The Breakdown

Latest Episodes:

Did ConstitutionDAO Shift the Overton Window on What DAOs Can Accomplish? Nov 20, 2021

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by NYDIG.

Last night the crypto community waited with bated breath to see who had won the first printing of the U.S. Constitution. Despite raising over $40 million from 17,000 people, the ConstitutionDAO was ultimately outbid. In this episode, NLW discusses how the DAO came together, how the bidding went down and how the community should feel about its near miss.

NYDIG, the institutional-grade platform for bitcoin, is making it possible for thousands of banks who have trusted relationships with hundreds of millions of customers, to offer Bitcoin. Learn more at NYDIG.com/NLW.

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 Michele Musso & Adrian Blust, research by Scott Hill and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Adam B. Levine is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsor is “Dark Crazed Cap” by Isaac Joel. Image credit: Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images Plus, modified by CoinDesk.

What We Learned From Congress' ‘Demystifying Crypto’ Hearing Nov 19, 2021

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by NYDIG.

Yesterday’s show was a global regulatory roundup, but today’s is all about the U.S. The Joint Economic Committee held an event this week all about “Demystifying Crypto.” In this episode, NLW looks at:

The overall shift in tone in government crypto hearings
The specific questions and topics that JEC members asked
The beginnings of a partisan hardening of the crypto discourse
New legislation to undo the problematic provisions of the Infrastructure Bill

Will New Anti-Terrorism Rules Help Israeli Crypto Startups? A Global Regulatory Roundup Nov 18, 2021

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by NYDIG.

On today’s episode, NLW does a whistle-stop tour of global crypto regulatory news, including:

India – set to ban crypto as payment but regulated as asset?
Israel – might new AML rules make it easier for banks to work with crypto providers?
Sweden – disagreement on mining politics
Russia – a new source of global power?
Indonesia – is bitcoin haram?
As well as news from Peru, the U.K. and Brazil

“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Michele Musso & Adrian Blust, research by Scott Hill and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Adam B. Levine is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsor is “Dark Crazed Cap” by Isaac Joel. Image credit:btgbtg/iStock/Getty Images Plus, modified by CoinDesk.

What Drove Bitcoin's Dip Under $60K Nov 17, 2021

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by NYDIG.

Bitcoin has been on a journey over the last 24 hours, from nearly $65,000 all the way down to $58,000 and everywhere in between. On today’s episode, NLW explores what’s driving it, including:

Leveraged traders left over from last week’s all-time high
Twitter CFO saying no investments in crypto
President Biden signing the U.S. infrastructure bill with crypto broker redefinition
Inflation questions
Federal Reserve leadership questions

Finally, he points to Marathon’s offering of a half billion dollars in debt to buy more BTC and rigs as a counter-indicator.

“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. Adam B. Levine is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsor is “Dark Crazed Cap” by Isaac Joel. Image credit: Malte Mueller/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk.

This DAO Is Trying to Buy the Constitution for $20M Nov 16, 2021

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by NYDIG.

On Thursday, Nov. 18th, Sotheby’s is auctioning off one of just 13 (or 11, depending on your source) copies of the original edition of the U.S. Constitution, printed in September 1787 for distribution to members of the Continental Congress and the states that would need to debate and ratify the document. It’s the first time the document has been for sale in a third of a century, and this time, a new DAO has sprung up to make the purchase collectively. On today’s episode, NLW breaks down ConstitutionDAO, looking at:

What the project is trying to achieve
How quickly it’s coming together and gaining momentum
What it means for the future of DAOs

Crypto Is for the Dissidents and Disenfranchised Nov 14, 2021

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by NYDIG.

On this edition of “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads two pieces:

“Why Shouldn’t the Navajo Mine Bitcoin?” by William Foxley
“This Imprisoned Russian Artist Is Selling NFTs to Support His Family and Fellow Inmates” by Anna Baydakova

“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with today’s editing by Adrian Blust, research by Scott Hill and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Adam B. Levine is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsor is “Dark Crazed Cap” by Isaac Joel. Image credit: Tribalium/iStock/Getty Images Plus, modified by CoinDesk.

Is Jack Dorsey About to Announce a Bitcoin DeFi Platform? Nov 13, 2021

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by NYDIG.

On this edition of “The Breakdown Weekly Recap,” NLW follows up on the story about the politics of bitcoin with an SEC commissioner’s recent essay on decentralized finance (DeFi). He also looks at the forthcoming Taproot upgrade, and how it may coincide with plans from the newest division of Square - TBD - to announce bitcoin DeFi plans.

The Politics of Bitcoin Nov 13, 2021

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by NYDIG.

On today’s episode of “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at how bitcoin’s place in the political dialogue in the United States has changed dramatically over the years. He argues 2021 will be remembered as the year politicians started taking the industry seriously. The episode features a thread from Ohio U.S. Senate candidate Morgan Harper: https://twitter.com/mh4oh/status/1458064822772375565

Why Yesterday Was One of the Most Illuminating Days in Bitcoin’s History Nov 12, 2021

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by NYDIG.

Yesterday was quite the day. A 6.2% inflation print led to a new bitcoin all-time high. Within hours, however, BTC’s price crashed 10% on an overall risk-off move in markets. That was precipitated by rumors that China’s Evergrande was about to default on its debts. NLW argues that the moves show how market structure and macro realities impact bitcoin.

Inflation Nation: US Sees Highest Price Increase in 31 Years Nov 11, 2021

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by NYDIG.

New statistics show a 6.2% rise in the consumer price index (CPI) year over year for October. On today’s episode, NLW breaks down the news, discussing:

How the 2020 inflation debate set up the current bitcoin bull run
The debate around “transitory” inflation in 2021
How the inflation debate is impacting U.S. politics
Why bitcoin is achieving new all-time highs

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected