool

https://rocketpool.net/

https://twitter.com/Rocket_Pool

Ethereum staking distribution dashboard

https://dune.com/hildobby/eth2-staking

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Coinbase’s Secret Master Plan | Roundup Feb 24, 2023

In today's episode of Empire, we discuss Coinbase's journey to become the default gateway to crypto with their new L2. Jason and Santi delve into Coinbase's secret master plan, the impact of Base on Arbitrum and Optimism and the current state of on-chain creativity. Warning: we are bullish.

We also cover the recent layoffs and reorgs at Polygon, the closure of Galois Capital, a new CBDC proposal and the misleading claims about Top Shot. Don't miss this episode, where we cover the top stories of the week!

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:53) On-chain creativity is at an all-time high

(07:04) Coinbase’s secret master plan

(39:28) Blockworks Research

(41:02) Trouble at Polygon?

(46:18) Security is the #1 priority

(50:02) Galois Capital shuts down

(53:37) Arbitrum, CBDCs and Top Shot

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Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

The Myth of The Infrastructure Phase

https://www.usv.com/writing/2018/10/the-myth-of-the-infrastructure-phase/

Empire's Base interview

https://spoti.fi/3KGUIau

The Coinbase Secret Master Plan

https://www.coinbase.com/blog/the-coinbase-secret-master-plan

Empire's Cosmos interview

https://spoti.fi/41y0xgK

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Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

NEWS: Coinbase launches L2 Feb 23, 2023

Breaking News: Coinbase is launching an L2 on Ethereum called Base!

Jesse and Will from Coinbase join us to discuss the news and paradigm shift for Coinbase. We explore why Coinbase is building Base, how Coinbase chose to use the OP tech stack, Base's value proposition, how Coinbase thinks about "competition" building on Base, if Base will have a token and more!

--

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:45) Base: Coinbase’s on-chain journey

(05:02) Why build Base?

(10:10) Leveraging the OP stack

(19:10) Why now?

(24:41) Base’s value proposition

(35:27) Controlling the stack

(41:10) Will Base have a token?

(44:05) Building a bridge, not an island

(46:54) What will Coinbase build on Base?

(51:05) What is Base’s business model?

(54:34) A culture shift and the on-chain future

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Follow Jesse: https://twitter.com/jessepollak

Follow Will: https://twitter.com/willrobinson23

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

The Coinbase Secret Master Plan

https://www.coinbase.com/blog/the-coinbase-secret-master-plan

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Blur Founder: Why Optimizing for Creators is a Bad Strategy Feb 21, 2023

In this episode of Empire, Pacman (Blur's founder) joins Jason and Santi to discuss how Blur, an NFT marketplace for professional traders, has revolutionized the NFT market. We discuss Blur's business strategy, vertical vs horizontal markets, the creator royalty debate, Blur vs OpenSea and more! This is one of my favorite episodes yet - Pacman is a giga brain.

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:50) Blur’s Unique Design and NFT Strategy

(09:23) Incentivizing Liquidity vs Volume

(21:30) Blockworks Research

(23:05) Thoughts on Uniswap's NFT Strategy

(31:40) OpenSea’s Response to Blur

(40:30) Blur’s Airdrop Strategy

(47:55) Navigating Regulations

(49:30) Creator Royalties

(56:00) Blur’s Market Unlock

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Follow Pacman: https://twitter.com/PacmanBlur

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

Blur

https://blur.io/

https://twitter.com/BlurCrypto

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Gary Swings at Crypto, While BLUR Soars | Roundup Feb 17, 2023

In today’s episode of Empire, we start with a deep regulatory discussion with Kristin Smith and Rebecca Rettig to explore Gary's attack on crypto. We cover the SEC's attack against Kraken and BUSD, tokens as securities, market implications, what to expect next and more!

Santi and Jason co-pilot the last 25 minutes to discuss Blur's airdrop, the battle for NFT market share, the L2 wars and Flashbots' new MEV-Share product. This episode covers everything you need to know from this wild week!

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:55) An attack on Stablecoins?

(06:34) Kraken and staking services

(10:22) Why is Gary gunning for crypto?

(14:09) The Implications and path forward

(27:37) What if tokens were deemed securities?

(32:30) Blockworks Research

(34:05) How should crypto companies respond?

(40:22) Regulation segment recap

(51:25) Blur's airdrop, OpenSea losing market share

(59:10) L2 Wars, Flashbots MEV-Share, Sushi Studios

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Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Kristin: https://twitter.com/KMSmithDC

Follow Rebecca: https://twitter.com/RebeccaRettig1

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

Blockchain Association

https://twitter.com/BlockchainAssn

Polygon

https://twitter.com/0xPolygon

Empire podcast with Rebecca Rettig and Jake Chervinsky

https://spoti.fi/3YTMfoh

Flasbots MEV-Share article

http://bit.ly/3S7g9TO

Categorizing different zk implementations (a Twitter thread)

https://twitter.com/pseudotheos/status/1622698514475061252?s=20

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Every Brand Will Have A Web3 Strategy | Camilla McFarland, Avery Akkineni Feb 13, 2023

In this episode of Empire, Camilla McFarland and Avery Akkineni discuss how the world's biggest brands will leverage Web3. Nike, Starbucks, Gucci and many others are already starting to build in crypto, and soon, every brand will have a Web3 strategy. Camilla and Avery explore how brands can leverage Web3 to build customer loyalty, customize user experiences and cater to a digitally-native community. This is one of my favorite episodes yet - it's stable stakes for anyone looking to build or grow a brand!

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:36) Defining the Web3 opportunity

(09:15) Why will brands embrace Web3?

(28:50) Blockworks Research

(30:21) How will brands participate?

(42:39) How NFTs enable tailored user experiences

(48:22) The Tech Stack: EVM dominance

(1:05:06) The 5 to 10 year vision

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Follow Camilla: https://twitter.com/camillionaire_m

Follow Avery: https://twitter.com/avery_akkineni

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

Vanyer3

https://vayner3.com/

Mojito

https://mojito.xyz/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Case for Sovereign Blockchains | Sunny Aggarwal, Dmitriy Berenzon Feb 10, 2023

There's a heated debate in crypto right now around AppChains and the modular vs monolithic paradigm. That's why we released this special episode today from our other favorite podcast, Bell Curve.

Sunny Aggarwal and Dmitriy Berenzon discuss how AppChains enable developers and protocols to customize consensus, cryptography, MEV rules, fees and more. But is this customization worth the fragmentation, start-up costs, lack of tooling and other challenges AppChains face? Tune in to find out!

And don't worry - we'll be back to the usual roundup with Jason and Santi next week!

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Timestamps

(00:00) A Note from Jason

(02:45) Intro: Pre-Interview

(05:15) The AppChain Thesis

(13:34) Reasons to Build an AppChain

(30:00) Blockworks Research ad

(31:33) The Downsides and Challenges

(46:22) What is Permissioned Blockspace?

(53:06) Cosmos vs Ethereum

(01:06:28) Solving Interoperability

(01:12:12) User Lock-in, Wallets

(1:18:00) Recap: Post-Interview

- -

Follow Myles: https://twitter.com/MylesOneil

https://dberenzon.medium.com/

Follow Sunny: https://twitter.com/sunnya97

Follow Dmitriy: https://twitter.com/dberenzon

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3R1D1D9

Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3pQTfmD

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3cpKZXH

- -

Resources:

Bell Curve podcast

https://spoti.fi/3JWqLmK

Dmitriy's blog

Osmosis

https://osmosis.zone/

1k(x)

https://1kx.network/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Bell Curve or Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Mike, Jason, Michael, Vance and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Frax: Building the DeFi Trinity | Sam Kazemian Feb 06, 2023

In this episode of Empire, Sam Kazemian joins Jason and Dan to discuss Frax's mission to build the most widely used stablecoins in DeFi. Sam starts by explaining how Frax has succeeded while other stable protocols have failed, why Frax is eyeing Fed deposits and the strategy behind the "DeFi Trinity". We then explore Frax's new ETH staking product, the stablecoin trilemma, and Sam drops a new product announcement (alpha leak). Don't miss this conversation with one of the brightest minds in DeFi!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:49) - Frax’s Mission

(04:41) - How Frax Thrived When Others Failed

(09:00) - Fed Deposits, Escaping Regulation and RWAs

(17:03) - Public ad

(18:53) - Creating Spot Demand and Monetary Premium

(26:00) - frxETH and sfrxETH Explained

(44:31) - Is Frax’s Focus too Broad?

(49:02) - The Stablecoin Trilemma

(54:00) - Alpha Leak

(55:46) - Update on Frax’s Multisig

- -

Follow Sam: https://twitter.com/samkazemian?lang=en

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Dan: https://twitter.com/smyyguy

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

This episode is sponsored by Public.com. Go to https://Public.com/empire to move your cash into a Treasury Account today.

- -

Resources

Frax

https://frax.finance/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Will Companies Survive the Funding Drought? | Roundup Feb 03, 2023

In today’s episode of Empire, we discuss how crypto startups are running out of cash. Will more companies quietly shut down, and how will the survivors navigate the market? One group of people can strongly impact this outcome: Crypto VCs. We explore what decisions these VCs are facing, if they'll be able to raise funds from LPs, their hardest challenges and more! This is a short episode that's packed with insights.

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:57) Nike x Tiffany collab

(10:38) Celsius lacks leadership

(12:45) Private companies will quietly shut down

(15:53) How VCs operate

(22:12) Blockworks Research Ad

(27:45) Challenges of running a crypto VC fund

(32:55) Fundraising terms matter

(34:23) Lessons learned from past cycles

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

Bell Curve podcast

http://bit.ly/3HVuKi1

LVMH story

https://www.ft.com/content/c79eccfc-fca1-11e9-a354-36acbbb0d9b6

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Trading Crypto Inflection Points | Hal Press Jan 30, 2023

In this episode of Empire, Hal Press joins Mike and Jason to discuss his investment thesis. It's no secret that Hal is an ETH super bull, and this episode makes it clear why. He explains ETH's unfair advantage, how L2s will serve as free marketing for Ethereum, the liquidity staking derivative trade, the mechanics behind token rallies, token value accrual and the deflationary outlook! Get ready, this is one of my favorite podcasts yet.

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:54) What Caused This Rally?

(10:46) The ETH:BTC Ratio

(13:14) How Shanghai Will Affect ETH Sell Pressure

(18:32) The LSD Trade

(20:30) Blockworks Research Ad

(30:30) The Real Yield Thesis

(32:36) Has ETH Won?

(44:28) Aptos’ Rally & Learnings

(54:40) The L2 Landscape

(59:10) Where Will Value Accrue?

(1:07:36) Bullish on dYdX

(1:10:34) Macro and Deflation

- -

Follow Hal: https://twitter.com/NorthRockLP

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Mike: https://twitter.com/MikeIppolito_

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

North Rock Digital

https://northrockdigital.com/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Bear Market: Stage 3 is upon us | Roundup Jan 27, 2023

In today’s episode of Empire, we discuss how we've just entered the third phase of the bear market. A phase marked by apathy. We explore what this means for builders, investors and the industry. If you're still here (in crypto), you don't want to miss this.

We then cover why Aptos' price is pumping, Circles CCTP news, the controversial Doodles announcement and more!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(04:27) Permissionless Speakers

(05:30) Phase 3 of the Bear Market

(37:00) Regulatory Clarity

(41:09) Why is Aptos Ripping?

(49:06) Circle’s CCTP

(55:29) Doodles 2 Launching on Flow

(57:50) Kevin Rose $2M+ NFT “Hack”

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

Electric Capital 2022 Developer Report

https://www.developerreport.com/developer-report

Revoke.Cash

https://revoke.cash/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How EigenLayer Unlocks Infrastructure Innovation | Sreeram Kannan, Calvin Liu Jan 23, 2023

In this episode of Empire, Sreeram Kannan and Calvin Liu explain how EigenLayer creates a market for decentralized trust to enable permissionless infrastructure innovation. We explore EigenLayer's core use cases, slashing mechanics, economic incentives, re-staking risks and more. EigenLayer might be the most underrated project in Ethereum right now. Tune in to find out why!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:08) EigenLayer 101

(18:04) Liquid vs Native Staking

(24:24) Why Calvin Joined EigenLayer

(28:51) Core Use Cases

(49:50) Improper Slashing Risk

(1:00:00) EigenLayer’s Flywheel and Business Model

(1:05:45) Systemic Risks: Overleveraging Staked ETH

- -

Follow Sreeram:https://twitter.com/sreeramkannan

Follow Calvin: https://twitter.com/cjliu49

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

EigenLayer

https://www.eigenlayer.com/

EigenLayer's Twitter

https://twitter.com/eigenlayer

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Wallet Wars: Rise of the SuperApp | Qiao Wang Jan 20, 2023

In this episode of Empire, Qiao explains the upcoming Wallet Wars. Wallets are the decentralized access point for crypto, and the battle for distribution is about to get wild. Listen in to learn about the SuperApp Thesis, account abstraction, the battle for attention, wallet value capture and more!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:50) The Fat Wallet Thesis

(04:11) How Wallets Have Evolved

(09:06) Wallet Wars, Rise of the SuperApp

(24:35) Account Abstraction

(27:28) Why Geography Matters

(29:16) Wallet Value Capture

(41:03) Blue Ocean Opportunities & Centralized Credentials

(51:02) Crypto Alfalpha

- -

Follow Qiao: https://twitter.com/QwQiao

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

Alliance DAO

https://alliance.xyz/

Good Game podcast (Qiao's podcast)

https://goodgamepod.xyz/

- -

More related content by Blockworks:

What Are Seed Phrases and Are They Needed? The New Debate

https://blockworks.co/news/what-are-seed-phrases

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How Avalanche Will Outscale L2s | Emin Gün Sirer, John Wu Jan 16, 2023

In this episode of Empire, Emin Gün Sirer and John Wu explain why Avalanche is the most scalable, decentralized L1. We start with why developers choose Avalanche, then quickly transition into the L2 debate. Emin explains why Subnets are superior and how the L2 vision and L2 reality are miles apart. We also talk about Avalanche's consensus engine, business development, the multichain future and more!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:01) Avalanche’s Core Thesis

(04:17) Why Build on Avalanche?

(14:19) The Problem with L2s

(19:08) Avalanche's Tradeoffs

(23:41) The Consensus Engine

(30:00) Learnings From Other Networks

(33:29) Solana vs Avalanche

(40:59) Avalanche’s Security Guarantees

(45:00) Business Development Strategy

(55:09) Warp: Communication Between Subnets

(1:00:01) On-Chain Governance

(1:01:41) Avalanche’s Community

(1:08:29) A Multichain Future?

- -

Follow Emin: https://twitter.com/el33th4xor

Follow John: https://twitter.com/John1wu

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

Avalanche

https://www.avax.network/

Ava Labs

https://www.avalabs.org/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Is Lido's Monopoly a Threat to Ethereum? | Roundup Jan 13, 2023

In today’s episode of Empire, we discuss the upcoming Shanghai upgrade and Lido's liquid staking monopoly. What will happen to stake rates once withdrawals are enabled? Will LSD providers steal market share from Lido?

We also discuss Genesis' terrible GBTC trade, why we're feeling optimistic, FTX recovering $5B, Japan's most popular blockchain and how people still underestimate the power of BD in crypto (e.g. the Avalanche AWS partnership)!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:21) Crypto Conferences & the January Effect

(09:30) Genesis’ Terrible Risk/Reward Trade

(20:08) FTX Finds $5B of Assets

(24:38) SBF’s Substack Post

(28:56) Why We're Still Feeling Optimistic

(37:21) How the Shanghai Upgrade will Impact ETH staking rates

(44:16) When to Sell (a Crypto Funds Perspective)

(48:16) Has Lido Won the LSD Battle?

