The Breakdown

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**The Breakdown**

The Breakdown dives into the deepest topics in crypto, blockchain, and the macro forces shaping markets and power structures. Each episode breaks down complex ideas into clear, grounded analysis — separating signal from noise across crypto, finance, and geopolitics.

Hosted by David Canellis, The Breakdown features explainers, interviews, and conversations with the people building, regulating, and challenging the financial system.

A Blockworks podcast.

Subscribe to The Breakdown newsletter: https://the-breakdown.carrd.co/

Latest Episodes:

Oslo Freedom Forum and Why Bitcoin Matters May 25, 2022

Show notes

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

On today’s episode, NLW looks at a number of topics from across the crypto space and wider economy, including:

New Fed data about the percentage of Americans using crypto.
Wall Street’s banking lobby getting nervous about central bank digital currencies.
The European Central Bank’s latest paper about crypto and systemic risk.
Institutional outflows.
Bitcoin’s appearances at the Oslo Freedom Forum.

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Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/538vuul1PuorUDwgkC8JWF?si=ddSvD-HST2e_E7wgxcjtfQ Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9ubHdjcnlwdG8ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M= Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8 Follow on Twitter: NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW -

“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell, research by Scott Hill and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “Catnip” by Famous Cats and “I Don't Know How To Explain It” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: RomoloTavani/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

What Davos Man Thinks of Bitcoin and Crypto This Year May 24, 2022

Show notes

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

On today’s episode of “The Breakdown,” NLW previews two things happening this week:

First, hope from the markets that slightly dovish comments from the Fed might prompt a relief rally.
Second, a preview of the discussions that will be taking place at the World Economic Forum, particularly around bitcoin and crypto.

“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell, research by Scott Hill and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “Catnip” by Famous Cats and “I Don't Know How To Explain It” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: montipora/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

Could Local Digital Currencies Improve Communities? May 22, 2022

Show notes

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

On this week's “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads “Let’s Use New Forms of Money to Commit to Our Communities.”

“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell, research by Scott Hill and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “Catnip” by Famous Cats and “I Don't Know How To Explain It” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: yuoak/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

5 Key Takeaways From a16z's State of Crypto Report May 21, 2022

Show notes

Venture giant Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) recently published its inaugural "State of Crypto" report. In this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at five key takeaways from the research as well as UST-luna investor postmortems.

“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell, research by Scott Hill and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “Catnip” by Famous Cats and “I Don't Know How To Explain It” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: ChakisAtelier/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

Travis Kling on Why a Decentralized Web 3 Is Worth Fighting For May 21, 2022

Show notes

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

On today's episode, NLW is joined by Travis Kling, co-founder and chief investment officer at Ikigai Asset Management. They discuss Ikigai's just-announced $30 million Web 3 fund, and what got Travis and his team excited to start investing in the Web 3 space. They also discuss the current state of traditional and crypto markets and catalysts that might bring new energy and excitement to the space.

Find our guest on Twitter: @Travis_Kling

Tether’s Reserve Attestations: Commercial Paper Down, Treasurys Up May 20, 2022

Show notes

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

Tether has released its Q1 reserve attestations. On today’s episode, NLW covers what many in the industry are seeing as positive shifts. He also looks at some recent regulatory news, including the SEC and CFTC increasing enforcement actions.

“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell, research by Scott Hill and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “Catnip” by Famous Cats and “I Don't Know How To Explain It” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: wsmahar/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

Capital Flight or the Seeds of the Next Cycle? May 19, 2022

Show notes

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

Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW covers a number of signals suggesting institutional buyers are leaving the crypto space. At the same time, he looks at new corporate engagement and Web 3 infrastructure being built that could help drive the next round of user adoption.

“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell, research by Scott Hill and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “Catnip” by Famous Cats and “I Don't Know How To Explain It” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: sarayut Thaneerat/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

New Data Shows Underground Bitcoin Mining Thriving in China May 18, 2022

Show notes

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

On today’s episode of “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at new bitcoin mining data from the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance. Surprisingly (or unsurprisingly, depending on whom you ask), China is back at the No. 2 spot in global hashrate, despite there ostensibly being a full bitcoin mining ban. NLW also looks at the finance conference that has brought representatives of 44 countries to El Salvador, where they’re learning about bitcoin among other topics.

“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell, research by Scott Hill and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “Catnip” by Famous Cats and “I Don't Know How To Explain It” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: Alfieri/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

What Happened to the Luna Foundation Guard’s Bitcoin Billions? May 17, 2022

Show notes

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

The Luna Foundation Guard (LFG) was created to build a bitcoin collateral backstop for the UST stablecoin. As UST began to lose its peg, the LFG’s BTC started to move. Firms like Elliptic were able to trace it only so far, but then no farther. It wasn’t until Monday morning the LFG officially commented, but some are still hungry for more information.

“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell, research by Scott Hill and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “Catnip” by Famous Cats and “I Don't Know How To Explain It” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: mustafahacalaki/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

How Should Washington Regulate Stablecoins? May 16, 2022

Show notes

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

On today’s “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW features:

0-100 on Stablecoin Design by Spencer Noon

On algorithmic stablecoins & the UST collapse by Jake Chervinsky

“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell, research by Scott Hill and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “Catnip” by Famous Cats and “I Don't Know How To Explain It” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: SEAN GLADWELL/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

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