The Breakdown - TopPodcast.com

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

The Breakdown — Business
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/

Copyright: © All Rights Reserved

Latest Episodes:

Bitcoin Isn't Acting Like Stocks, Stocks Are Acting Like Bitcoin Mar 05, 2021

Show notes

Over the last year there has been a growing correlation between the stock market and bitcoin. Some of this is attributed to the new traditional participants in bitcoin. Some of it is attributed to bitcoin acting less like an uncorrelated hedge and more like just another risk asset.

In this episode, NLW argues that the notion bitcoin has started acting more like stocks is, in fact, completely backwards. Instead, in a negative, real interest rate environment, stocks have started to act more like bitcoin - as a store of value.

-- 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

Are You Really Surprised Elizabeth Warren Doesn't Get Bitcoin? Mar 04, 2021

Show notes

Today on the Brief:

PayPal acquiring Curv for $500 million?
Traditional markets are very confused
Portnoy launches Buzz exchange-traded fund

Our main discussion: NLW looks at the emerging political landscape for crypto in the U.S. Specifically, he examines:

Gary Gensler’s hearing before the Senate Banking Committee on his nomination to head the SEC
Elizabeth Warren’s comments (or non-comments) about bitcoin on cable TV

-- 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

Are NFTs Just This Cycle’s ICOs? Mar 03, 2021

Show notes

On today’s episode, NLW looks at the explosion of interest in NFTs. Big money, big names, big problems?

He asks whether non-fungible tokens are this cycle’s initial coin offerings by looking at five different comparison points:

Inflated prices
Overpromises
Celebrity hype
Wheat-and-Chaff
Competition with bitcoin

So are NFTs just a new version of the ol’ ICO? Listen to find out.

-- 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

Why Citi Thinks Bitcoin Is at a Tipping Point Mar 02, 2021

Show notes

Today on the Brief:

Michael Saylor bought the dip
China bans bitcoin mining in Inner Mongolia
WallStreetBets moving off Reddit?

Our main discussion: Citi’s analysis of bitcoin.

February saw a non-stop barrage of bullish bitcoin news with regard to institutional uptake. March is off to a similar start with a massive research report arguing that:

Bitcoin’s evolution over the last seven years has been spectacular
CBDCs are likely to become more important
If CBDCs do become more important, it could spur more corporations to use bitcoin as a global settlement currency

NLW argues that the report itself may be the beginning of a new, important part of the institutional bitcoin narrative.

-- 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

Governments Couldn’t Ban Bitcoin Even if They Wanted To Feb 28, 2021

Show notes

Today on “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads “Can Governments Stop Bitcoin?” by Alex Gladstein, published recently by Quillette. Gladstein argues that both technical and legal attacks on bitcoin are extremely difficult to execute, even for large governments.

-- 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

Are Beeple's $6.6M Sale and Christie's Auction a Turning Point for NFTs? Feb 27, 2021

Show notes

This week on the Weekly Recap, NLW discusses:

The price dip
Tether’s settlement with the NYAG
Coinbase’s S1 Filings
Beeple’s record-setting NFT sales and what it means for the NFT space as a whole

-- 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

Why Cathie Wood Thinks Bitcoin Could Replace Bonds Feb 27, 2021

Show notes

Today on the Brief:

SEC investigating Elon’s DOGE tweets?
U.S. income growth has second biggest monthly gain ever
Robinhood growth suggests crypto mainstreaming

Main discussion: Cathie Wood thinks bitcoin could replace bonds. In this episode, NLW lays out:

How Cathie Wood made a name by being early in Tesla, bitcoin and innovation
How ARK’s funds have grown
Why bonds aren’t performing anymore and why bitcoin could fill the gap in investor’s portfolios

-- 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

Bitcoin Investing Is ESG Investing Feb 26, 2021

Show notes

In today's episode, NLW looks at how bitcoin fits with the growing trend of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) investing. In it, he:

Argues that ESG investors should disregard the false idea that bitcoin is only used for crime
Provides three frameworks for understanding bitcoin’s energy consumption
Demonstrates how marginalized communities are using bitcoin as a tool of economic empowerment
Argues that bitcoin provides a new, networked alternative to corporate governance

If You Sell Your Bitcoin, Michael Saylor and Jack Dorsey WILL Buy It Feb 25, 2021

Show notes

Today on the Brief:

Fed Chair Jerome Powell comments on markets and digital currency
Cathie Wood’s ARK faces toughest stretch since last September
India’s latest anti-crypto sentiment

Our main discussion: More news on corporate bitcoin buying. NLW discusses:

Square’s Q4 and overall 2020 bitcoin performance in terms of revenue and profit
Square’s latest bitcoin purchase of ~3,300 BTC for $170 million
MicroStrategy’s latest >$1B bitcoin purchase, bringing the total to more than 90,000 BTC
Why these announcements are losing their power to move markets

-- 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

The Most Conservative Regulator in America Just Settled Its Case Against Tether: Can We Move On Now? Feb 24, 2021

Show notes

On today’s episode, NLW breaks down the final settlement of the New York Attorney General’s case against Tether. He argues that the outcome is extremely positive for the industry, discussing:

Why Tether risk became a major source of FUD in 2021
How conspiracy theories overtook legitimate concerns
The history of the NYAG’s case against Tether
Specific findings of the NYAG’s case around two times that Tether was not backed 1-to-1 by U.S. dollars held in Tether bank accounts
Why there was never any accusation of Tether printing USDT out of thin air to manipulate markets
The specifics of the settlement
Why this conclusion clears risk from institutional investors

-- 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

Related Podcasts