(52:53) Avalanche Partners With AWS

(1:01:07) Japan’s Most Popular Blockchain

(1:03:39) Coinbase and Blockchain.com Layoffs

(1:05:00) On-Chain US Treasuries (Ondo Finance)

(1:07:25) Book Recommendations

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

Thinking in Probabilities (Byron newsletter)

https://blockworks.co/newsletter/issue/30211866

SBF's Substack

https://sambf.substack.com/

Ryan Watkins tweet

https://twitter.com/RyanWatkins_/status/1612872737134870528

Astar

https://astar.network/starmap/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

10 Investment Themes from Brevan Howard | Colleen Sullivan, Peter Johnson Jan 09, 2023

In this episode of Empire, Colleen Sullivan and Peter Johnson join us to discuss their predictions for 2023. We cover the future of NFTs, gaming, trading infrastructure, stablecoins, regulation, AppChains and more! This episode is packed with insights from two top VCs in crypto - you won't want to miss it.

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:04) Why Choose Optimism

(04:22) Stablecoin Volumes Will Surpass Visa Volumes

(11:59) Brands, NFTs and Polygon's Lead

(25:31) Gaming Studios Will Integrate NFTs

(29:48) The Financialization of NFTs

(38:08) Gaming Interoperability

(42:42) The Unbundling of NFT Marketplaces

(49:38) Changes to Market Trading Infrastructure

(51:35) DeFi Regulation, Macro and Bitcoin’s Narrative

(1:10:42) The Separation of Brokerage, Custody and Settlement

(1:14:40) 2023’s Prevailing Narrative

(1:19:17) The AppChain Thesis & IRL Yields in Crypto

(1:22:47) Steady Adoption & Strong Beliefs

- -

Follow Colleen: https://twitter.com/colleenklein

Follow Peter: https://twitter.com/TheChicagoVC

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

What to Expect for NFTs and Digital Goods in 2023

https://blockworks.co/news/digital-goods-nfts-2023

What to Expect From Web3 Gaming in 2023

https://blockworks.co/news/web3-gaming-2023

What to Expect for Ethereum and Blockchain Infrastructure in 2023

https://blockworks.co/news/ethereum-blockchain-infrastructure-2023

Tokengated Commerce

https://www.notboring.co/p/tokengated-commerce

Financial Times (Alan Howard)

https://www.ft.com/content/e89061dd-634e-4024-b74a-5a102d4eb552

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Annual Empire Awards: Winners, Losers and Favorites Jan 06, 2023

In today’s episode of Empire, Santi and Jason go full Michael Scott by hosting the Annual Empire Awards. We discuss our favorite projects of 2022, our wildest predictions, the most overhyped section of crypto, the best unsexy ideas and so much more! We then get personal by discussing our worst investment in 2022, our best/worst new habits, our favorite app and our personal goals for 2023. Don't miss this one - it's one of my favorites yet.

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(04:08) Biggest Mental Reframe

(17:06) Favorite Project or Business

(20:48) Crypto Person of the Year

(23:08) Top Breakout Company

(29:23) Best Unsexy Idea

(35:40) Wildest Prediction for 2023

(43:40) Most Overlooked Vertical in Crypto

(47:02) Most Overhyped Vertical in Crypto

(50:33) Business You Want to See Built in 2023

(51:56) Your Best & Worst Investment in 2022

(59:37) Best Business Decision of 2022

(1:01:55) Most Helpful Thing You Started in 2022

(1:03:49) Worst & Best Habit

(1:08:17) Favorite Content of 2022

(1:13:48) Besides Crypto, What Would You Work On?

(1:22:11) Favorite New App or Product

(1:24:33) Dream Podcast Guest

(1:27:13) 2023 Business & Personal Goals

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

The Diff

https://www.thediff.co/

I Pledge Allegiance

https://bit.ly/3QgW2BK

A Media Operator

https://www.amediaoperator.com/

Graham Duncan

https://grahamduncan.blog/about/

John Collison with Stanley Druckenmiller

https://bit.ly/3QxSRpL

Clay

https://clay.earth/

The Summit (by Santi)

https://bit.ly/3Cu4cBk

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Crypto in 2023: Predictions Episode Dec 26, 2022

In today’s episode of Empire, we bring on Mike and Mark from On The Margin to discuss our 2023 crypto thesis. We debate predictions on the Wallet Wars, ETH vs Bitcoin, the rise of insurance, app-specific vertical integration, the adoption of CBDCs, Coinbase vs DEXs, MEV as a business model and more!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:14) Crypto’s 2022 Wrapped

(11:52) The Bottom is in for Crypto, not for Equities

(19:35) Kings of Spot & NFT Trading Will Lose Market Share

(22:44) Stablecoins, DeFi’s Resurgence and Permissioned Protocols

(28:02) Regulators are Coming, and the CBDC debate

(33:23) MEV will be the Business Model for DeFi & Exchanges

(42:05) No Industry Takes Off Without Insurance

(48:48) A Market Bottom & the Value of Memes

(52:36) ETH vs Bitcoin (spicy)

(1:03:34) Miner Capitulation, Wallet Wars & Gaming

(1:11:31) Vertical Integration, Privacy and Payments

(1:17:51) The Rise of Professional Guilds

- -

Follow Mark: https://twitter.com/MarkYusko

Follow Mike: https://twitter.com/MikeIppolito_

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Empire links

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

On The Margin links

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3YGtdml

Subscribe on Apple: https://bit.ly/3BUZXhK

Subscribe on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3hHY1m4

Follow OTM: https://twitter.com/OnTheMarginPod

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Why 2023 Will be a Blood Bath for Crypto Startups | Roundup Dec 23, 2022

In today’s episode of Empire, we explore the state of the crypto market. We discuss where we are in the market cycle, the investment landscape, why 2023 could be a blood bath for crypto startups and why there's reason to be optimistic. You don’t want to miss this section.

We then talk through Visa’s new payments deployment on Starknet, the power of account abstraction, Yuga Labs’ big hire, DCG’s outlook, the evolving media landscape and more!

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

Barry Silbert's WSJ tweet

https://twitter.com/BarrySilbert/status/1604837519224639488

Catherine's Visa announcement tweet

https://twitter.com/catgu_/status/1604896035616264205

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

DeFi's Interest Rate Opportunity | Simon Jones Dec 19, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Simon Jones joins us to discuss DeFi's interest rate opportunity. A year ago, DeFi's meme was, "Why earn .01% in your bank account when you can earn 20%+ in DeFi". Fast forward to today, and TradFi offers higher yields than DeFi. Did we get rugged, or what's the new opportunity?

Tune in as we explore the correlation between TradFi and DeFi rates, DeFi's low cost-of-capital opportunity, the efficiency of market-driven protocols, importing TradFi yields on-chain and more!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:15) The Divergence of TradFi & DeFi Rates

(11:00) DeFi Responded 10x Faster Than the Fed

(17:42) Leveraging DeFi as a Cheap Source of Funding

(20:59) Importing TradFi Yields On-Chain

(27:35) Why Institutions Will Use On-Chain Products

(32:11) Replacing Regulation With Smart Contracts & Incentives

(36:46) Voltz and the Importance of Fixed Rates

(41:16) Will TradFi & DeFi Rates Eventually Converge?

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Follow Simon: https://twitter.com/0xSimonJones

Follow Mike: https://twitter.com/MikeIppolito_

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Circle’s USDC has quickly become one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins because of its composability, stability and reserve transparency. As a seamless, trusted digital currency, USDC is a zero-to-one opportunity for the global financial system. Check out their Transparency Hub at http://empirepodcast.link/circle that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is.

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Resources

Voltz

https://www.voltz.xyz/

Voltz research paper on DeFi vs TradFi rates

https://www.voltz.xyz/tradfi-vs-defi-rates

Bell Curve episode with Simon

https://bit.ly/3PC7lEj

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Smart Money Finds Opportunity Post Catastrophe | Avi Felman, Jonah Van Bourg Dec 16, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Jason is joined by Avi Felman and Jonah Van Bourg to discuss their new podcast 1000x and the state of crypto markets. Avi and Jonah explain their trading mindset, how to evaluate the buyers/sellers in the market, crypto's investment cycle, how catastrophe creates opportunity and more!

A new 1000x episode will drop on Empire's RSS feed and the 1000x YouTube channel every two weeks. Links below!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:07) 1000x Podcast Launch

(04:33) Market Outlook

(07:48) Who’s Buying, Who’s Selling?

(18:10) Crypto’s Investment Cycle

(21:10) How Are People Positioned Right Now?

(23:23) Leverage In The System

(25:05) Trading Around Governance Events

- -

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Circle’s USDC has quickly become one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins because of its composability, stability and reserve transparency. As a seamless, trusted digital currency, USDC is a zero-to-one opportunity for the global financial system. Check out their Transparency Hub at http://empirepodcast.link/circle that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is.

- -

Resources

1000x YouTube channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEAwYFRFUuekaEmKz4oiB_A

The Prize

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/169354.The_Prize

Sushi's protocol fee proposal

https://bit.ly/3FWvOkA

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Crypto Trader's Mindset | 1000x Dec 15, 2022

Blockworks just released a new podcast called 1000x! We're dropping the first episode here as we think you might want to add this podcast to the lineup. 1000x is a crypto markets podcast hosted by professional traders Avi Felman and Jonah Van Bourg that dives deep into the macro and micro factors that represent the lifeblood of digital money and web3.

In this episode, Avi and Jonah discuss how to think like a crypto trader. They explore how today's market compares to the 2018 bear, where to look for opportunities, the investment landscape post-FTX and our top investing frameworks.

A new 1000x episode will drop on Empire's RSS feed and the 1000x YouTube channel every two weeks.

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:28) Why We Started 1000x

(06:18) Today’s Market Compared To 2018

(16:17) How To Think About Trading Markets

(23:25) Market Structure Post-FTX

(28:05) Managing Risks

(36:30) Investing Frameworks

(48:12) Crypto Is Here To Stay

- -

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3Fw083Z

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

Golden Tree

https://www.goldentree.com/

Cumberland

https://cumberland.io/

Avi's psychology of a market tweet

https://twitter.com/AviFelman/status/1595176484766883843

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How To Prevent The Next Crypto Hack | Rob Behnke, Steve Walbroehl Dec 12, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Rob Behnke and Steve Walbroehl join us to discuss the state of Web3 security. When code equals money, security is everything. Rob and Steve explain the concept of blockchain cybersecurity, transactional-level audits, bridge hacks, crypto-native insurance and more. With over $2B in crypto hacks this year, this episode is worth everyone's time!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:30) Halborn, Cybersecurity For Web3

(12:17) The State Of Web3 Security

(17:45) Are Smart Contract Audits A Sustainable Solution?

(21:30) Reactive Security Measures

(23:33) Seraph, A Tool That Enables Transactional Level Audits

(26:25) Crypto-Native Insurance Solutions

(29:53) Why Are There So Many Bridge Hacks?

(42:20) Creating Security Standards

(48:43) Solidity vs Other Programming Languages

(53:56) The Best Way To Scale Blockchains

(1:00:29) Why Rob & Steve Are Bitcoin “Maxis”

(1:06:26) The Downsides Of Liquid Staking

- -

Follow Rob: https://twitter.com/robbehnke

Follow Steve: https://twitter.com/HalbornSteve

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Circle’s USDC has quickly become one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins because of its composability, stability and reserve transparency. As a seamless, trusted digital currency, USDC is a zero-to-one opportunity for the global financial system. Check out their Transparency Hub at http://empirepodcast.link/circle that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is.

- -

Resources

Seraph

https://www.seraph.co/

Halborn

https://halborn.com/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Why the Creator of Starbucks Rewards is Bullish NFTs Dec 09, 2022

In this episode of Empire, we start with a 25-minute interview with Adam Brotman, the creator of Starbucks Rewards, to discuss why he believes every company will adopt an NFT strategy. We discuss his partnership with Starbucks, NFTs as the ultimate loyalty product and what OG crypto fans get wrong about NFTs.

After this interview, we do something a bit different. Instead of our usual roundup, we dropped one of our favorite episodes from a new Blockworks show called 0xResearch. It's an episode with dYdX's founder Antonio Juliano that I highly recommend you check out. If that's not for you, check out the spicy roundup from our Bell Curve podcast [see links below].

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:03) Creator of Starbucks Rewards talks NFTs

(25:55) 0xResearch dYdX podcast with Antonio

(26:05) FTX's Ripple Effects Across CeFi & DeFi

(38:11) Brand As A Moat

(42:49) How dYdX Can Outmatch CeFi

(49:35) Expected FTX Regulatory Fallout

(54:36) Risk Mgmt & dYdX’s Safety Module

(1:01:40) SubDAOs & Governance

(1:04:31) dYdX AppChain Update

(1:13:36) How dYdX Will Approach MEV

(1:16:53) On & Off Ramps To dYdX

(1:23:16) Returning Fees To Stakers & The Future Of dYdX

- -

Follow Adam: https://twitter.com/adambrotman

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Circle’s USDC has quickly become one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins because of its composability, stability and reserve transparency. As a seamless, trusted digital currency, USDC is a zero-to-one opportunity for the global financial system. Check out their Transparency Hub at http://empirepodcast.link/circle that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is.

- -

Resources

Forum3

https://www.forum3.com/

Bellcurve Podcast (roundup)

Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Fdw7pB

Apple: https://bit.ly/3UJid4b

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3VH4jB6

0xResearch Podcast

Spotify: https://bit.ly/3hhL81z

Apple: https://bit.ly/3hcTsQ8

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3DNVFdp

Blockworks Research twitter

https://twitter.com/blockworksres

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Can Solana Move Past SBF? | Anatoly Yakovenko, Ben Sparango Dec 05, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Anatoly Yakovenko and Ben Sparango join us to discuss Solana's future in the aftermath of FTX. SBF and FTX were core investors and contributors to the Solana ecosystem. How did Solana get so intertwined with FTX? How bad was Solana damaged as a result? How will Solana recover? These are just a few of the questions we explore.

We then dive into Solana's roadmap and discuss Solana's new local fee market, network outages, decentralization worries, monolithic chains vs rollups, the Solana mobile stack and more. This is the go-to podcast for all Solana fans and skeptics!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:18) How Did Solana Get So Intertwined With FTX?

(11:20) How Important Was SBF To Solana’s Growth?

(17:36) Fallout From Reliance On FTX

(20:05) Did You See This Coming?

(25:07) What Exchanges Got Wrong & Alameda’s 10% SOL Stake

(29:58) FTX Impact On Solana Apps & Developers

(33:30) Where Does Solana Go From Here?

(42:13) Solana’s Fee Markets & Decentralization Questions

(46:16) Solving Solana’s Network Outages

(57:38) Monolithic Blockchains, Layer 2s & New Learnings

(1:07:10) Economic Sustainability

(1:10:30) Avalanche vs Cosmos, Who’s Solana's Main Competitor?

(1:14:59) The Importance Of Business Development

(1:19:18) Google Partnership & The Solana Phone

- -

Follow Anatoly: https://twitter.com/aeyakovenko

Follow Ben: https://twitter.com/bennybitcoins

https://break.solana.com/

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Circle’s USDC has quickly become one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins because of its composability, stability and reserve transparency. As a seamless, trusted digital currency, USDC is a zero-to-one opportunity for the global financial system. Check out their Transparency Hub at http://empirepodcast.link/circle that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is.

- -

Resources

Break Solana website

Chris Burniske's thread on Solana

https://twitter.com/cburniske/status/1590455521307660290

Anatoly and Dankrad debate

https://bit.ly/3Umky4T

Solana events webpage

https://solana.com/events

Solana Twitter account

https://twitter.com/solana

The Solana Podcast

https://bit.ly/3FgMAdS

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

SBF played us, Uniswap launched NFTs and Coinbase vs Apple | Roundup Dec 02, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Jason and Santi discuss SBF's interview with The New York Times and his attempt to avoid all liability. We then discuss BlockFi's bankruptcy, Uniswap's new NFT marketplace, Apple banning NFT transfers on Coinbase, Bitcoin's colossal problem and more! This is the one weekly podcast you won't want to miss.

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(05:00) SBF Played Us

(17:00) BlockFi Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

(27:00) Permissionless Tickets Are On Sale!

