Empire

Latest Episodes:

Can You Really Buy A House Without Selling Your Crypto? | Vishal Garg Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

This week, Vishal Garg joins the show to discuss how crypto and AI are reshaping the mortgage market. We deep dive into Better’s business model, why the mortgage market is so inefficient today, how to leverage tokenization and AI, partnering with Coinbase and OpenAI, and more. Enjoy!

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Timestamps:

(00:00) What’s Wrong With The Mortgage Market Today

(03:10) The Better Business Model

(20:35) peaq Ad

(21:21) Launching Crypto Backed Mortgages

(30:04) Partnering With Sky

(35:10) The Opportunity For Tokenization & AI

(44:21) Running a Public Company

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

State of The Market, The Prediction Market Wars & Kraken Pursues Aave Jun 27, 2026

Show notes

This week, we’re back with another weekly roundup to discuss the current state of markets as worries around Strategy drag crypto lower. We then deep dive into the competition in prediction markets, the state of crypto venture, Kraken’s pursuit of a stake in Aave, Fomo’s $75M raise, and more. Enjoy!

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

Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel

Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM

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

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:33) State of The Market

(07:01) State of Crypto Venture

(21:57) peaq Ad

(22:43) The Prediction Market Wars

(38:07) Kraken Pursuing 15% Stake in Aave

(48:18) Fomo Raises $75M at $550M Valuation

(50:35) Content of The Week

Optimism Co-Founders: What Happened to the L2s? Ben Jones & Karl Floersch Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

This week, Ben Jones and Karl Floersch join the show to discuss what happened to the L2s. We take a deep dive into Optimism's new strategy for 2026, the current state of Ethereum, why companies need to launch a chain, having a token, and more. Enjoy!

Follow Karl: https://x.com/karl_dot_tech

Follow Ben: https://x.com/ben_chain

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(03:43) What L2s Got Right vs Wrong

(12:46) peaq Ad

(13:42) Optimism’s Strategy in 2026

(32:36) What’s Optimism’s Moat?

(40:02) Who Needs To Build a Chain?

(51:20) The Current State of Ethereum

(59:39) Launching a Token

(01:03:10) What Defines Success in Crypto?

Anthropic's Fable Banned, Will Microstrategy Blow Up & Structuring A Portfolio in 2026 Jun 19, 2026

Show notes

This week, we’re back with another weekly roundup to discuss why the US government placed export controls on Anthropic's Fable model. We then deep dive into open vs close sourced models, will Microstratgey blow up, structuring a portfolio in 2026, Coinbase's new product announcement and more. Enjoy!

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

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Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel

Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM

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

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(07:16) Anthropic's Fable Banned by US Government

(20:10) peaq Ad

(20:57) Open vs Closed Source Models

(26:42) Structuring A Portfolio Post 10/10

(40:07) Will Microstrategy Blow Up?

(59:12) Coinbase's Product Announcement

(1:05:40) Content of The Week

The Bull Case For Hyperliquid | Ryan Watkins Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

This week, Ryan Watkins join the show to discuss the current state of crypto and where he sees the most opportunity in 2026. We deep dive into running a crypto fund in 2026, do four year cycles still exist, the Hyperliquid thesis, token unlocks and more. Enjoy!

Follow Ryan: https://x.com/RyanWatkins_

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

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

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(04:02) Running A Crypto Fund In 2026

(09:55) Do Four Year Cycles Exist?

(16:36) peaq Ad

(17:22) How To Find A Trade

(25:52) The Hyperliquid Thesis

(49:44) Is The Hyperliquid Trade Overcrowded?

(53:28) Opportunities In Crypto, Token Unlocks & The L1 Trade

(01:02:16) Zcash & Privacy

Blockworks Acquires Messari Jun 12, 2026

Show notes

In this special episode, Blockworks announces its acquisition of Messari and unpacks what it means for crypto’s next phase. Michael and Jason explore why Messari’s breadth of data, APIs, and research complement Blockworks’ deep on-chain analytics, investor relations, and disclosure products. They also address crypto’s trust problem, the need for standardized data and disclosures, and how Blockworks aims to become the trusted data layer connecting issuers, investors, exchanges, regulators, and AI agents in on-chain markets.

Learn more: https://blockworks.com/insights/blockworks-acquires-messari

Follow Blockworks on X: https://x.com/Blockworks

Follow Messari on X: https://x.com/MessariCrypto

Follow Michael on X: https://x.com/MikeIppolito_

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

CFTC Chair Michael Selig On Perps, Prediction Markets & Crypto In The U.S Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

This week, CFTC Chair Michael Selig joins the show to discuss the CFTC's recent policy announcement on perps in the U.S. We deep dive into how to regulate crypto in the U.S, prediction markets, 24/7 markets, working with the SEC and more. Enjoy!

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

Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM

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

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(04:20) Working With The SEC

(08:40) Bringing Perps To The U.S

(19:03) peaq Ad

(19:49) How To Regulate DeFi?

(26:08) Becoming The Crypto Capital of The World

(29:10) Prediction Markets

(45:28) 24/7 Capital Markets

(56:39) The Clarity Act

(01:00:14) Final Thoughts

SpaceX’s $1.75T IPO, Strategy Sells Bitcoin & Crypto’s Hard Reset Jun 05, 2026

Show notes

This week, we’re back with another weekly roundup to discuss the upcoming SpaceX IPO with early investor Ryan Zurrer. We deep dive into how to value SpaceX, why this crypto bear market feels worse than others, opportunities in DeFi today, Strategy selling Bitcoin and more. Enjoy!

Follow Ryan: https://x.com/kukulabanze

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

Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel

Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM

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

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:52) Takeaways From Money 2020 & All-In Summit

(07:50) The Bull vs Bear Case For SpaceX

(19:02) peaq Ad

(19:48) Why This Bear Market Feels Worse Than Others

(30:17) The Aftermath of SpaceX’s IPO

(36:20) DeFi Opportunities In 2026

(48:50) Strategy Sells Bitcoin, Will BTC Hit $40k?

(01:10:40) Content of The Week

Avichal Garg On Investing in Crypto, AI and Ethereum’s Path Forward Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

This week, Avichal Garg joins the show to discuss how he is currently allocating to crypto in 2026. We deep dive into the opportunity in crypto and AI venture, how to build a breakout app, the future path for Ethereum, why Avichal is still bullish on SOL & ETH, why tokens trade at a discount and more. Enjoy!

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

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

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

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(13:58) How To Build A Breakout App

(21:46) Where Electric Sees the Most Opportunity

(33:35) Why Do Tokens Trade At A Discount?

(39:42) Why Avichal Is Still Bullish On SOL & ETH

(42:46) Who Wins The Crypto Exchange Wars?

(48:10) The Ethereum Roadmap

(54:16) How To Make DeFi Safe Again

(57:50) Final Thoughts

Why’s Everyone So Bearish, Robinhood's AI Agent and SoFi's Stablecoin Launch May 29, 2026

Show notes

This week, we’re back with another weekly roundup to discuss why everyone in crypto feels so bearish. We then dive deep into whether stablecoins significantly improve payment rails, Robinhood’s AI agent announcement, Rob’s takeaways from a trip to D.C., MicroStrategy and RoboStrategy NAV premiums, and more. Enjoy!

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

Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel

Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM

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

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:50) Why’s The Timeline So Bearish?

(22:12) Robinhood Launches AI Agents

(32:23) Morpho Midnight

(44:27) Is DeFi Uninvestable?

(49:15) Takeaways From D.C.

(54:14) MicroStrategy & RoboStrategy NAV Premiums

(58:22) Content of The 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, Rob, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

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