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:

Ransomware Is The Next Big Bitcoin FUD Jun 03, 2021

Show notes

Today on the Brief:

China’s next digital yuan trial
More Bitcoin ETF delays
Standard Chartered to open crypto prime brokerage

Our main discussion focuses on the rise of ransomware. NLW examines:

The real reasons ransomware is on the rise
The factors beyond crypto payments that contribute to ransomware
Why some are using ransomware as justification for crypto bans
Why crypto bans would be painfully ineffective at stopping ransomware
Why the Biden Administration’s response to ransomware should give the crypto industry cause for optimism

-- Earn up to 12% APY on Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD, EUR, GBP, Stablecoins & more. Get started at nexo.io -- 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= Follow on Twitter: NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW The Breakdown is produced and distributed by CoinDesk.com

More Crypto Regulation Is Likely Coming, but Bans Are Not Jun 02, 2021

Show notes

Today’s episode includes a quick update on Marathon’s bitcoin mining about-face. Our main discussion focuses on the changing shape of crypto regulatory discussion in the U.S. While more regulation appears to be on the horizon, that regulation likely reduces the chance of more extreme actions.

Revisiting Paul Tudor Jones’ ‘Great Monetary Inflation’ Thesis May 31, 2021

Show notes

A year ago this month, legendary hedge fund manager Paul Tudor Jones released a paper about the “Great Monetary Inflation.” It set the entire narrative backdrop for the institutional move into bitcoin, and also revealed PTJ as a bitcoiner. This is a replay of NLW’s original episode breaking down why the paper mattered.

Networks vs. Governments: Could Crypto-Powered Digital Communities Challenge the Power of Cities and States? May 30, 2021

Show notes

What exists between a Facebook group and a formal organization? Right now, not much. But in the future, Balaji Srinivasan argues, blockchain-powered communities will be able to exert the power to help them develop the polities of the future. On this “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads Balaji’s “A Network Union.”

Is the ‘Bitcoin Supercycle’ Theory Dead? May 29, 2021

Show notes

On this edition of “The Breakdown’s Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at what this cycle has taught us in terms of:

Who is investing and how it’s influencing markets
How market structure and narrative interact to shape price action
Why stablecoins could be a dark horse for reducing the duration of future market downturns

Cathie Wood on Cathie Wood on Why Central Banks Will Add Bitcoin to their Balance Sheets May 28, 2021

Show notes

Today’s special edition of “The Breakdown'' is a replay of NLW’s fireside chat with ARK’s Cathie Wood that premiered yesterday as a closing keynote at Consensus 2021. In this conversation, they discuss:

How macro going risk-off has impacted bitcoin
What was driving Elon’s about-face
China and “green” mining
Investing in technology innovation
Why ARK is investing in Ethereum
What role bitcoin plays in a world characterized by deflation rather than inflation

‘Crypto Is Here to Stay’: Activist Investor Carl Icahn Looks Toward a Crypto Position in the Billions May 28, 2021

Show notes

Today on the Brief:

PayPal to allow crypto withdrawals
Regulatory rumblings from the SEC and FinCEN
Bitcoin moving off exchanges again

In our main discussion, NLW looks at the macro conversation around inflation, including:

How concerns around inflation and the Federal Reserve withdrawing support have caused markets to go risk-off
Where bitcoin fits in a risk-on/risk-off context
Why billionaire Carl Icahn is eyeing a $1B-$1.5B crypto bet

What's Really Behind China's Bitcoin Mining Ban? May 27, 2021

Show notes

Today on The Breakdown, NLW covers:

More information about the Bitcoin Mining Council, and why its members say they’re strictly focused on energy transparency
A new, temporary crypto mining ban in Iran
The latest on the China mining ban, including new proposed rules from Inner Mongolia, more on-chain data about miner activity, and a very different interpretation of the CCP’s motivations for the current action

Bitcoin Mining Council: A “Green” Advance for BTC or a Trojan Horse for Centralization? May 26, 2021

Show notes

Yesterday, Michael Saylor and Elon Musk surprised the Bitcoin community when they announced a new “green” mining initiative that would see many of North America’s leading mining operators come together to develop common energy reporting standards as well as advocate for greener mining worldwide.

In this episode, NLW breaks down the community’s response, which ranged from enthusiastic to downright aghast. He discusses why there are such big differences in how people are interpreting the initiative and what their reasons for supporting or questioning it say about Bitcoin as a network.

Hedge Fund Billionaire Ray Dalio Has Officially Bought Bitcoin May 25, 2021

Show notes

Today’s episode of “The Breakdown” is split into two parts. In part one, NLW recaps the latest out of China, including:

Interpretations of Friday’s surprise targeting in a speech by the Vice Premier
A weekend market crash, the second of the week
Miner selling and the motivations behind it
What to watch for in the coming days

In part two, he puts in context the news that Bridgewater’s Ray Dalio owns bitcoin, looking at the larger institutional pattern that has driven the bitcoin bull and Dalio’s specific concerns about currency devaluation.

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