(28:40) Uniswap Launches An NFT Marketplace

(36:48) Coinbase Takes On Apple

(41:38) Bitcoin Miners In More Pain

(46:30) Is Bitcoin In Trouble?

(53:27) Tech Layoffs & A Focus On Unit Economics

(57:55) Casa Adds Ethereum Support

(1:02:33) Crypto Media, Book Recs & Closing Thoughts

- -

https://twitter.com/ayko2718/status/1597432454070956032

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Circle’s USDC has quickly become one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins because of its composability, stability and reserve transparency. As a seamless, trusted digital currency, USDC is a zero-to-one opportunity for the global financial system. Check out their Transparency Hub at http://empirepodcast.link/circle that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is.

- -

Resources

Vox SBF interview

https://bit.ly/3AZa7O4

BlockFi/FTX/Alameda recursive loan tweet

Coinbase tweet on Apple

https://twitter.com/CoinbaseWallet/status/1598354819735031809

The River of Doubt

https://www.candicemillard.com/river-of-doubt.html

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Distressed Crypto Investing: Buying Claims for Cents on the Dollar | Thomas Braziel Nov 28, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Thomas Braziel joins us to discuss the highly lucrative yet misunderstood world of distressed crypto investing. We start with the basics of how distressed asset investing works; then, we explore the Mt. Gox bankruptcy, how to value bankruptcy claims, what's next for FTX, the tokenization of bankruptcy claims and more!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:57) What Is Distressed Asset Investing?

(04:49) Mt. Gox Case Explained

(19:26) Circle Ad

(21:08) Finding Investment Opportunities

(27:09) How to Value a Bankruptcy Claim

(30:01) Buying FTX Claims for 3 Cents on the Dollar

(31:59) FTX Bankruptcy Jurisdiction Questions

(35:57) Tokenization of Bankruptcy Claims

(38:32) Will They Separate FTX.US and FTX International Assets?

(39:43) What's Next for BlockFi and Genesis?

- -

Follow Thomas: https://twitter.com/ThomasBraziel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Circle’s USDC has quickly become one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins because of its composability, stability and reserve transparency. As a seamless, trusted digital currency, USDC is a zero-to-one opportunity for the global financial system. Check out their Transparency Hub at http://empirepodcast.link/circle that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is.

- -

Resources

507 Capital

https://507capital.com/

Memos from Howard Marks

https://www.oaktreecapital.com/insights

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Genesis Meltdown Exposes DCG | Nic Carter Nov 25, 2022

In this episode of Empire's Weekly Roundup, we bring on Nic Carter to discuss if Genesis and DCG can fix their liquidity issues and avoid bankruptcy. We explore how Genesis overextended its books with asset-liability duration mismatches, how FTX's fallout exposed the DCG Empire and what to expect next. Nic then walks us through his framework on institutional adoption, Bitcoin's long-term outlook, proof-of-reserves and more!

--

Timestamps

(00:00) Introduction

(00:58) Genesis Meltdown Exposes DCG

(20:10) Bitcoin Miner Blood Bath & BTC’s Outlook

(34:03) Proof-of-Stake vs Proof-of-Work

(36:05) What Looks Interesting Right Now?

(39:05) How Has Institutional Adoption Been Affected?

(42:20) The Future of Solana

(47:37) The Off-Shore Exchange Thesis

(50:05) Proof-of-Reserves

(56:20) Where Nic and His Business Partner Disagree

- -

Follow Nic: https://twitter.com/nic__carter

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Circle’s USDC has quickly become one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins because of its composability, stability and reserve transparency. As a seamless, trusted digital currency, USDC is a zero-to-one opportunity for the global financial system. Check out their Transparency Hub at http://empirepodcast.link/circle that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is.

- -

Resources

On The Brink podcast

http://bit.ly/3TWTnxz

Castle Island Ventures

https://www.castleisland.vc/

Nic Carter's blog and website

https://niccarter.info/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Impact Of The FTX Fallout | Arthur_0x Nov 21, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Arthur_0x, the founder of Defiance Capital, joins us to discuss the fallout from FTX's collapse. Arthur is a DeFi OG with a unique perspective on market dynamics and ecosystem-wide liquidations. His fund was directly impacted by the 3AC meltdown, giving Arthur a front-row seat to the complexities of liquidations and contagion.

We discuss Alameda's outsized contagion risk, why this might be the most complex liquidation in history, the damage to the Solana ecosystem, private vs public markets and more!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:02) The Unintended Consequences Of Authority

(05:37) Due Diligence In A Bull Market

(08:18) What Was Great About FTX?

(10:40) FTX Contagion Explained

(18:05) Did You See Red Flags?

(23:45) Did Sam Always Have Bad Intentions?

(28:04) Why Did CZ Wait Until Now?

(30:47) Circle Ad

(32:48) Damage To The Solana Ecosystem

(39:48) The Most Complex Liquidation Process In History

(44:38) Tokens vs Equity, Private vs Public Markets

(53:30) Arthur’s Biggest Takeaway

- -

Follow Arthur: https://twitter.com/Arthur_0x

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Circle’s USDC has quickly become one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins because of its composability, stability and reserve transparency. As a seamless, trusted digital currency, USDC is a zero-to-one opportunity for the global financial system. Check out their Transparency Hub at http://empirepodcast.link/circle that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is.

- -

Resources

Sequoia's FTX Memo

https://twitter.com/zebulgar/status/1590394857474109441

Solana FTX Documentation Page

https://solana.com/news/solana-facts-ftx-bankruptcy

Defiance Capital

https://defiance.capital/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Genesis on the Brink of Collapse | foobar Nov 16, 2022

Genesis, crypto's largest lender, just froze withdrawals and new loan orginations. Would a Genesis collapse have wider impacts than FTX's demise?

Genesis sits at the direct center of crypto capital markets. They custody funds. They help institutions earn yield. They are the yield product for CeFi platforms. Genesis touches almost everything...

We bring on foobar to discuss!

Note: A spokesperson at Anchorage (mentioned in the ep), shared this great update: "Anchorage Digital does not lend or repurpose client assets without a client's permission and we have no commercial relationship with Genesis."

- -

Follow foobar: https://twitter.com/0xfoobar

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

Jason's thread on Genesis

https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz/status/1592917789898989568

Circle's tweets on Genesis

https://twitter.com/circle/status/1592940639645495298

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Regulatory Impact of FTX | Kristin Smith, Jake Chervinsky Nov 15, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Kristin Smith and Jake Chervinsky join us to discuss how FTX's collapse will impact crypto regulation.

SBF was the poster child of crypto in D.C. - how will his fallout damage crypto's reputation? Did regulators fail consumers, and how will they respond? What are the shortcomings of the DCCPA bill? How important are the political midterms, and what is happening in the securities vs commodities debate? Tune in to find out!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:54) SBF’s Unbelievable Damage

(07:17) How Active Was SBF In D.C.?

(09:52) The First Red Flags & DCCPA Threats

(22:56) Where Regulators Failed

(27:32) Expected Reaction From D.C.

(33:43) Circle Ad

(35:26) DCCPA Overview & Its Impact On DeFi

(47:53) What The Midterms Mean For Crypto

(50:55) The Litigation Phase

(55:07) LBRY, Ripple & Progressive Decentralization

(1:03:45) A Path Forward

- -

Follow Kristin: https://twitter.com/KMSmithDC

Follow Jake: https://twitter.com/jchervinsky

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Circle’s USDC has quickly become one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins because of its composability, stability and reserve transparency. As a seamless, trusted digital currency, USDC is a zero-to-one opportunity for the global financial system. Check out their Transparency Hub at http://empirepodcast.link/circle that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is.

- -

Resources

Jake's tweet thread on DCCPA

https://twitter.com/jchervinsky/status/1570451252852527104

Brian Amstrong's response to Elizabeth Warren

https://twitter.com/brian_armstrong/status/1590511022104010753

Ron Hammond's tweet thread on FTX/SBF

https://twitter.com/ronwhammond/status/1590741692348772352

Blockchain Association website

https://theblockchainassociation.org/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Crypto’s 2001 Moment: How Bad Will This Get? | Avichal Garg & Haseeb Qureshi Nov 12, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Avichal Garg Founder of Electric Capital and Haseeb Qureshi Managing Partner at Dragonfly Capital join the show to discuss the fallout of FTX.

Avichal and Haseeb discuss the structure between FTX and Alameda Research, looking behind the curtain into how intertwined the two entities were. We then go on to discuss the potential contagion between large CeFi companies in crypto who could have exposure to FTX and Alemeda. To hear all this and more, you'll have to tune in!

--

Follow Avichal https://twitter.com/avichal

Follow Haseeb: https://twitter.com/hosseeb

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Circle’s USDC has quickly become one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins because of its composability, stability and reserve transparency. As a seamless, trusted digital currency, USDC is a zero-to-one opportunity for the global financial system. Check out their Transparency Hub at http://empirepodcast.link/circle that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is.

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Disclaimer: Scammers are impersonating Blockworks and replying to comments on some of our videos. Please be advised that we will NEVER reply to your comment asking you to contact us on whatsapp, telegram, provide investment advice, or solicit money from you. These are scam impersonator accounts and you should not respond to them.

Why Binance Might Acquire FTX | Breaking News Nov 09, 2022

Binance is considering acquiring FTX. I never thought I'd type those words. What just happened? How did FTX go from a market-leading exchange to near insolvency? Is there contagion risk, and how will regulators respond? Tune in to find out!

- -

Follow Vance: https://twitter.com/pythianism

Follow Michael: https://twitter.com/im_manderson

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

https://offchainlabs.com/

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

a16z's Crypto Thesis | Arianna Simpson, Ali Yahya Nov 07, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Arianna Simpson and Ali Yahya join to discuss a16z's crypto thesis. We start with Ali's network flywheel framework, the future of interoperability and protocol value capture. Do protocols have moats? Is the L1 trade over? Will applications accrue an outsized share of crypto's value?

We then discuss DAO governance, music NFTs, zero-knowledge proofs and crypto's open design space. This is one of those can't-miss episodes!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:14) Crypto's Network Flywheel

(08:40) Is The L1 Trade Over?

(20:52) a16z’s Value Accrual Framework

(28:03) Circle ad

(29:45) Infrastructure Unlocks

(37:55) a16z’s Governance & DAO Philosophy

(44:33) Evolution of Web3 Gaming

(49:19) Music NFTs

(55:22) ZK Proofs & Building Privacy Into Blockchains

(1:00:33) What Feels Obvious That Others Are Missing?

- -

Follow Arianna https://twitter.com/AriannaSimpson

Follow Ali: https://twitter.com/alive_eth

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Circle’s USDC has quickly become one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins because of its composability, stability and reserve transparency. As a seamless, trusted digital currency, USDC is a zero-to-one opportunity for the global financial system. Check out their Transparency Hub at http://empirepodcast.link/circle that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is.

- -

Resources

Ali's network flywheel tweet thread

https://twitter.com/alive_eth/status/1296831069065375749

Computers That Can Make Commitments (Chris Dixon)

https://a16z.com/2020/01/27/computers-that-make-commitments/

The Fat Protocol Thesis

https://www.usv.com/writing/2016/08/fat-protocols/

The Internet Economy

https://cdixon.org/2016/03/13/the-internet-economy

Commoditize Your Complements

https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2002/06/12/strategy-letter-v/

The Myth of The Infrastructure Phase

https://www.usv.com/writing/2018/10/the-myth-of-the-infrastructure-phase/

1000 True Fans

https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Disclaimer: Scammers are impersonating Blockworks and replying to comments on some of our videos. Please be advised that we will NEVER reply to your comment asking you to contact us on whatsapp, telegram, provide investment advice, or solicit money from you. These are scam impersonator accounts and you should not respond to them.

J.P. Morgan’s Aave Trade Explained | Matthew Blumberg, Byron Gilliam Nov 04, 2022

In this episode of Empire's Weekly Roundup, we bring on Matthew Blumberg and Byron Gilliam to discuss how J.P. Morgan - the largest bank in the US - just made history.

What happened? J.P. Morgan executed their first trade on a public blockchain (sup Polygon) using an Aave Arc clone. Tune in to find out what happened, why J.P. Morgan chose Polygon, how enterprise crypto adoption will likely play out and more!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:42) JP Morgan’s Aave Trade, What Happened?

(10:53) Permissioned DeFi, Why Do This On-Chain?

(25:09) The Aave Mafia

(26:08) Will Polygon Remain "Loyal" To Ethereum?

(31:50) Why J.P. Morgan Chose Polygon

(37:51) Social Media Is Adopting Web3

- -

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/matt_blumberg

Follow Byron: https://twitter.com/bgilliam1982

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

Decent Crypto Podcast (hosted by Matt)

https://spoti.fi/3FKxBJW

Ty Lobban's tweet thread on the J.P. Morgan trade

https://twitter.com/TyLobban/status/1587679344792829954

Erik Voorhees & SBF on Bankless

https://spoti.fi/3FIPw3M

Sandeep's tweet on Polygon "bringing the world to Ethereum"

https://twitter.com/sandeepnailwal/status/1587949120031006721

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Arbitrum’s Roadmap To Scale Ethereum | Steven Goldfeder, Raul Jordan Oct 31, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Santi is joined by Steven Goldfeder and Raul Jordan to discuss the Prsymatic Labs acquisition and the future of Arbitrum. We cover Arbitrum's approach to state growth, AnyTrust chains, developer usability, ZK tech and more. And trust me, Steven's take on enterprises leveraging crypto is worth staying until the end!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(03:57) Arbitrum Acquires Prysmatic Labs

(09:04) Monetizing Open Source & Building For Ethereum

(17:29) State Growth, ZK Tech And L2 Innovations

(31:14) Are L2s Ready For Prime Time?

(35:51) Circle Ad

(37:33) Arbitrum AnyTrust Chains

(42:40) User & Developer Acquisition

(46:31) What Changed After The Merge?

(49:31) Reddit Points & Enterprise Interest

(1:00:11) L1 Censorship Risk

- -

Follow Steven: https://twitter.com/sgoldfed

Follow Raul: https://twitter.com/rauljordaneth

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Circle’s USDC has quickly become one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins because of its composability, stability and reserve transparency. As a seamless, trusted digital currency, USDC is a zero-to-one opportunity for the global financial system. Check out their Transparency Hub at http://empirepodcast.link/circle that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is.

- -

Resources

Offchain Labs website

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Reddit Embraces Web3, Apple NFT Drama & FedCoin | Roundup Oct 28, 2022

In this episode of Empire's Weekly Roundup, we discuss Reddit embracing NFTs, Apple's new NFT policy, the future of stablecoins (FedCoin?), Elon's Twitter takeover and more. Tune in for the spiciest stories and takes of the week!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(02:41) Tech Stocks, VR & Elon Twitter Takeover

(14:25) Apple’s NFT Announcement, Bullish?

(23:17) Reddit Brings NFTs To $3M+ Users

(29:33) What Makes Crypto Special

(36:57) FTX Stablecoin Rumors & FedCoin Talk

(48:14) Solana Virtual Machine Alpha

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Garrett: https://twitter.com/G_C_Harp

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Circle’s USDC has quickly become one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins because of its composability, stability and reserve transparency. As a seamless, trusted digital currency, USDC is a zero-to-one opportunity for the global financial system. Check out their Transparency Hub at http://empirepodcast.link/circle that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is.

- -

Resources

Vibe Bio Empire Podcast

https://spoti.fi/3FnQ2Uk

Nudge (book)

https://amzn.to/3DbVzuJ

Matt Levine's crypto manifesto

https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2022-the-crypto-story/

Chris Burniske's tweet on the SVM

https://twitter.com/cburniske/status/1585346624574083072

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

A Web3 Talent & Token Compensation MasterClass | Zack Skelly, Aurora Harshner Oct 24, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Santi is joined by Zack Skelly and Aurora Harshner to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the Web3 talent market.

How should employees and companies think about token compensation? Is compensation transparency an opportunity or a liability? How can we bring more talent to crypto? And what should you think about when joining a Web3 company? Tune in for these answers and more!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(04:23) Crypto's Talent Pool

(13:40) What Positions Are Companies Hiring?

