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:

A New SEC Chair Who Actually Understands Bitcoin and Crypto? Jan 14, 2021

Show notes

Today on the Brief:

Visa drops $5.3B Plaid acquisition after DOJ antitrust suit
ECB President Christine Lagarde discusses bitcoin and digital euro
Acting OCC chief Brian Brooks to step down this week

Our main discussion: Gary Gensler rumored to be the new SEC Chair. In this episode, NLW discusses:

Gensler’s background at Goldman, CFTC and MIT
Gensler’s MIT course
Previous statements on Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple
The crypto communities reaction to Gensler at the SEC

Is China Poised to Nationalize Alibaba? Jan 13, 2021

Show notes

Today on the Brief:

Whales accumulated during yesterday’s crash
Kentucky legislators introduce bill to attract crypto miners
UBS lowers the threshold for charging savers because of negative interest rates

Our main discussion: What China’s prospective nationalization of Alibaba has to do with the nation’s digital currency efforts.

In this episode, NLW:

Gives a background on China’s digital currency project
Discusses why the DCEP is motivated by a larger attempt to internationalize the RMB
Background on Alipay, Ant Financial and Alibaba
How Alibaba founder Jack Ma annoyed the CCP and why he hasn’t been seen publicly in two months

-- Earn up to 12% APY on Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD, EUR, GBP, Stablecoins & more. Get started at nexo.io - A new era of innovation on Bitcoin has begun. Stacks 2.0 enables secure apps and smart contracts on Bitcoin, unlocking new use cases and value while laying the foundation for a user-owned internet. https://stacks.co. -- 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

Did This Bitcoin Cycle’s FUD Phase Just Begin? Jan 12, 2021

Show notes

Today on the brief:

Trump ejected from social media
Bakkt confirms plans to go public via SPAC
NYDIG buys Digital Assets Data

Our main discussion: Are we at the beginning of a new FUD cycle?

In this episode, NLW looks at:

What happened with bitcoin’s big price crash
How the crypto community is reacting to the dip
New regulatory FUD out of the U.K.
Why regulatory issues are likely to be this bull market’s “wall of worry”

Why I Changed My Mind on Bitcoin Jan 10, 2021

Show notes

On this week’s Long Reads Sunday, NLW reads two pieces from former bitcoin skeptics who have changed their mind about the asset.

“Bitcoin Crushes Doubters as 224% Rally Proves It’s Here to Stay” by Ed van der Walt

“Why I’ve Changed My Mind on Bitcoin” by Nick Maggiulli, COO of Ritholtz Wealth Management

Was This The Craziest Week in Bitcoin History? Jan 09, 2021

Show notes

On this edition of The Breakdown’s weekly recap, NLW looks at what was one of the most spectacular and surprising weeks in bitcoin and crypto history. Specifically, he discusses:

Price action
Macro tailwinds
Regulatory shifts in surprise guidance from the OCC
Retail investor momentum building

BRRR: Biden Readies a New $3T Stimulus Package Jan 09, 2021

Show notes

Today on the Brief:

U.S. loses 140,000 jobs in December
Chamath’s SoFi SPAC
A SPAC for Bakkt

Our main discussion: upcoming stimulus plans

As the dust (finally? sort of?) settles on elections that began last year, the Democrats are looking to jump right out of the gate with a new set of stimulus plans, including both payments to individuals as well as big infrastructure spending.

In this episode, NLW discusses the specifics we know so far, the potential challenges to get these plans passed and what the implications for bitcoin might be.

Can Bitcoin Just Keep Going Up? Jan 08, 2021

Show notes

Today on the Brief:

U.S. President Trump signs order banning Chinese apps
Initial jobless claims hold steady at 787,000
Elon Musk becomes the world’s richest person

Our main discussion: Can bitcoin just keep going up?

In this episode, NLW breaks down:

What’s driving the rally, including the growth of institutional buyers, burgeoning retail FOMO, Asian markets and more
Why some indicators are pointing towards a trader move into altcoins
Why, despite the rapid growth, bitcoin remains undervalued

Earn up to 12% APY on Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD, EUR, GBP, Stablecoins & more. Get started at nexo.io

A new era of innovation on Bitcoin has begun. Stacks 2.0 enables secure apps and smart contracts on Bitcoin, unlocking new use cases and value while laying the foundation for a user-owned internet. https://stacks.co.

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

What Georgia’s Elections Mean for Bitcoin Jan 07, 2021

Show notes

Today on the Brief:

ShapeShift goes full DEX
Neil Young and the changing business of music
China stocks delisted from NYSE

Our main discussion: What are the implications of Georgia’s runoff elections for bitcoin and markets as a whole?

In this episode, NLW discusses:

The immediate response of Crypto Twitter to the victory for Dems
Why Kelly Loeffler was a disappointing industry rep in the Senate
Which stocks are going up on the news and why
Why a Democrat Senate majority is driving up inflation expectations
Why discussions of UBI and digital dollars and more in play than ever
Why bitcoin stands to be supercharged by the coming macro environment

Most Important Crypto Regulation Yet? Banks Can Treat Public Blockchains Like SWIFT and ACH Jan 06, 2021

Show notes

Yesterday, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency released Interpretive Letter 1174. The letter allows banks to participate as nodes in “independent node verification networks” (which you might better know as blockchain networks) as well as use stablecoins for payments settlement.

In this episode of The Breakdown, NLW looks at:

Crypto Twitter’s response to the news
A review of key passages from the letter
The response of critics
The implications for CBDCs and the geopolitical battle between the U.S. dollar and China’s emerging digital currency

Understanding Bitcoin's Blistering Rise Past $30,000 Jan 05, 2021

Show notes

The end of December was a momentous time in bitcoin’s history. Not content to clear the psychological barrier of $20,000, bitcoin’s price smashed up almost all the way to $30,000, although it would take the turn to the new year to hit that new high-water mark.

In this episode, NLW looks at interpretations of why bitcoin is rising, why it dipped today and what analysts and investors think will happen next. This analysis includes:

Evidence of institutional FOMO including a rise in bitcoin whale addresses
Massive outflows from Coinbase Pro over the weekend
The impact of derivatives liquidations that occurred Monday morning
Commentary from OTC desks on Q1 2021 possibilities

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