The Breakdown

Latest Episodes:

Crypto's No-Fun Hack Week Aug 06, 2022

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Chainalysis and FTX US.

One of the biggest challenges to the mainstreaming of crypto is the propensity for novel protocols to be exploited. This week, the Nomad bridge was drained of some $200 million while another vulnerability led to more than 10,000 wallets (largely but not exclusively holding Solana's SOL) being attacked. NLW looks at what happens and what the industry thinks the lessons are.

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“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “The Now” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: Boris Zhitkov/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

Crypto's Institutional Narrative: Less Dead Than It Seems? Aug 05, 2022

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Chainalysis and FTX US.

One would be forgiven for thinking the crypto institutional narrative is dead. Tesla sold bitcoin. Cboe took a huge write-down on the exchange it bought last year. Even Cathie Wood and ARK sold $COIN!

But taking a deeper look, NLW argues that institutional adoption of bitcoin and crypto continues – just in quieter ways than in the past. He looks at news that BlackRock is partnering with Coinbase to offer crypto trading through its Aladdin platform and that Fairfax County Retirement Systems is expanding its crypto involvement to yield farming.

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“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “The Now” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

US Senators Say BTC and ETH Are Commodities Aug 04, 2022

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Chainalysis and FTX US.

Another day, another bipartisan crypto bill. On today’s episode, NLW covers the latest in a string of legislation that shows that Congress and the Senate are taking their role in determining how crypto is to be regulated seriously. He also covers the news that Michael Saylor is stepping down from the CEO role at MicroStrategy.

“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “The Now” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

‘Nancy Pelosi is going to Taiwan so she can buy the dip she's about to create.’ Aug 03, 2022

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Chainalysis and FTX US.

After weeks of speculation, debate and increasingly bellicose rhetoric, Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi has decided to go to Taiwan. In today’s episode, NLW explains discussion around the strategy behind the decision, why the timing makes a harsh Chinese response more likely and how the markets are reacting.

“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “The Now” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

Sucker’s Rally or the Worst Is Over? Aug 02, 2022

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Chainalysis and FTX US.

In today’s episode, NLW looks at June and July as paired months that remade the market landscape. He looks at market data, key events in crypto and key events in macro to paint a picture of where things stand heading into August. The key question he explores is whether we’re in a “sucker’s rally” or the worst really is behind us.

“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “The Now” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: sesame/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

Crypto Credit Isn’t Dead Jul 31, 2022

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Chainalysis and FTX US.

On this week’s “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads Nic Carter’s “The Credit Crunch Is Not the End of Crypto Lending.”

“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “The Now” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: PM Images/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

The Recession Discussion Is Incredibly Dumb Jul 30, 2022

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Chainalysis and FTX US.

“Recession” is the latest word to run afoul of our shifting definitions and political newspeak. This week, numbers from Q2 came out showing that the U.S. had seen a declining GDP for the second quarter in a row – a fairly standard definition of a recession. The political spin was immediate and tortured, but in today’s episode, NLW argues that the caring about the label itself may be the bigger problem.

“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Eleanor Pahl`` and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “The Now” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: Malte Mueller/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

Volatility Ahead? Jul 30, 2022

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Chainalysis and FTX US.

On this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at four reasons markets could see heightened volatility between now and November:

Fund managers making YOLO bets to avoid redemptions
Inflation surprises shift the Fed back to hawkish
Regulatory and media surprises for crypto
Politics and geopolitics

“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “The Now” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: Nuthawut Somsuk/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

Why Markets Viewed the Fed's Latest 75 Basis Point Hike as 'Dovish' Jul 29, 2022

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Chainalysis and FTX US.

Yesterday was “Fed Day” and the U.S. Federal Reserve announced its second 75 basis point interest rate hike in a row. Despite the fastest pace of monetary tightening in a generation, markets rallied after Chair Jerome Powell’s presser. On today’s episode, NLW explains why so many in the market interpreted the Fed’s Q&A as dovish, and what it means going forward.

“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “The Now” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

What's Behind Growing US-China Tensions? Jul 28, 2022

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Chainalysis and FTX US.

U.S. President Joe Biden is slated to talk with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week. In the background lurks growing tensions around House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s potential visit to Taiwan next month. On today’s episode, NLW looks at the big issues behind these headlines that are shaping both the U.S. and China’s response to growing tensions.

“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “The Now” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

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