(22:05) Hiring Anons, DAOs & The Future of Work

(29:06) Circle Ad

(30:48) Opportunities & Challenges Of Token Compensation

(51:53) Back Channeling and References

(58:07) Recruiting Tactics

(1:03:36) How Do You Convey Culture?

- -

Follow Zack: https://twitter.com/zorkary

Follow Aurora: https://twitter.com/aharshner

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Circle’s USDC has quickly become one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins because of its composability, stability and reserve transparency. As a seamless, trusted digital currency, USDC is a zero-to-one opportunity for the global financial system. Check out their Transparency Hub at http://empirepodcast.link/circle that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is.

- -

Resources

Aurora's website

https://www.auroraharshner.com/

Dragonfly's Job Board

https://jobs.dragonfly.xyz/jobs

Dragonfly's Medium

https://medium.com/dragonfly-research

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Aptos Bull vs Bear, SBF Regulation & Modular Blockchains | Roundup Oct 21, 2022

In this episode of Empire's Weekly Roundup, we discuss the highly contentious launch of Aptos, a new L1 blockchain marketing 160K+ TPS. We debate the bull vs bear case for Aptos and ask, "Do we need another L1 blockchain?".

We then discuss SBF's new article on crypto regulation, why data availability matters, Binance voting on behalf of users, AI in crypto and more!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(10:55) Aptos L1, Bull vs Bear

(17:33) SBF & Crypto Regulation

(29:44) Binance Voting on Uniswap With User Tokens

(37:51) What Is Celestia And Data Availability?

(45:54) AI Is Coming For Crypto

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Garrett: https://twitter.com/G_C_Harp

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Circle’s USDC has quickly become one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins because of its composability, stability and reserve transparency. As a seamless, trusted digital currency, USDC is a zero-to-one opportunity for the global financial system. Check out their Transparency Hub at http://empirepodcast.link/circle that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is.

- -

Resources

Michelle on Empire

https://spoti.fi/3MQDWVz

Possible Digital Asset Industry Standards (SBF article)

https://www.ftxpolicy.com/posts/possible-digital-asset-industry-standards

Dan Smith's tweet thread on Binance & Uniswap

https://bit.ly/3Dc8y0C

Westie's tweet thread on Eigen Layer

https://twitter.com/blockworksres/status/1582379353492496384

The Singularity Is Near (book)

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/83518.The_Singularity_is_Near

How To Create A Mind (book)

https://bit.ly/3yXEUtm

AI Superpowers (book)

https://bit.ly/3VDTss1

Storyworthy (book)

https://bit.ly/3CIf0Lm

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Arbitraging Culture in Size | Meltem Demirors Oct 17, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Jason and Santi are joined by Meltem Demirors to discuss the creation and monetization of culture. We explore how culture is already monetized today, just indirectly, and that crypto-based market microstructure will be the catalyst for the fusion of a new culture-meets-capital paradigm.

Where is the market shifting today, and what are the biggest opportunities ahead? Trust me, this is a must-listen if you are interested in NFTs, financial markets or the creation of culture.

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:29) Crypto Is A Market Structure Story

(06:09) Everything Is Perception & Speculation

(12:38) Arbitraging Culture

(21:47) Where's The Utility? Culture Is Utility

(30:22) Circle Ad

(32:05) Why NFT Communities Don’t Scale

(36:31) IP, Mimetic Transmission and Community

(42:22) Boomer ETH NFTs & Lower Price Points

(45:47) The Biggest Opportunities?

(57:49) Culture Is Not Emergent, It’s Manufactured

(1:08:34) Read Sci-Fi, Here’s Why

- -

Follow Meltem: https://twitter.com/Melt_Dem

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Circle’s USDC has quickly become one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins because of its composability, stability and reserve transparency. As a seamless, trusted digital currency, USDC is a zero-to-one opportunity for the global financial system. Check out their Transparency Hub at http://empirepodcast.link/circle that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is.

- -

Resources

Reminiscences of a Stock Operator

https://amzn.to/3rTNWUw

A Survey of NFT Licenses: Facts & Fictions (Galaxy)

https://bit.ly/3MqIhid

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Market Vibez, Solana’s Mango Exploit & ZK Scaling Season | Roundup Oct 14, 2022

In this episode of Empire's Weekly Roundup, Jason and Santi share their thoughts on the state of the market, the endless hacks in crypto and a few of the latest innovations.

Santi gives his unique private-market insights, Jason gives a behind-the-scenes look at Blockworks, and the duo discuss the biggest story of the week: the Binance and Mango Markets Exploit. We then discuss the 3 big ZK-rollup announcements (scaling season?), Arbitrum's acquisition, and more!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:16) What's Changed At Blockworks During The Bear?

(06:53) State of Venture, Macro And Crypto Markets

(21:39) Does Everything Need A Token?

(26:14) Hacks, Exploits And More Hacks (Binance, Mango)

(39:43) Yuga Labs & Regulation By Enforcement

(48:08) ZK Tech Is Here

(51:56) Arbitrum Acquires Prysmatic Labs

(55:36) Coinbase News, Stephane Resigns, PayPal & More

- -

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Referenced in the show:

Cosmos podcast

https://spoti.fi/3S3W9zP

GCR's "inside job" tweet

https://twitter.com/GCRClassic/status/1579837794675216384

Rebecca & Jake regulation podcast

https://spoti.fi/3rSZMOw

Scroll's zkEVM podcast

https://spoti.fi/3rTXO0w

Polygon deep dive by Blockworks Research

https://bit.ly/3S3Wti1

Starkware podcast

https://spoti.fi/3Vqu88v

Influence Empire (book)

https://bit.ly/3T9CLTc

David Marcus tweet criticizing PayPal

https://twitter.com/davidmarcus/status/1578795041719750663

--

Circle’s USDC has quickly become one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins because of its composability, stability and reserve transparency. As a seamless, trusted digital currency, USDC is a zero-to-one opportunity for the global financial system. Check out their Transparency Hub at circle.com/transparency that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is. Learn more at: http://empirepodcast.link/circle

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Sequoia’s Crypto Thesis | Michelle Bailhe Fradin Oct 10, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Jason is joined by Michelle Bailhe Fradin, Partner at Sequoia for a wide ranging discussion on venture capital in crypto.

Michelle shares her thoughts on the fat protocol thesis, how infrastructure development is necessary for application growth, changing business models during a bear market and what the biggest opportunities for growth are in this environment. To hear all of this and more, you'll have to tune in!

--

Follow Michelle: https://twitter.com/michellebailhe

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Circle’s USDC has quickly become one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins because of its composability, stability and reserve transparency. As a seamless, trusted digital currency, USDC is a zero-to-one opportunity for the global financial system. Check out their Transparency Hub at circle.com/transparency that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is.

--

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:05) Ask Not Wen Moon–Ask Why Moon

(04:34) The Fat Protocol Thesis

(12:58) The Myth of The Infrastructure Phase

(16:57) Where Is Sequoia Seeing Opportunity In Crypto?

(18:53) The State of Crypto VC Funding

(23:10) Circle Ad

(24:52) What Metrics Do VC's Track In Crypto?

(33:29) How Business Models Change In A Bear Market

(36:12) Rethinking Crypto Business Models

(38:19) How Active Is Sequoia In Governance?

(39:52) Michelle's Thesis On DAOs

(48:02) How The VC Landscape Is Changing

(53:33) Opportunities Outside of Crypto

- -

Referenced In The Show:

Ask Not Wen Moon–Ask Why Moon: https://www.sequoiacap.com/article/ask-not-wen-moon-ask-why-moon/

Fat Protocols https://www.usv.com/writing/2016/08/fat-protocols/

The Myth of The Infrastructure Phase: https://www.usv.com/writing/2018/10/the-myth-of-the-infrastructure-phase/

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Private Order Flow Is The New MEV | Weekly Roundup Oct 07, 2022

In this episode of Empire's Weekly Roundup, we discuss one area of the market many aren’t paying attention to, private order flow (POF). As well as POF, Sushiswap announced a new head chef, MakerDAO plans to invest $500M in US treasurys and many VCs are looking to gaming for the next big opportunity in crypto? To hear all this and more, you’ll have to tune in!

--

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:30) Sushiswap Brings In A New Head Chef

(15:38) Uniswap & The App-Chain Thesis

(28:15) Private Order Flow Is The New MEV

(40:30) The Biggest Winners In MEV

(43:00) Gaming: Crypto’s Biggest Opportunity

(1:02:30) MakerDAO To Invest $500M in US Treasurys & Corporate Bonds

--

--

Referenced In The Show:

SushiSwap ‘Head Chef’ Election Settled by GoldenTree, Cumberland https://blockworks.co/sushiswap-election-settled-by-goldentree-cumberland/

-

Core, from Ava Labs, is more than just a wallet. It’s a free, non-custodial browser extension that gives Avalanche users a more seamless and secure Web3 experience. Download Core today at https://www.core.app/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Mike, Jason, Michael, Vance and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Starkware, L3s and the ZK Rollup Future | Eli Ben-Sasson, Uri Kolodny Oct 03, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Jason and Santi are joined by Eli Ben-Sasson and Uri Kolodny to discuss Starkware and the ZK-rollup future. This episode is an absolute masterclass on scaling Ethereum using zero-knowledge proofs and a fractal architecture.

We discuss the limits of L1 scaling, ZK vs Optimistic rollups, native L2 programming languages, Layer 3 applications and much more!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(00:32) The Limits of L1 Scaling

(05:30) Optimistic vs ZK Rollups

(14:40) Why ZK Rollups Lag Optimistic Rollups in TVL

(19:10) Advantages of the Cairo Programming Language

(26:57) L1 Apps Building for an L2 World

(30:01) Circle Ad

(31:43) dYdX’s Move From Starkware to Cosmos

(37:15) MEV, Bitcoin and Cairo 1.0 Adoption

(46:23) Layer 3 Scaling

(57:38) What Comes Next

- -

Follow Eli: https://twitter.com/EliBenSasson

Follow Uri: https://twitter.com/ukolodny

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Resources

Vitalik's post on fractal scaling

https://vitalik.ca/general/2022/09/17/layer_3.html

Starkware

https://starkware.co/

--

Circle’s USDC has quickly become one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins because of its composability, stability and reserve transparency. As a seamless, trusted digital currency, USDC is a zero-to-one opportunity for the global financial system. Check out their Transparency Hub at circle.com/transparency that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is.

- -

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

ATOM 2.0, Reversible Transactions & Polygon's BD Game | Blockworks Research Sep 30, 2022

In this episode of Empire's Weekly Roundup, the Blockworks Research team takes over the pod! We start with a debate on the implications of ATOM 2.0 and USDC launching on Cosmos. Is ATOM no longer a meme coin? Does everything revolve around MEV? What opportunities does native USDC unlock for the Cosmos ecosystem?

We then discuss the feasibility of reversible on-chain transactions, the next NFT catalyst and how Polygon is a relentless business development machine. Tune in for all of this and more! And don't worry, Jason and Santi will be back next week.

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00 Introduction

(01:15) ATOM 2.0 & USDC Cosmos Announcement

(20:09) GMX MEV Opportunity Explained

(23:33) Politicians Continue to Fight Crypto

(26:37) Centre & USDC Dominance

(29:45) Reversible Transactions

(38:41) The Next NFT Catalyst

(42:22) Polygon’s Business Development

(47:39) Blockworks Research

- -

Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/MattFiebach

Follow Dan: https://twitter.com/smyyguy

Follow Sam: https://twitter.com/swmartin19

Follow Garrett: https://twitter.com/G_C_Harp

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Referenced in the show:

Youssef Amrani's tweet on ATOM 2.0

https://bit.ly/3RwU1Re

Polka tweet on GMX MEV Opportunity

https://bit.ly/3LRO2VR

Blockworks Research Twitter

https://twitter.com/blockworksres

Blockworks Research Newsletter

https://blockworks.co/newsletter/daily-debrief-by-blockworks-research/

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Music NFTs & The Next Generation Of Music | Cooper Turley Sep 26, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Jason and Santi are joined by Cooper Turley, aka Coopahtroopa, for a master class on music NFTs. We all listen to music every day, yet monetization for 99% of artists is abysmal. Coop explains how artists can leverage Web3 to maximize revenue, fan engagement and creativity.

We explore how music NFTs work, why they have value, which artists should participate and how Web3 will revolutionize the music industry. Cooper is an absolute expert, you won't want to miss it!

- -

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(02:00) Coop Records & Intro to Music NFTs

(06:50) The Evolution of Music Monetization

(11:30) How to Value Music NFTs

(14:41) Artists as CEOs & the Music NFT Market

(22:59) Circle Ad

(24:41) Should Every Artist Create Music NFTs?

(28:57) Do Music NFTs Need Utility?

(37:40) One-of-Ones vs Collections

(41:35) AI-Generated Music & Virtual Artists

(47:05) Monetization, Fan Data and the Innovator's Dilemma

(53:16) Incubating Artists, Creator Equity Tokens & Community

(1:00:01) Tokenized Media & Rapid Fire Questions

- -

Follow Cooper: https://twitter.com/Cooopahtroopa

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Resources

Relics by Monstercat

https://relics.xyz/

Hume

https://www.wearehume.com/

Coop's Substack

https://thisweekinmusicnfts.substack.com/

Coop Records

https://www.cooprecords.xyz/

--

Circle’s USDC has quickly become one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins because of its composability, stability and reserve transparency. As a seamless, trusted digital currency, USDC is a zero-to-one opportunity for the global financial system. Check out their Transparency Hub at circle.com/transparency that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is.

- -

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

$160M Wintermute Exploit, Algo Stable Regulation & Arbitrum's Close Call | Roundup Sep 23, 2022

In this episode of Empire's Weekly Roundup, Jason is joined by 0xpibblez and Westie from Blockworks Research to discuss this week's biggest stories. We start with the $160M Wintermute hack, Nasdaq's new custody offering and why pibblez is staying away from algo stablecoin governance tokens.

We then discuss Arbitrum's white hat hacker, why the Cosmos ecosystem might start seeing more exploits, how DAOs should codify their cap tables and more!

- -

Timestamps

(00:00) Introduction

(00:38) Who The F*ck is Buying ETH Right Now?

(01:46) Wintermute $160M Vanity Address Hack

(14:36) Nasdaq's Crypto Custody Announcement

(17:31) New Draft Stablecoin Bill

(25:44) Avalanche Ad

(27:12) Arbitrum Vulnerability Exposed

(34:44) Rari Fuse Hack Payment

- -

Follow Pibblez: https://twitter.com/0xpibblez

Follow Westie: https://twitter.com/WestieCapital

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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- -

Referenced in the show:

Arbitrum white hat hacker (Riptide) blog

https://medium.com/@0xriptide/hackers-in-arbitrums-inbox-ca23272641a2

Riptide's tweet asking if Arbitrum would have been insolvent

https://twitter.com/0xriptide/status/1572269938580115456

--

Core, from Ava Labs, is more than just a wallet. It’s a free, non-custodial browser extension that gives Avalanche users a more seamless and secure Web3 experience. Download Core today at https://www.core.app/

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Cosmos App-Chain Thesis | Zaki Manian, Jack Zampolin Sep 19, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Jason and Santi are joined by Zaki Manian and Jack Zampolin to explore the past, present and future of the Cosmos ecosystem and tech stack.

What are the advantages of application-specific chains? How will IBC and Interchain security shape the future of cross-chain interactions? What is ATOM 2.0? We discuss these questions and more in this Cosmos deep dive.

- -

Follow Zaki: https://twitter.com/zmanian

Follow Jack: https://twitter.com/jackzampolin

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

--

Timecodes:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:21) History of Cosmos & Tendermint

(18:18) App-Chain Thesis

(30:47) DyDx's Move to Cosmos

(40:57) Circle Ad

(42:39) Cosmos & ATOM Value Accrual

(50:29) ATOM 2.0 Alpha

(52:33) Asynchronous Composability, Flash Loans and New Innovations

(1:05:44) Expanding Cosmos, MEV and IBC Ethereum

(1:16:52) Pros and Cons of the Cosmos Developer Collective

--

Circle’s USDC has quickly become one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins because of its composability, stability and reserve transparency. As a seamless, trusted digital currency, USDC is a zero-to-one opportunity for the global financial system. Check out their Transparency Hub at circle.com/transparency that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is.

- -

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

ETH Merged, Cosmos Spotlight, LSDs & Doodle Raise | Roundup Sep 16, 2022

In this episode of Empire's Weekly Roundup, Jason and Santi discuss the most anticipated event in crypto's history: the merge. It finally happened. How does the successful transition to PoS change ETH's narrative? Where will the market's attention shift next? How important is the ESG-friendly narrative?

We also explore the Cosmos & multichain thesis, liquid staking derivative yields, the Doodle raise controversy and more!

--

(00:00) Introduction

(00:20) Happy Merge Day

(12:06) Liquid Staking Derivatives

(19:12) Cosmos & the Multichain Thesis

(31:08) Core Ad

(32:36) New Coinbase Politics Feature & DAS

(38:12) Doodles Raise Controversy & NFT speculation

(49:18) Figma Acquired by Adobe, Do Kwon & Book Recs

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Referenced in the show:

Travis Kling, Empire podcast

https://spoti.fi/3qFbgV9

Fred Wilson's blog on Ethereum flows

https://avc.com/2022/08/the-merge/

LSDs are up only tweet

https://twitter.com/mhonkasalo/status/1570060055789146114

Brian Armstrong's tweet on Coinbase's new politician feature

https://twitter.com/brian_armstrong/status/1570133078022160384

Fixed Rate Lending Unlock, Bell Curve podcast

https://spoti.fi/3Dugefd

Building Market Microstructure for NFTs

https://bit.ly/3Sp54Nd

--

Core, from Ava Labs, is more than just a wallet. It’s a free, non-custodial browser extension that gives Avalanche users a more seamless and secure Web3 experience. Download Core today at https://www.core.app/

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Web3 Bank Of The Future | Bill Barhydt, Abra Sep 12, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Jason is joined by Bill Barhydt, founder of Abra, to discuss the 80-year debt cycle, Bill's crypto thesis and the future of Web3 banking. We start with macro, Q4 predictions and the "big Fed pause". We then discuss Bill's BTC and ETH investment thesis and the concept of a Web3 bank.

Tune in to the end, where Bill announces a new product that could shape the future of financial services.

- -

(00:00) Introduction

(01:32) The 80-Year Debt Cycle & the Big Fed Pause

(15:35) ETH vs Bitcoin Investment Thesis

(26:10) Circle Ad

(27:33) Abra's Outperformance in the Bear Market

(30:02) Ingredients for the Bank of the Future

(41:56) Announcing Abra Bank, the Bank of Web3

- -

Follow Bill: https://twitter.com/billbarhydt

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Resources

Abra

https://www.abra.com/

The Blocksize War book

https://amzn.to/3xf0IQw

--

Circle’s USDC has quickly become one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins because of its composability, stability and reserve transparency. As a seamless, trusted dollar digital currency, USDC is a zero-to-one opportunity for the global financial system. Check out their Transparency Hub at circle.com/transparency that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is.

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Are You Ready For The Merge? & Coinbase's MakerDAO Proposal | Roundup Sep 09, 2022

In this episode of Empire's Weekly Roundup, Jason and Santi discuss the upcoming Ethereum merge and how to maximize your profit opportunity (warning: this is not financial advice).

We also explore Coinbase's $1.6B Maker DAO proposal, Binance's BUSD announcement, value accrual frameworks, and more!

- -

(00:00) Intro

(02:23) A Web3 CRM

(04:48) How to Prep for the ETH merge

(19:30) MakerDAO Proposal To Send $1.6B USDC to Coinbase Prime

(27:24) Avalanche Ad

(28:50) Coinbase Deal

(36:16) Coinbase Backs Tornado Lawsuit Against the Treasury Department

(40:45) Binance BUSD Announcement

(46:02) Where Will Value Accrue In Crypto?

(53:15) Chaos Labs, Mysten Labs & Fund Raises

(59:20) Podcast & Book Recommendations

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Referenced in the show:

Tomasz Tunguz articles

https://tomtunguz.com/

Robert Leshner's tweet thread on the merge

https://twitter.com/rleshner/status/1559727104903757826

Katie Haun - Tornado Cash: What web3 Needs to Know

https://bit.ly/3x9w4b8

Doug Colkitt blockspace fee tweet thread

https://twitter.com/0xdoug/status/1566491825942237184

Bell Curve podcast

https://spoti.fi/3DbPpwm

Take Notes podcast

https://spoti.fi/3Qow1yY

Matthew Ball's new Metaverse book

https://www.matthewball.vc/metaversebook

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

How to Build a Sustainable DeFi Protocol | Kain Warwick, Synthetix Sep 05, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Jason and Mike are joined by Kain Warwick, founder of Synthetix. This is one of my favorite episodes where we discuss why protocol fees are the next meta, the value of liquidity mining and token incentives, Synthetix's roadmap, protocol-specific stablecoins and much more!

- -

(00:00) Introduction

(02:06) Protocol Revenue KPIs

(10:40) Do open-source protocols have moats?

(19:55) Airdrops, liquidity mining and attempts to grow TVL

(28:00) Framing the cost of liquidity mining: cash vs equity

(31:43) B2B permissoned composability and Protocol M&A

(37:56) Token supply caps & path dependency

(49:35) Should protocols retain or distribute fees

(52:10) Payment for order flow

(54:36) Synthetix’s End Game

(1:00:16) Why DAOs will outcompete traditional organizations

(1:04:38) Synthetix v3, Regulation and Liquidity-as-a-Service

(1:12:46) Why Synthetix is removing inflation

(1:16:04) Protocol-specific stablecoins & MakerDAO’s USDC reliance

- -

Follow Kain: https://twitter.com/kaiynne

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

MakerDAO's End Game, Michael Saylor Tax Evasion & Arbitrum Nitro | Roundup Sep 02, 2022

In this episode of Empire's Weekly Roundup, Jason and Santi discuss MakerDAO's end game. Maker is often called the backbone of DeFi and will have to choose if the protocol embraces regulation or maximizes decentralization. We explore Rune's recent proposal, Maker's two options and why we are bullish.

We also discuss Michael Saylor's tax evasion lawsuit, the release of Arbitrum Nitro, the governance timelock debate and a new Aave proposal.

--

(00:00) Introduction

(02:36) Michael Saylor accused of tax fraud

(08:30) Maker DAO’s End Game & Crypto’s Potential Compromise

(21:06) Core Ad

(22:33) Crypto's Potential Compromise Cont.

(29:01) Compound Bug and the Governance Timelock Debate

(35:58) Arbitrum Nitro Launch

(41:23) Aave ETH Lending Proposal & Merge Craziness

(44:30) DeFi Will Lead the Way In the Next Bull

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Referenced in the show:

Rune's post on "free float" DAI

https://bit.ly/3RskrDL

Jason's tweet announcing he's now a MakerDAO delegate

https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz/status/1564310872423645184

Sam Martin's tweet on Arbitrum vs Optimism usage

https://twitter.com/swmartin19/status/1565339068069584901

--

Core, from Ava Labs, is more than just a wallet. It’s a free, non-custodial browser extension that gives Avalanche users a more seamless and secure Web3 experience. Download Core today at https://www.core.app/

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The DeFi Credit Boom | Season One Pilot Aug 30, 2022

Blockworks just released a new podcast called Bell Curve! We're dropping the pilot episode here as we think you might want to add this podcast to the lineup.

Season one of Bell Curve revolves around our DeFi credit boom thesis. Simply put, CeFi's implosion will create a DeFi credit boom that will bring new users and fixed-rate lending markets to DeFi.

What products will be created? Who will be the users of these products? Where will capital flow first?

These are a few of the questions we'll explore as we put our thesis to the test. Join Jason and Mike in this season one pilot episode, where we provide context for our thesis and explain what you should expect in the upcoming episodes.

If you consider yourself a curious degen, builder or investor: this show is for you.

- -

Follow Mike: https://twitter.com/MikeIppolito_

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Bell Curve: https://twitter.com/thebellcurvepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3R1D1D9

Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3pQTfmD

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3cpKZXH

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Bell Curve is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Mike, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The State of Crypto Regulation | Rebecca Rettig and Jake Chervinsky Aug 29, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Jason and Santi are joined by Rebecca Rettig and Jake Chervinsky to discuss the state of crypto regulation. We explore what Tornado Cash sanctions mean for crypto, how to define decentralization, if tokens will be considered securities, Ethereum censorship, what to expect from future regulation and more!

- -

(00:00) Introduction

(01:18) Tornado Cash Sanctions

(16:09) Defining Decentralization

(26:17) What Has Been Most Damaging to Crypto?

(31:03) Do Regulators Understand the Nuances of Crypto?

(37:35) What Regulations Should Be Prioritized Today?

(39:27) A Focus on User Protection

(46:17) Getting Congress on Our Side

(59:45) The SEC's Attack on Crypto (Coinbase)

(1:01:02) Uniswap Fee Switch Implications

(1:08:17) ETH Validators & OFAC Compliance

(1:19:27) Permissionless vs Permissioned DeFi

- -

Follow Rebecca: https://twitter.com/RebeccaRettig1

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Fat Protocol Thesis, Web3 Consultants, Fei's Controversial Shutdown | Roundup Aug 26, 2022

In this episode of Empire's Weekly Roundup, Jason and Santi discuss how DAOs should fund protocol development, why liquidity providers aren't considered creditors, the future of staking derivatives, app vs protocol value capture and much more!

- -

Timestamps

(00:00) Aave’s Retroactive Funding, Protocol Development and Web3 Consultants

(17:52) Coinbase Announces a New Staking Derivative

(25:55) The Fei Protocol Shutdown and Liquidity Providers as Creditors Debate

(32:28) Avalanche Ad

(33:56) The Fei Protocol Shutdown and Liquidity Providers as Creditors Debate cont.

(39:24) Fat Protocol vs Application Thesis

(52:27) Crypto Needs Regulatory Clarity and Fixed Rate Lending

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Referenced in the show:

Byron's Blockworks Newsletter

https://blockworks.co/newsletter/daily/?id=28814320

ETH Staking Distribution Charts

https://dune.com/sixdegree/ethereum-the-merge

Westie Tweet on the Fat Application Thesis

https://twitter.com/WestieCapital/status/1562079476837765120

--

Core, from Ava Labs, is more than just a wallet. It’s a free, non-custodial browser extension that gives Avalanche users a more seamless and secure Web3 experience. Download Core today at https://www.core.app/

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Your Privacy, Risks, and Rights Following Tornado Cash Sanctions | Jill Gunter & Michael Mosier Aug 25, 2022

The US Treasury's sanctions on Tornado Cash could go down as one of the most significant events in crypto's history. The implications and nuances are vast, so we've decided to do something a little different for today's episode.

On August 12th, Jill Gunter and Michael Mosier from Espresso Systems hosted a Twitter Space on Tornado's sanctions, financial privacy and regulation. We've teamed up with Jill and Michael to share this epic conversation with a wider audience.

This is a massive episode, almost 3 hours, but it's full of profound insights and has an all-star lineup of speakers. I highly recommend listening if you want to learn more about the recent sanctions and where regulation is heading!

Shoutout to @f1v3am and @nedbgq, who provided a recording of the conversation and made this episode possible.

--

Follow Jill: https://twitter.com/jillrgunter

Follow Michael: https://twitter.com/M_Mosier_

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

--

Resources

Link to the original Twitter Space

https://twitter.com/jillrgunter/status/1558150917387534336

MakerDAO’s Growth Strategy | monetsupply and Sam MacPherson Aug 22, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Jason is joined by two of MakerDAO's top contributors, monetsupply and Sam MacPherson, to discuss the future of MakerDAO and the DAI stablecoin.

Highlights include:

-- Is USDC an existential risk to MakerDAO?

-- Why is Maker financing off-chain assets?

-- How can DAI scale to become the de facto money of DeFi?

Tune in to find out!

--

(00:00) Introduction

(00:18) How Big Of a Threat Are US Sanctions?

(05:34) The Importance of Maker's PSM

(11:30) What Is the Ideal Basket of Collateral for DAI?

(18:05) Embracing Real World Asset Lending

(25:20) Tokenizing Assets & the Huntington Valley Loan

(28:16) Increasing Maker's Surplus Buffer

(34:16) The D3M and Specialized Lending Partners

(42:01) CeFi Contagion and Liquidation

(44:38) Vertical Integration Across the DeFi Stack

(52:02) Maker's Evolving Governance

(59:57) Are A DAO's Inefficiency Tradeoffs Worth It?

(1:05:04) Maker's Long-Term Vision

- -

Follow monetsupply: https://twitter.com/MonetSupply

Follow Sam: https://twitter.com/hexonaut

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Resources

MakerDAO

https://makerdao.com/en/

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Sudoswap Hype, Ethereum Censorship Risk & ETH PoW Debate | Roundup Aug 19, 2022

In this episode of Empire's Weekly Roundup, Jason is joined by two of Blockworks' top research analysts, Dan Smith and Sam Martin, to discuss this week’s biggest stories.

Highlights include:

-- Is Sudoswap a zero to one moment for NFTs?

-- Is Ethereum's censorship resistance compromised?

-- Will anyone use ETH PoW post-merge?

Tune in to find out!

- -

Timecodes:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:32) Ethereum's censorship risk, 3 potential outcomes

(11:40) Will the ETH PoW chain have value?

(15:42) FlashBots is open sourcing their relayer software

(19:19) Crypto's reliance on centralized cloud providers

(21:24) Avalanche Ad

(22:52) Sudoswap, a zero to one moment for NFTs?

(33:17) OpenSea vs Sudo

(35:48) Should NFTs have creator royalty fees?

(39:12) Canto, a weird crypto experiment (NFA)

(47:26) Canada enforces new crypto regulation

- -

Follow Dan: https://twitter.com/smyyguy

Follow Sam: https://twitter.com/swmartin19

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Referenced in the show:

Blockworks Research

https://www.blockworksresearch.com/

Ape Board (migrated to Nansen Portfolio)

https://portfolio.nansen.ai/

--

Core, from Ava Labs, is more than just a wallet. It’s a free, non-custodial browser extension that gives Avalanche users a more seamless and secure Web3 experience. Download Core today at https://www.core.app/

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Crypto Networks Are Monetizable Public Goods | Jake Brukhman Aug 15, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Jason and Santi are joined by Jake Brukhman, the founder and CEO of CoinFund, to explore the concept of crypto as a public good. We discuss:

-- How crypto is a public good, and why that's important

-- How public goods can monetize and accrue value

-- How crypto will democratize public goods funding

Tune in for these answers and more!

- -

Timestamps

(00:00) Introduction

(02:23) Defining Crypto's Value Proposition

(07:17) Private vs Public vs Common Goods

(13:59) Can Public Goods Accrue Value?

(28:41) The Tragedy Of The Commons

(32:35) What Crypto Skeptics Get Wrong

(38:32) Why Users Will Want Decentralized Networks

(41:50) A New Business Model To Fund Public Goods

(50:03) Rapid Fire Questions

- -

Follow Jake: https://twitter.com/jbrukh

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

--

The Network State by Balaji

https://thenetworkstate.com/

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Tornado Cash Banned, USDC Blacklist and KYC DeFi | Roundup Aug 12, 2022

In this episode of Empire's Weekly Roundup, Jason and Santi discuss the US Treasury's sanctions on Tornado Cash, Circle freezing USDC transfers, the future of KYC DeFi and more.

Show Highlights:

-- How do privacy protocols work?

-- Does this ban mean crypto isn't decentralized?

-- How did Circle freeze the transfer of USDC tokens?

-- Should DeFi protocols be worried?

- -

Timestamps

(00:00) Introduction

(07:28) Tornado Cash Sanctioned By The US Treasury

(14:44) How Mixers And Privacy Tokens Work

(21:06) Github, Infura, AWS And Crypto’s Centralization Vectors

(23:00) Core Ad

(24:30) USDC Blacklist And Implications For DeFi

(38:05) What Happens If All DeFi Is KYC’d

(41:54) How Does The Ban Affect Other Privacy Protocols

(43:40) Curve Hack, Coinbase Earnings

(53:55) Uniswap Protocol Fee And Foundation Approved

(58:46) ETH PoW Chain, Hot Or Not?

(01:03:03) Reddit Embraces Web3

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

--

Referenced in the show:

Eric Peters episode

https://tinyurl.com/ydfhu6fd

SWIFT & OFAC episode

https://tinyurl.com/yc2jhfsn

- -

Core, from Ava Labs, is more than just a wallet. It’s a free, non-custodial browser extension that gives Avalanche users a more seamless and secure Web3 experience. Download Core today at https://www.core.app/

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Crypto’s Liquidity Engine, OTC Desks and CEXs | Jonah Van Bourg & Genia Mikhalchenko Aug 08, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Jason and Santiago are joined by two crypto market experts, Jonah Van Bourg & Genia Mikhalchenko, to discuss the anatomy of a trade. An asset's price is derived from supply and demand, but who provides this liquidity, how are trades executed and what parties are involved?

Tune in to find out & check out the highlights below!

- The role of market makers

- Why liquidity is the lifeblood of trading

- How liquidity providers performed in the recent market crash

- Why trade size matters and the risks of front running

- The 3 most important things when evaluating an exchange

- Understanding counterparty risks

- How much leverage is left in the system

- Consolidation is coming

- Will legacy financial institutions compete with crypto-native service providers

- -

Follow Genia: https://twitter.com/Genia_xx

Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Resources

Cumberland website

https://cumberland.io/

BitMEX website

https://www.bitmex.com/

--

(00:00) Introduction

(01:36) How Market Makers Work

(08:42) Operating An Exchange In a Bear Market

(11:10) The Risk of Front Running

(15:47) Understanding Counterparty Risk

(18:50) Balancing Retail & Institutional Liquidity

(25:50) How Much Leverage Is Left In the System?

(32:40) The Relationship Between DeFi and Centralized Services

(37:43) Biggest Opportunities, On and Off Chain

(40:40) Consolidation Is Coming

(43:06) Are Legacy Financial Institutions A Threat to Crypto Service Providers?

(46:32) Rapid Fire Questions

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

$195M Stolen, Angel Investing, NFT Growth Hacking & Synapse Chain | Roundup Aug 05, 2022

In this episode of Empire's Weekly Roundup, Jason and Santi discuss the current market, angel investing, and the week's biggest news.

Highlights include:

- Santi's learnings from angel investing

- Why this market is a great setup for investors

- Santi explains why he's over-indexed on ETH

- Over $195M stolen between the Slope and Nomad hack

- Details on the newly launched Synapse chain

- Should protocols vertically integrate or leverage composability

- Magic Eden vs OpenSea

- Coinbase & Blackrock partnership

- Tiffany launched a new IRL NFT project

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

https://twitter.com/adamscochran

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Referenced in the show:

Twitter accounts to follow

https://twitter.com/tayvano_

https://twitter.com/samczsun

https://twitter.com/0xfoobar

Raj tweet on the need for Solana Mobile

https://twitter.com/rajgokal/status/1554889457928613889

Blockworks Research report on Synapse

https://www.blockworksresearch.com/research/synapse/

Empire episode on Layer Zero

https://sptfy.com/KWqY

- -

Core, from Ava Labs, is more than just a wallet. It’s a free, non-custodial browser extension that gives Avalanche users a more seamless and secure Web3 experience. Download Core today at https://www.core.app/

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

(00:00) Introduction

(02:31) Market Update & Why Santi Is "Feeling Hot"

(05:45) Santi's Angel Investment Strategy

(17:03) Why Santi Is Over Indexed on ETH

(25:53) Solana (aka Slope) Hack

(35:31) Core Ad

(37:00) Nomad Hacked for $190M

(40:18) NFTs, the Building Blocks of a Web3 CRM

(46:16) Synapse Launches Their Own Chain

(54:04) Protocol Vertical Integration vs Compatibility

(59:50) Magic Eden & Marketplace Businesses

(1:03:18) Michael Saylor, Coinbase/Blackrock Partnership and Other Headlines

(1:05:43) Coinbase Finds Momentum

(01:12:38) Tiffany Is Launching 250 Punk Pendants

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Inside the mind of crypto’s top traders | Dan Matuszewski (CMS) & Avi Felman Aug 01, 2022

Attend DAS, crypto and macro’s favorite institutional conference: http://digitalassetsummit.co/

Use code EMPIRE250 to get $250 off tickets (Only available this week!)

--

In this episode of Empire, Jason and Mike are joined by Dan Matuszewski (CMS Holdings) & Avi Felman (GoldenTree). If you don't know these two names, don't forget them - two of the best traders and sources of alpha in crypto.

This episode is one of my favorites yet; check out the highlights below:

- Is macro crypto's master

- This will lead to crypto's divergence with Macro

- How will ETH perform with the merge

- What are the new, hidden narratives

- The tradeoff between CeFi and DeFi

- Is DeFi ready to take off

- Retail open-term lending is dead

- Regulators have two options

- Why VCs are in trouble

- -

Follow Dan: https://twitter.com/cmsholdings

Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Mike: https://twitter.com/MikeIppolito_

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

--

(00:00) Introduction

(01:08) The intersection of macro & crypto

(12:47) How Will ETH's Price React to the Merge?

(17:50) New Narratives & Market Leverage

(25:28) A Catalyst for DeFi

(29:10) What's About to Happen in CeFi?

(31:37) Your DeFi Project Isn't Sexy

(35:45) Can DeFi Tokens Accure Value?

(41:23) Why You Should Avoid Low Float Tokens

(44:27) VCs Are In Trouble

(49:20) Avi and Dan Run Wild

(51:06) Wrapping Things Up

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Uniswap Fee Debate, ARK’s Investment Thesis, DAO Governance | Roundup with Brett Winton Jul 29, 2022

In this episode of Empire's Weekly Roundup, Jason and Santi are joined by Brett Winton, the Director of Research at ARK invest. We discuss the heated Uniswap fee controversy, token business models, DAO governance and the securitization of everything.

We also discuss ARK's unique investment strategy and crypto thesis. This is one special roundup.

Highlights include:

- How to play the current macro market

- The securitization of everything

- Coinbase's opportunity

- Potential business models for Uniswap

- Will DeFi fees go to zero

- The secret to diversification

- Brett's #1 consideration when hiring

- -

Follow Brett: https://twitter.com/wintonARK

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Attend DAS, crypto and macro’s favorite institutional conference: http://digitalassetsummit.co/ - Use code EMPIRE250 to get $250 off tickets (Only available this week!)

- -

Referenced in the show:

ARK Invest

https://ark-invest.com/

ARK's Bitcoin Monthly Research

https://ark-invest.com/lp-bitcoin-monthly/

Howard Mark's Letter on being Unconventional

https://www.oaktreecapital.com/insights/memo/i-beg-to-differ

Lido Treasury Sale Proposal

https://research.lido.fi/t/treasury-diversification-2-part-2/2657

- -

Core, from Ava Labs, is more than just a wallet. It’s a free, non-custodial browser extension that gives Avalanche users a more seamless and secure Web3 experience. Download Core today at https://www.core.app/

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

(00:00) Introduction

(01:47) Where Are Interest Rates Headed?

(08:38) An Inevitable Movie Towards Financial Transparency

(12:00) Three Revolutions Catalyzed by Bitcoin

(27:52) Ava Labs Core

(29:20) Coinbase and the Securitization of Everything

(41:48) Uniswap fee switch and token business models

(53:16) DAO governance and capital allocation

(59:12) How ARK assesses new investments

(1:06:01) Has inflation peaked, BTC as the reserve asset and more

(1:10:58) Why curiosity is Brett's #1 hiring criteria

(1:17:08) What ARK believes that many others don't (yet)

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Crypto’s Undeniable Use Case | Erik Voorhees Jul 25, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Jason and Santi are joined by Erik Voorhees, the founder of Shapeshift and OG of the crypto industry (joining in 2011). Erik believes crypto can change the world, and this episode explores his thesis on Bitcoin's future, on-chain maximalism, DAO structures and crypto's path to adoption.

Highlights include:

- What is the best form of money

- Bitcoin's tail emission risk

- How DeFi will outperform CeFi

- Will all financial transactions be on-chain?

- The likely path to adoption

- Why DAO failures are a sign of innovation

- Thoughts on regulation

- The future of centralized exchanges

- Why Thorchain is a gamechanger

- -

Follow Erik: https://twitter.com/ErikVoorhees

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

ParaSwap:

If you want to make a swap at the best price across the DeFi market, check out http://paraswap.io/empire

ParaSwap’s state-of-the-art algorithm beats the market price across all major DEXs and brings you the most optimized swaps with the best prices and lowest slippage.

Disclaimer: 0 fees are limited to 3 weeks or first 500k.

- -

Attend DAS, crypto and macro’s favorite institutional conference: http://digitalassetsummit.co/

Use code EMPIRE250 to get $250 off tickets (Only available this week!)

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

(00:00) Introduction

(01:32) Moving Beyond Bitcoin

(03:50) Bitcoin Is The Best Form of Money

(05:34) Bitcoin's Declining Block Subsidy

(11:13) Woke Culture vs Bitcoin Maximalism

(12:50) The Bifurcation of CeFi and DeFi

(16:18) Limits to DeFi's Growth

(22:50) Why Users Will Want To Use DeFi

(26:50) A Short and Long Term Vision of the World

(28:48) Paraswap Ad

(29:56) The Path to Adoption

(35:38) Is The Worst Behind Us?

(37:22) Erik's Current Focus

(38:38) DAO Structures and Experimentation

(46:08) A DAOs Most Important Use Case

(49:30) Iterative Regulation

(55:54) Centralized Exchanges

(57:05) Thorchain's Use Case

(58:48) Advice To New People In the Space

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

STEPN’s ambitious move into Web 2 | Yawn Rong Jul 22, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Jason and Santi are joined by Yawn Rong, co-founder of STEPN. STEPN is a widely successful Web3 application where users are paid to move (walk, jog or sprint). Yes, that may sound slightly dubious but tell that to the 1.7M+ active users STEPN garnered in only six months after launch.

Tune in to find out why STEPN was so successful and how STEPN plans to be the onboarding ecosystem of Web3!

Highlights include:

- STEPN's pivot to Web2

- How STEPN's two token system works

- Why Yawn believes STEPN will avoid Axie's fate

- How STEPN will expand across chains via Realms

- Why STEPN isn't adopting other exercise types

- Mechanics to retain users

- STEPN's focus on offline networks

- How to prevent users from gaming STEPN

- Potential partnerships

- Yawn's learnings from building in Web3

- -

Follow Yawn: https://twitter.com/yawn_rong

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Core, from Ava Labs, is more than just a wallet. It’s a free, non-custodial browser extension that gives Avalanche users a more seamless and secure Web3 experience. Download Core today at https://www.core.app/

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

(00:00) Introduction

(03:39) STEPN's Pivot to Embrace Web2

(08:50) STEPN Overview & The Two Token System

(13:12) Avoiding Axie Infinity's Fate

(15:48) A Response to the Ponzi Accusation

(21:59) The Competition

(23:59) Expanding Chains With Realms

(26:26) How To Scale

(29:33) CORE

(31:02) User Retention In a Bear Market

(34:29) How To Prevent People From Gaming The System

(41:29) Will STEPN support other exercise types

(43:52) Strategy to be the billboard of Web3

(45:39) Building offline networks

(47:58) Onboarding Users

(50:44) User Behaviour

(55:27) Partnering With Insurance Companies

(57:09) Learnings From Building In Web3

(1:01:05) Holding Conviction During a Bear

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Ultimate Guide to the Metaverse | Matthew Ball Jul 18, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Jason is joined by Matthew Ball. Matthew is a strategist, technologist, investor, and metaverse expert. This episode is a masterclass on the future of the Metaverse, interoperability and the tech industry.

What defines the Metaverse? Who will build it? And will crypto be a key ingredient? Tune in to find out!

Highlights include:

- Defining the Metaverse

- What marks its arrival

- Why centralization forces will always exist

- How interoperability will work

- Why metadata is the tricky part of interoperability

- Open vs closed protocols

- Crypto's unique value prop

- 5 ways companies react to technology shifts

- Predicting how the world looks in 5 to 10 years

- Who will build the Metaverse

PS Matthew's new book The Metaverse and How it Will Revolution Everything is launching July 19th. This book is guaranteed to be the go-to guide for the Metaverse.

- -

Follow Matthew: https://twitter.com/ballmatthew

https://www.matthewball.vc/

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Referenced in the show:

Matthew's website

Pre-order Matthew's new book

https://www.matthewball.vc/metaversebook

McKinsey on investments in the Metaverse

https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/news/metaverse-mckinsey-2030

- -

ParaSwap:

If you want to make a swap at the best price across the DeFi market, check out http://paraswap.io/empire

ParaSwap’s state-of-the-art algorithm beats the market price across all major DEXs and brings you the most optimized swaps with the best prices and lowest slippage.

Disclaimer: 0 fees are limited to 3 weeks or first 500k.

- -

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

(00:00) Introduction

(02:21) Defining the Metaverse

(06:46) What Will Mark The Arrival of the Metaverse

(13:01) Open Protocols Create Consumer Choice

(22:06) Paraswap Ad

(23:14) The Idealism of interoperability

(35:36) Who Will Control the Metaverse

(39:55) Crypto's Unique Advantage

(44:48) How Will The World Look In 5-10 Years

(48:55) Who Will Build the Metaverse

(52:31) Matthew's New Book

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Bitcoin Miner Capitulation | Cassie Clifton & Kevin Zhang Jul 15, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Jason is joined by two experts in the Bitcoin mining industry, Cassie Clifton (Galaxy Digital) and Kevin Zhang (Foundry). Since the start of the bear market in November 2021, we've seen prices crash and contagion run through DeFi. But it wasn't until May 2022 that rumors started to spread of pain in the Bitcoin mining industry.

Profit margins are collapsing, debt obligations are coming due, and miners are fighting to stay solvent. Tune in for a complete breakdown of the state of bitcoin mining!

Highlights include:

- Miner economics

- Understanding the ASICs market

- How debt-fueled insane growth

- What China's ban meant for the industry

- Why Miners hodl their Bitcoin

- What led to today's pain

- Consolidation and M&A

- Bitcoin Mining pools

- What to expect next

- -

Follow Cassie: https://twitter.com/bitcoincass

Follow Kevin: https://twitter.com/SinoCrypto

https://tinyurl.com/bznjm8ub

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

--

Core, from Ava Labs, is more than just a wallet. It’s a free, non-custodial browser extension that gives Avalanche users a more seamless and secure Web3 experience. Download Core today at https://www.core.app/

- -

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

(00:00) Introduction

(01:45) Starting in March 2020

(07:10) The inputs to miner profitability

(10:42) How miners procure ASICs

(17:34) Miners prefer to HODL

(21:58) How miners reacted to macro volatility

(24:26) Avalanche Core Ad

(25:54) Second Order Effects of the China ban

(36:30) The State of Bitcoin Miners Today

(45:40) Are manufactures in trouble?

(47:08) Will miners flood the market with BTC?

(48:25) The end of ASIC backed loans?

(51:30) Consolidation and M&A

(54:30) Will Miners form an OPEC like committee?

(57:03) Renewable energy

(59:36) Changes in the energy market

(1:03:54) Bitcoin mining pools

(1:08:10) When will we hit rock bottom?

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Bitcoin Is Still The Most Interesting Trade | Eric Peters Jul 11, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Jason and Santi are joined by Eric Peters, the founder and CEO of One River Asset Management. Eric, a renowned macro investor, made a splash in the cryptoverse in November 2020 by making a $600M BTC purchase before sagely exiting the market with a $1B+ profit.

Eric shares his views on the current macro cycle, investment strategies, the future of DeFi and crypto's inevitability.

Highlights include:

- The state of macro and why inflation was a choice

- End of the 60-40 portfolio

- Why this market cycle is over

- The catalyst behind Eric's $600M BTC purchase

- How to "time" markets

- Why current DeFi implementations won't cut it

- Crypto's breakout moment

- Why Bitcoin is the most interesting trade

- When will the Fed reverse course

- What Eric would tell his younger self

- -

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Referenced in the show:

One River Asset Management

https://www.oneriveram.com/

- -

ParaSwap:

If you want to make a swap at the best price across the DeFi market, check out http://paraswap.io/empire

ParaSwap’s state-of-the-art algorithm beats the market price across all major DEXs and brings you the most optimized swaps with the best prices and lowest slippage.

Disclaimer: 0 fees are limited to 3 weeks or first 500k.

- -

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

(00:00) Intro

(01:49) The Current Macro Environment

(07:06) How Eric Navigates Market Cycles

(11:19) Deflationary Cycles & Expensive Ubers

(17:04) Inflation is a choice

(21:42) The $600M BTC purchase

(27:26) How Do You Time the Trade?

(33:20) Paraswap Ad

(34:26) How to think about asset allocation

(39:20) Why Eric's firm doesn't touch DeFi

(43:27) Why Crypto is Here to Stay

(49:55) DeFi's Zero to One Moment

(55:00) How Eric views BTC

(1:02:33) When will Bitcoin's price recover?

(1:09:08) The 80 Year Debt Cycle

(1:16:15) Eric's advice to his younger self

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Roundup: Voyager and 3AC bankrupt, BTC miners capitulate, MakerDAO progress Jul 08, 2022

In this episode of Empire's Weekly Roundup, Jason and Santi discuss this week's biggest stories. Voyager and 3AC file for bankruptcy, Bitcoin miners are becoming forced sellers, MakerDAO is bringing real-world assets to crypto, and so much more.

Highlights include:

- The shift in narrative from inflation to growth

- Why Voyager might see a major lawsuit

- Thoughts on the BlockFi acquisition

- Where to keep your crypto assets

- Santi's two recommended investment strategies

- Core Scientific (miner) sells 75% of their Bitcoin

- Santi's front-row seat to Maker's "black Thursday."

- How MakerDAO is making history with a US bank

- A potential catalyst for the next bull market

- Aave proposes their own stablecoin

- Top things to watch for this week

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Referenced in the show:

Voyager 2019 article stating deposits are FDIC insured

https://www.investvoyager.com/blog/voyager-is-now-fdic-insured/

Adam Cochran on the 3AC liquidation

https://twitter.com/adamscochran/status/1543253799929876480

Mika Honkasalo tweet on Uniswap

https://twitter.com/mhonkasalo/status/1544677185818075142

Aave Stablecoin Proposal

https://governance.aave.com/t/introducing-gho/8730

Westie (Blockworks Research Analyst) tweet on OpenSea users declining

https://twitter.com/WestieCapital/status/1545047687178752008

Reddit NFT Marketplace

https://tinyurl.com/a3u34n8

- -

Core, from Ava Labs, is more than just a wallet. It’s a free, non-custodial browser extension that gives Avalanche users a more seamless and secure Web3 experience. Download Core today at https://www.core.app/

- -

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

00:00 Introduction

02:30 Santi's Feeling Bullish

07:47 Voyager Bankruptcy Details

13:09 The 3AC Liquidation is a Netflix Drama

19:00 Genesis and Celsius Update

21:20 Where Do You Feel Safe Storing Your Crypto?

24:38 FTX Acquires BlockFi

27:44 How to outperform most crypto funds

31:20 BTC Miner Capitulation Starts Now

35:54 Avalanche Ad

37:22 MakerDAO makes history with Real World Assets

42:56 Aave stablecoin? And Other Big News

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Why Osmosis could be the interchain DEX | Sunny Aggarwal & Derek Hsue Jul 04, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Jason and Santi are joined by Sunny Aggarwal (Osmosis co-founder) and Derek Hsue (Reverie co-founder & "I Pledge Allegiance" co-host) to discuss the future of Osmosis, appchains and protocol governance. Show highlights include:

- Learnings from the CeFi fallout

- How protocols should re-think token incentives

- Thoughts on dYdX moving to Cosmos

- Why applications should launch their own chain

- One of the biggest shortfalls of rollups

- Osmosis as the interchain DEX

- Mars protocol on Osmosis

- Why Cosmos governance is so active

- Experimenting with a DAO's org structure

- Osmosis exploit and learnings

- The Osmosis roadmap

- What Sunny and Derek are looking forward to

- -

Follow Sunny: https://twitter.com/sunnya97

Follow Derek: https://twitter.com/derek_hsue

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Referenced in the show:

"I Pledge Allegiance" podcast co-hosted by Derek

https://tinyurl.com/493vrmpp

- -

ParaSwap:

If you want to make a swap at the best price across the DeFi market, check out paraswap.io. ParaSwap’s state-of-the-art algorithm beats the market price across all major DEXs and brings you the most optimized swaps with the best prices and lowest slippage.

Visit paraswap.io/beta to learn more about Paraswap's new app.

- -

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

(00:00) Introduction

(00:50) Lessons Learned From CeFi Fallout

(03:04) Rethinking Capital Spend

(06:17) Osomosis Incentive Structure

(08:04) dYdX Moves to Cosmos

(10:27) The Downside of Rollups Today

(15:38) Why Projects Should Launch Their Own Appchain

(18:56) The Cosmos Hub and Shared Security

(22:09) Appchains Will Expand Their Scope

(26:38) Paraswap Ad

(27:48) Applications on Osmosis

(31:00) The Fat Application Thesis

(33:47) Active Governance in Cosmos

(37:54) Governance Is Not the Goal

(40:22) What Should DAOs Be Used For?

(42:41) DAO Org Structures

(47:30) Osmosis Exploit & Learnings

(50:35) The Osmosis Exploit & Learnings

(1:00:55)The Osmosis Vertical Integration Bet

(1:05:40) The Future of DeFi

(1:14:40) Web of Trust & zk Applications

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Why Crypto Funds Shut Down | Weekly Roundup Jul 01, 2022

In this episode of Empire's Weekly Roundup, Jason and Santi discuss this week's biggest stories. CeFi continues to implode, funds are facing redemptions and Bitcoin miners are in trouble. What could be the catalyst out of this mess? How has Santi changed his mind about DeFi? Tune in to find out!

Highlights include:

- Why Santi changed his mind on undercollateralized loans in DeFi

- What is happening with CoinFLEX and Roger Ver

- 3AC officially defaults

- Why users aren't ready to use DeFi

- Jason and Santi's bet on the next crypto catalyst

- A potential Bitcoin miner death spiral

- What is a high watermark

- Arthur Hayes' predictions

- Are we just reliant on the Fed?

- Maker DAO is buying T-Bills

- Jason/Santi book recommendations

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Referenced in the show:

Jill Gunter of Espresso Systems

https://twitter.com/jillrgunter

Ryan Swanson (Blockworks Research Analyst)

https://twitter.com/ryan_swansonx

--

BitMEX is back and better than ever. Sign up for BitmEX's new Spot Exchange for a chance to win a piece of $500,000 in BTC (new users).

Learn more about them at https://www.bitmex.com/

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

(00:00) Introduction

(03:01) State of the Market

(09:45) Bearish On Undercollaterized Loans

(12:15) CoinFLEX, Roger Ver and More Contagion

(19:08) Will People Use DeFi?

(26:25) A Privacy & Security Bet

(29:06) Voyager Issues Default Notice to 3AC

(29:58) Bitmex Ad

(30:56) BTC Miner Death Spiral

(42:26) Funder Redemptions ft. Arthur Hayes

(50:25) Closing Crypto Funds & High Watermarks

(59:10) MakerDAO Vote to Buy T-Bills

(1:04:20) Catalyst For The Next Cycle

(1:11:20) Crypto's Progress

(1:15:48) New Episodes and Book Recommendations

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Patients, Not Profits, Should Drive Drug Discovery | Vibe Bio, Alok Tayi Jun 27, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Santi is joined by Alok Tayi, scientist and founder of Vibe Bio. Alok started Vibe Bio because the biggest obstacle in treating patients with overlooked diseases isn’t finding potential treatments — it’s funding them.

Vibe Bio is leveraging crypto's economic and coordination tools to fund the research and development that the legacy biotech industry ignores. Don't miss this fascinating conversation!

We discuss:

- Vibe Bio's origin story

- How Vibe Bio works

- Big pharma's dilemma

- Why these diseases don't receive funding today

- How to prioritize projects

- Crypto's unique advantages

- The $VIBE token

- How to grow & leverage Vibe's community

- Diseases don't care about interest rates

- Biggest challenges

- -

Follow Alok: https://twitter.com/aloktayi

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

ParaSwap:

If you want to make a swap at the best price across the DeFi market, check out paraswap.io. ParaSwap’s state-of-the-art algorithm beats the market price across all major DEXs and brings you the most optimized swaps with the best prices and lowest slippage.

Visit paraswap.io/beta to learn more about Paraswap's new app.

- -

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

(00:00) Introduction

(02:27) Official Vibe Bio Launch

(03:50) The Origin Story

(06:32) How Funding Works in Biotech

(12:15) Vibe Bio's Gameplan

(14:50) Community Inspiration

(17:48) Big Pharma's Dilemma

(19:42) How Has The Community Responded?

(22:25) Why Now?

(24:58) How To Prioritize

(30:42) Paraswap Ad

(31:51) Is There An Adverse Selection Problem

(36:50) Two Key Milestones

(42:17) The Biggest Risks

(45:15) The $Vibe token

(48:18) Does IP matter?

(51:47) Help The Mission

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

SBF Saves CeFi | DeFi Yields Crash | Voyager, BlockFi & 3AC | Solend | Worst Case Scenario Jun 24, 2022

In this episode of Empire's Weekly Roundup, Jason and Santi discuss CeFi's contagion risk and the fragility in the crypto market.

Prices are crashing, and multiple companies appear to be on the verge of bankruptcy. Is SBF saving the industry? What questions should we all be asking right now? Tune in to find out!

Highlights include:

- What's going on in the markets

- Crypto is transparent but not perfect

- What is crypto's worst-case scenario

- Crypto is transparent but not perfect

- Will 3AC survive

- Voyager joins the illiquidity party

- BlockFi continues to be in pain

- SBF & Alameda swoop in

- Are low DeFi yields existential

- What happened with Solend

- Is it okay if applications are centralized

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Referenced in the show:

Jason's tweet on 3 phases of a bear market

https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz/status/1536365738906202112

Episode with Qiao from Alliance DAO

https://tinyurl.com/4wrkuakz

--

BitMEX is back and better than ever. Sign up for BitmEX's new Spot Exchange for a chance to win a piece of $500,000 in BTC (new users).

Learn more about them at https://www.bitmex.com/

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

(00:00) Introduction

(01:41) Market Update

(04:34) Today's Risk Factors

(08:37) 3AC Crises Update

(13:17) Celsius & sETH Update

(13:45) Voyager & Risk Mgmt

(17:56) How Bad Are Low Yields For DeFi?

(20:16) Bitmex Ad

(21:16) The Question You Should Be Asking

(27:27) When Markets Go Quiet

(29:02) SBF Saves CeFi

(35:04) A Daisy Chain of Yields

(31:02) Solend & Centralization1

(41:33) Topics For Next Week

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Crypto Renaissance Has Begun | Josh Rosenthal Jun 20, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Jason is joined by Josh Rosenthal - a former historian turned serial entrepreneur and crypto VC. Josh's encyclopedic knowledge of history - from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance and beyond - and ability to draw a throughline between historical events, Web3 and our world today is truly fascinating.

Josh contends that we are living through the greatest Renaissance in history. How will historians look back on today? Tune in to find out.

We discuss:

- medieval life

- what defines a Renaissance

- the advent of a dynamic identity

- signs of a reformation

- what drives history

- layering ownership into communication

- the pendulum between aggregation and decentralization

- how Web3 brings the missing element to the internet

- why we are living through THE greatest Renaissance

- how will society be impacted

- -

Follow Josh: https://twitter.com/JoshuaRosenthal

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

ParaSwap:

If you want to make a swap at the best price across the DeFi market, check out paraswap.io. ParaSwap’s state-of-the-art algorithm beats the market price across all major DEXs and brings you the most optimized swaps with the best prices and lowest slippage.

- -

(00:00) Introduction

(04:07) Medieval You

(10:30) Taking the Red Pill

(17:45) Self-Generating Demand

(21:16)The New Reformation

(27:42) A Recreation of Society

(32:15) Crypto Is A Counterweight To Aggregation

(37:18) Paraswap Ad

(38:26) Choosing Your Identity

(41:59) Synthetic Worlds and Chaotic Change

(46:51) Distinguishing the Institution From The Ideology

(53:37) Zoom Out

(56:46) Our Questions Affect the Outcomes

(57:51) Have We Lost Our Ingenuity?

(1:06:09) Institutions Eventually Give In

(1:07:10) Embracing Pluralism

(1:11:36) What Will the World Look Like?

(1:15:08) Crypto's Impact on the Middle Class

(1:21:18) New Jobs and Opportunities

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Market Contagion | stETH fallout | Celsius & 3AC Liquidity Crises | Santi's Investment Strategy Jun 17, 2022

In this episode of Empire's Weekly Roundup, Jason and Santi reflect on what might have been the most dramatic week in crypto's history. They explore the market contagion, the fallout, and debate if we've hit rock bottom.

Santi is back in the studio with perfect timing. How is Santi approaching this volatility, is he buying, and what is his updated investment strategy? Tune in to find out.

Highlights include:

- How did this all start

- The effects of quantitative tightening

- Why stETH is causing waves across crypto

- A bank run at Celsius

- Do CeFi companies need more regulation

- Three Arrows Capital insolvency rumors

- Santi's #1 takeaway from this week's drama

- Tether FUD

- The downside of on-chain transparency

- Are Santi and Jason buying back in

- Santi's updated investment strategy

- How to maximize the bear market

- -

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Referenced in the show:

degentrading Twitter thread on 3AC's liquidity crises

https://tinyurl.com/4xer8dzn

Jason's tweet on 3 phases of a bear market

https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz/status/1536365738906202112

--

BitMEX is back and better than ever. Sign up for BitmEX's new Spot Exchange for a chance to win a piece of $500,000 in BTC (new users).

Learn more about them at https://www.bitmex.com/

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

(00:00) Introduction

(03:26) How Did We Get Here?

(07:02) A Sudden and Brutal Bear Market

(13:15) Thesis vs Fear Driven

(15:14) Balancing Optimism With Rational Valuation

(18:42) What Is Happening With sETH?

(25:12) Why Celsisus Is In A Liquidity Crunch?

(34:52) Should CeFi Companies Be Regulated Like Banks?

(39:04) Bitmex Ad

(40:05) What's Next For Celsius?

(44:04) Three Arrows Capital is treading water

(51:12) Margin calls, 3AC and risk mgmt.

(55:19) Santi's #1 Takeaway

(1:01:36) Contagion

(1:07:12) Tether FUD

(1:09:47) Negative Consequences of Transparency

(1:13:25) Is This Rock Bottom?

(1:18:32) Santi's Current Strategy

(1:27:52) Patience and Staying In The Game

(1:41:00) Blockworks and Building in a Bear

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Can Crypto Find a New Narrative? | Haseeb Qureshi & Tom Schmidt Jun 13, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Jason is joined by Haseeb Qureshi and Tom Schmidt from Dragonfly Capital. Haseeb and Tom are top venture capitalists with unique insights into crypto's current trends, new innovations and market sentiment. If you want expert advice on the market, these are two people you ask.

We discuss:

- the venture capital landscape

- power is shifting to investors

- being long crypto while fighting the Fed

- supercharged crowdfunding

- convertible bonds & debt financing

- the changing meta

- how projects choose where to build

- the end of airdrops

- market outlook

- -

Follow Haseeb: https://twitter.com/hosseeb

Follow Tom: https://twitter.com/tomhschmidt

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Referenced in the show:

Dragonfly's letter to founders

https://tinyurl.com/493vrmpp

Tom's tweet on Porter Finance

https://twitter.com/tomhschmidt/status/1533779269851176960

- -

ParaSwap:

If you want to make a swap at the best price across the DeFi market, check out paraswap.io. ParaSwap’s state-of-the-art algorithm beats the market price across all major DEXs and brings you the most optimized swaps with the best prices and lowest slippage.

- -

(00:00) Introduction

(01:33) Today's Narrative

(05:25) A venture capitalist perspective

(08:17) Rising interest rates and available capital

(16:15) The big outstanding problems

(21:29) Utilizing debt financing

(27:35) The changing meta

(31:49) Paraswap Ad

(32:58) The layer one wars

(36:00) How projects "shop around" protocols

(39:10) Where should new projects build?

(42:22) The end of airdrops

(47:28) How founders should approach growth

(51:25) Advice on down rounds

(59:32) Public vs Private markets

(1:02:47) How long will the bear market last?

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Roundup: BlockFi Down Round | DAOs Scrambling | Cynthia Lummis Bill | FTX vs Coinbase Jun 10, 2022

In this episode of Empire's Weekly Roundup, Jason and Mike discuss the current state of crypto. It's officially a bear market, so how are companies and DAOs responding? What are the stories that you need to know? Tune in to find out.

Highlights include:

Did companies overhire
What happens in a down round
Why we need to separate investors from traders
DAOs look to stables and the need for debt financing
The Coinbase vs FTX strategy debate
Is the Lummis bill good for crypto
Enterprise blockchains are back
Optimism loses 20M OP tokens
ApeCoin DAO sides with Ethereum

- -

Follow Mike: https://twitter.com/MikeIppolito_

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Referenced in the show:

BlockFi down round

https://tinyurl.com/2tej9jyf

Novogratz says 2/3 of crypto funds will fail

https://tinyurl.com/yh4x2jsu

Lido, FEI and Frax proposals

https://research.lido.fi/t/lido-to-prepare-for-the-bear-market/2318/5

https://tribe.fei.money/t/tip-110-simplify-pcv/4323

https://gov.frax.finance/t/fip-77-20m-fxs-buyback-program-using-twamm/1523

SBF on Empire

https://tinyurl.com/23wp5uza

SBF on Invest Like The Best

https://tinyurl.com/2p8wsdfe

FTX surpasses Coinbase in BTC & ETH spot trading

https://coinmetrics.substack.com/p/state-of-the-network-issue-158?s=r

Coinbase job portal

https://coda.io/@coinbase-talent/coinbase-talent-hub/

Richard Burton article on how crypto is like building hardware

https://tinyurl.com/ytww6ap7

Tim Beiko on Bankless

https://tinyurl.com/2vxmcdux

--

BitMEX is back and better than ever. Sign up for BitmEX's new Spot Exchange for a chance to win a piece of $500,000 in BTC (new users).

Learn more about them at https://www.bitmex.com/

--

Timestamps

(00:00) Introduction

(02:45) Down Rounds, Layoffs and Hiring Freezes

(16:40) An Investor Reckoning?

(18:20) Separating Investors vs Traders

(20:05) Frothy Private Markets

(23:50) DAO Treasuries and Debt Financing

(27:53) Questioning Token Buybacks

(32:30) Bitmex Ad

(33:33) FTX Surpassing Coinbase

(40:15) Cynthia Lummis Bill

(45:15) Are Tokens Securities?

(48:21) Salesforce and Enterprise Blockchains

(56:15) Optimism loses $20M OP tokens

(59:45) APE DAO votes on Ethereum

(1:03:40) When ETH merge

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Web3 Founder’s Playbook | Imran Khan, Qiao Wang, AllianceDAO Jun 06, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Jason is joined by Qiao Wang and Imran Khan, core contributors at Alliance DAO (the Y Combinator of Web3). Alliance DAO is a Web3 startup accelerator whose portfolio includes 0x, dYdX, Paraswap, Synthetix and top Web3 protocols.

Qiao and Imran are former founders who now assist Web3's top entrepreneurs in building, launching and growing their products. As a result, the duo has a front-row seat to the latest trends and innovations in crypto. This episode is for you if you want to know what it takes to build a top Web3 product.

We discuss:

- how to think about tokenomics

- why product should come before community

- what tech stack developers are building on

- why Qiao recommends launching your product on Avalanche

- how to scale a team in Web3

- the top 3 things founders should think about

- why you shouldn't start a DAO, and much more!

--

Follow Qiao: https://twitter.com/QwQiao

Follow Imran: https://twitter.com/Imrankhan

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Referenced in the show:

Empire's previous episode with Qiao & Imran

Alliance DAO

https://alliance.xyz/

Qiao's "Common Pitfalls for Web3 Founders" post

https://twitter.com/QwQiao/status/1503365524272689156

Imran's tweet thread on "leveraged CAC"

https://twitter.com/lmrankhan/status/1501247894325768194

Imran's tweet on a Robinhood acquisition

https://twitter.com/lmrankhan/status/1527353717741490178

Imran's tweet on DAO treasuries growing to $11B

https://twitter.com/lmrankhan/status/1517551697148747777

The Obol staking protocol

https://obol.tech/

- -

ParaSwap:

If you want to make a swap at the best price across the DeFi market, check out paraswap.io. ParaSwap’s state-of-the-art algorithm beats the market price across all major DEXs and brings you the most optimized swaps with the best prices and lowest slippage.

- -

(00:00) Introduction

(01:37) State of The Market

(06:37) Is This Crypto's Last Cycle?

(11:24) The Best Time To Launch A Product

(12:49) Leveraged Customer Acquisition Cost

(16:09) Don't Start Your Company As A DAO

(18:02) Paraswap Ad

(19:09) Why Do We Even Need DAOs?

(21:26) Building Community Around A Project

(24:47) Scaling a Team In Web3

(26:55) The Use Case for Creator DAOs

(30:22) How Do Builders Choose Which Platform to Build On?

(35:42) Will Talent Flock to Ethereum L2s?

(38:49) Web3 Unit Economics

(42:38) Top 3 Things Founders Should Focus On

(45:04) How to Think About Community

(48:43) Is Coinbase undervalued?

(49:59) Will Robinhood Be Acquired in 2022?

(51:25) Coinbase vs FTX

(51:56) Where is the NFT Market Headed?

(55:08) Lido's Future Dominance

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Is Crypto an Investable Asset Class? | Weekly Roundup Jun 03, 2022

In this episode of Empire's Weekly Roundup, Jason is joined by Byron Gilliam - a markets strategist and author of the Blockworks newsletter. Often called the Matt Levine of Web3, Byron brings his traditional finance experience to crypto with a mix of wisdom and wit.

Jason and Byron cover this week's biggest stories and explore crypto's outlook as an investable asset class. Episode highlights include:

Why Byron frames crypto as commodities, not equities
How private markets are losing their advantage
Why crypto may be amazing for users, but a bad investment
How OpenSea's insider trading news will affect other Web3 companies
What happened with Optimism's airdrop
Can L2s find a sustainable revenue model
How BTC mining could fuel growth in renewable energy
Byron questions if MEV is crypto's only use case
Why UST's collapse was not crypto's Lehman moment
and much more!

- -

Follow Byron: https://twitter.com/bgilliam1982

https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

Referenced in the show:

Byron's Newsletter

0xHamZ tweet on $100B required market inflows

https://twitter.com/0xHamz/status/1530222542413234176

Arthur Hayes article

https://entrepreneurshandbook.co/shut-it-down-15d230b28089

- -

BitMEX is back and better than ever. Sign up for BitmEX's new Spot Exchange for a chance to win a piece of $500,000 in BTC (new users).

Learn more about them at https://www.bitmex.com/

--

(00:00) Introduction

(01:26) Byron's Evolving View on Crypto

(05:50) Lack of moats and risk taking founders

(11:28) Byron's investment outlook

(13:30) The private market arbitrage

(16:25) OpenSea insider trading

(23:49) Optimism's Airdrop

(27:18) Bitmex Ad

(33:08) Public goods & Layer 2 tokens

(36:28) Oil companies working with BTC miners

(38:51) Is everything just MEV?

(42:39) Crypto's structural selling

(46:31) No profits, just circular pricing

(48:13) Trust in Tether

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Everything Bubble | Charles Cascarilla May 30, 2022

In this episode of Empire, Jason is joined by Charles Cascarilla, co-founder of Paxos, to discuss the state of the market. How did we get here, and what should we expect next?

Show highlights include:

How the everything bubble started in 1995
What tradeoff the Fed has to make
How low interest rates perpetuated the greatest lie
The 3 likely scenarios going forward
How Paxos plans to bring $700T of assets on chain
Why stablecoins aren't actually stable
What Richard is looking forward to next

- -

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

--

ParaSwap:

If you want to make a swap at the best price across the DeFi market, check out paraswap.io. ParaSwap’s state-of-the-art algorithm beats the market price across all major DEXs and brings you the most optimized swaps with the best prices and lowest slippage.

- -

Referenced in the show:

Paxos Website

https://paxos.com/

Charles on "Invest Like the Best" (2019)

https://tinyurl.com/32x95pfb

Charles on "Invest Like the Best" (2020)

https://tinyurl.com/2p92aszt

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(00:00) Introduction

(01:12) The Macros Mess

(08:17) The Everything Bubble

(10:27) How To Invest In This Environment

(13:06) What is Bitcoin's Narrative?

(18:34) BTC and Crypto's Outlook In A Macro Bear Market

(24:18) Short Or Long-Term Pain?

(28:05) Paraswap Ad

(29:13) Almost All Stablecoins Aren't Stable

(35:54) Paxos Aims To Bring All Assets On Chain

(38:28) Privacy Is A Requirement For Adoption

(40:17) Crypto's Unlock

(43:32) What Projects Emerge From The Bear?

(45:35) The Most Exciting Thing in Web3 Today

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Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Bear Market Advice | Weekly Roundup May 27, 2022

In this episode of Empire's Weekly Roundup, Jason and Santiago discuss how to navigate the current bear market. Things aren't looking pretty, but this isn't the team's first rodeo. The duo explores what to expect, how to stay in the game and where opportunities might emerge. Highlights include:

where will crypto's total market cap bottom?
are Jason and Santi buyers at these prices?
why are funds ignoring liquid markets?
how founders should approach the bear
thoughts on a16z's new $4.5B fund
will Coinbase be acquired? and much more

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Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

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Referenced in the show:

Chris Dixon Permissionless Keynote

https://youtu.be/Znkpa64J7qA

Santi's Coinbase Acquisition Tweet

https://twitter.com/santiagoroel/status/1525941336070922242

Bill Gurley's "All In" Panel

https://youtu.be/lcyec3pvAEY

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BitMEX is back and better than ever. Sign up for BitmEX's new Spot Exchange for a chance to win a piece of $500,000 in BTC (new users).

Learn more about them at https://www.bitmex.com/

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(00:00) Introduction

(01:11) Crypto Marketing

(04:04) Why Santi Missed Permissionless

(05:45) Advice For This Bear Market

(17:32) A 16z Raises 4.5B

(22:04) How Founders Can Embrace The Bear

(26:34) ETH And Assessing Value Today

(29:13) Overleveraged

(33:05) How Capital Calls Work

(34:55) Will Funds Leave The Space?

(37:00) Bitmex Ad

(38:02) When Do You Buy?

(45:10) Stay In The Game?

(47:16) Coinbase Acquisition Thesis

(53:07) Three Leading Indicators

(54:07) Smaller Funds Underwater

(57:35) Liquid Assets Have Been Ignored

(1:00:27) Investing Isn't Easy

zkEVM L2s Will Scale Ethereum | Scroll May 23, 2022

In today’s episode of Empire, Jason and Santi are joined by the founders of Scroll - Sandy Peng, Ye Zhang and Haichen Shen - to discuss how ZK tech will scale Ethereum. Scroll is a general-purpose zkEVM rollup that combines Ethereum’s security with drastically reduced fees and low latency.

We start the conversation with a deep dive into zero-knowledge tech, the power of validity proofs and the different L2 scaling techniques. The team then explains Scroll's advantage, the difficulty of building a general-purpose L2 and why Scroll’s “EVM equivalence” is a massive breakthrough for Ethereum developers. Scroll has been flying under the radar, but they won’t be for long. Don’t miss this conversation on the most sci-fi tech in crypto.

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Follow Scroll: https://twitter.com/Scroll_ZKP

Follow Sandy: https://twitter.com/SandyPeng1

Follow Ye: https://twitter.com/yezhang1998

Follow Haichen: https://twitter.com/shenhaichen

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Subscribe To Our YouTube Channel: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

--

ParaSwap:

If you want to make a swap at the best price across the DeFi market, check out paraswap.io. ParaSwap’s state-of-the-art algorithm beats the market price across all major DEXs and brings you the most optimized swaps with the best prices and lowest slippage.

--

Referenced in the show:

Layer-2 for beginners

https://gourmetcrypto.substack.com/p/layer-2-for-beginners?s=r

Optimistic vs ZK Rollups

https://blog.matter-labs.io/optimistic-vs-zk-rollup-deep-dive-ea141e71e075

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(00:00) Intro

(05:00) Scroll, a zkEVM Rollup

(05:26) Why Is zk Tech Interesting?

(07:58) Optimistic vs ZK rollups

(10:26) The Evolution of ZK Tech

(13:27) zkSync and Starkware

(20:26) Where Is Scroll Today?

(22:09) The Scroll Team

(24:16) Moats In An Open-Source Industry

(26:42) General-Purpose vs App-Specific Rollup

(28:44) Paraswap Ad

(29:44) Creating The Best Developer Experience

(32:12) Working With The Ethereum Foundation

(36:02) What Scroll Will Enable for Web3

(41:22) China and Web3

(46:17) Building and Investing

(47:19) What's Next For Scroll?

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Why I sold all my ETH | Richard Craib, Numerai May 20, 2022

On today's episode of Empire, Jason and Mike are joined by Richard Craib, founder of Numerai, to discuss why Richard sold all his ETH.

Richard is a prolific investor and has been part of the Ethereum ecosystem since the 2014 ICO. That’s why it was such a big deal when he announced he sold his ETH and that he no longer sees crypto as a good investment.

Does crypto have a product outside of speculation? Is crypto’s growth just a result of the Fed? Is crypto more about regulatory arbitrage than the tech? These questions and more are explored in this fascinating conversation (debate!) where Richard holds nothing back.

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https://twitter.com/richardcraib/status/1523513981347848192?s=20&t=qwlN5rWxe5-KWyJOEr4B6Q

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Follow Richard: https://twitter.com/richardcraib

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

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Referenced in the show:

Richard's video announcing why he sold his ETH

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(00:00) Intro

(01:52) Why Richard Sold All of His ETH

(09:00) The Fed "Created" UST

(12:14) Macro Trouble

(15:53) A Market Neutral Strategy

(19:38) Is Crypto's Only Product Speculation?

(32:58) An Overreaction to a Flawed System

(36:26) A Massive Misallocation of Capital

(40:25) It's Mostly Just Regulatory Arbitrage

(43:00) Why People Join The Crypto Industry

(47:33) Is There A Real Use Case?

(52:28) What Richard First Liked About Crypto

Lens Protocol, Web3's Social Platform | Stani Kulechov May 19, 2022

On today's episode of Empire, Stani Kulechov - founder of Aave and Lens Protocol - joins Jason and Santiago to discuss the future of Web3 social.

Stani explains how Lens Protocol will be the substrate Web3 social developers leverage to build and bootstrap their apps. Lens Protocol's modular architecture and open-data structure will enable mass experimentation, micro-communities and social composability: leading to differentiated and user-focused products.

We then explore the benefits of a user-owned social graph, monetization strategies and how identity/social credit will be the next big unlock in Web3. Tune in to explore this new medium for social!

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