NFA Podcast about tech & web3 - aka AI and crypto

SummaryThis week’s NFA Podcast breaks down what actually happened at Token2049 in Dubai: more escorts than engineers, overcrowded venues, and 530 side events. Nish shares stories from the crypto trenches, Abu Dhabi’s investment into Binance via the Trump Family's vehicle World Liberty Finance. We also talk about the scandal around Movement Labs, why Apple’s AI promise is still vaporware, how Zuvu is building the AI orchestration layer we need, and ex-OpenAI CTO Mira Murati’s new startup Thinking Machines Lab with full Andreessen Horowitz backing and her 100% control.

Plus: AI chip stock moves, Eric Trump’s take on banks, tokenized marble bunkers in the Italian mountains and a bet on Broadcom.Chapters

00:00 – Intro and Token2049 Recap

09:50 – Trump Token Deal: Abu Dhabi, LibertyFinance, and Binance

13:43 – Movement Labs Scandal & MarketMaker Manipulation

15:17 – Tech Earnings: Meta, Amazon, Apple

19:07 – AI Orchestration, Zuvu, and Apple'sMissed Promise

23:45 – Mira Murati’s New Startup with FullControl

27:31 – OpenAI’s Bold Revenue Claims & VCAI Hype

29:58 – Eric Trump Predicts Bank Extinction

31:20 – Stock Moves: From Nvidia to Broadcom

32:11 – Defense Tech and Tokenized Bunkers

Keywords$38 million dump, AI fragmentation, AI orchestration, AI subscriptions, AI tools integration, Abu Dhabi Binanceinvestment, Amazon ads revenue, Andreessen Horowitz, Apple AI fail, Binance delisting, Broadcom stock, CoinDesk investigation, Dubai crypto event, Eric Trump, Eric Trump banks, Human Machines Lab, Kuwait bitcoin mining, Libertystablecoin, Meta earnings, Mira Murati, Thinking Machines Labs, Movement Labs, Nvidia, OpenAI $129B revenue claim, Palantir sell-off, Token2049, Trump token, World Liberty Finance, Zuvu, crypto conferences, defense tech, escorts at crypto events, founder control, marble bunkers Italy, market maker scandal, side events, tokenized bunkers, Broadcom

Keywords

NFA Podcast, crypto news, Bitcoin, altcoins, Elon Musk, Meta, Ripple, AI, market trends, not financial advice, Zuckerberg, Instagram, Kevin Systrom, Trumpcoin, SUI

SUMMARY

This week on the NFA Podcast:

·       Bitcoin and Sui bounce back

·       Elon Musk funds carbon removal while advising Trump

·       Meta faces antitrust heat as Instagram’s founder speaks out

·       Trump’s meme coin madness

·       Palantir rockets, yet again

Plus: the craziest Bitcoin ransom story yet. And why tech stocks might now be riskier than crypto, plus: meet your AI-colleagues.

Chapters

            1.        00:00 — Taurus Season, Crypto Season

Bitcoin, Sui, and altcoins are pumping — but are we back or getting wrecked again?

            2.        01:58 — Lambos, Dubai, and Hot Tubs

The Dubai crypto crowd, and a Brooklyn spa heats its hot tubs with Bitcoin miners.

            3.        04:20 — Musk vs. Trump: Climate Hypocrisy?

Elon backs $100M in carbon removal tech… whileadvising a climate change denier.

            4.        07:28 — Zuck’s Instagram Sabotage

Kevin Systrom testifies Zuckerberg starved Instagram of resources — out of fear?

            5.        09:32 — Your Grandmother’s Facebook

Facebook is now where old classmates and surgical selfies meet. Nish explains why she avoids it.

            6.        14:07 — Dinner with Trump? Just Buy HisMeme Coin

Trump’s TRUMP token pumps after he offers aprivate dinner to top 220 holders.

            7.        15:37 — Kuwait’s Crypto Crackdown

Illegal mining causes blackouts. Not every country is using Bitcoin heat for spa luxury.

            8.        16:04 — US Fed Walks Back Anti-CryptoBanking

The Federal Reserve quietly ends its crypto-unfriendly bank guidance.

            9.        17:04 — Crypto Enters the Tech Elite

Even The Information is covering crypto banks now. Silicon Valley is watching.

            10.      17:59 — Crypto Kidnapping in Florida

$230M in Bitcoin, a kidnapped son, and a gang of 18- to 22-year-olds.

            11.      19:34 — Podcast Tips, TikTok Dreams, Nobelprize winner Demis Hassabis on AI, family Spotify accounts gonewrong, and what’s wrong with LinkedIn AI generated content.

            12.      24:20 — Palantir vs. Bitcoin: Who’s More Volatile?

Tech stocks like Palantir are now crazier than crypto. Is your pension fund ready?

            13.      26:21 — Bull or Bear? Depends on the Week

Nish is bullish, Michiel is bearish, and Sygnum Bank backs altcoins.

            14.      27:46 — Closing Notes: Don’t Post Your Gains

In a world of kidnappings and flexing, the final tip: stay low and stay safe.

Follow the NFA Podcast  

·    NFA podcast newsletter on Linkedin

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·     NFA account on Instagram

·     Nisheta Sachdev on X

·    Michiel Frackers on X  

NFA Podcast – Season 1 Episode 13 Show Notes

1. Bitcoin and Sui Surge

Altcoins rally with Trumpcoin and Sui leading the charge

2. Brooklyn Bitcoin Mining Spa

3. Elon Musk donated $100M Carbon XPrize

·      IPCC Report: the Physical Science Basis

·     Persuasion, not coercion

4. Meta Antitrust Case & Zuckerberg Drama

• Kevin Systrom testifies against Mark Zuckerberg

• Mark Zuckerberg buried himself

• Has the government already won against Zuckerberg?

5. Trump Meme Coin & Dinner

• Trumpcoin goes into orbit after dinner promise

• Ethics probe coming

6. ZachXBT - Brilliant Crypto sleuth’s X account

7. Kuwait Energy Crisis because of Bitcoin

8. Fed Withdraws Anti-Crypto Banking Guidance

9. Crypto Kidnapping Case

10. AI & Nobelprize winner & Startups

• Demis Hassabis on 60 Minutes h

• Artisan $25 million pitchdeck

• NXTLI has AI-colleagues           

11. Sygnum Bank bullish on altcoins

Always remember: the NFA Podcast is Not Financial Advice, but Nish, Frackers and Anyone Else!

Plus: Binance meets countries, Sam Altman vs. Elon Musk over X, and the OM token gets wrecked

Summary

This week’s NFA Podcast episode covers a dense mix of geopolitical crypto moves, scandals, and platform wars. Nish and Michiel kick off with CZ (Changpeng Zhao) advising governments from Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan and whether Binance, despite its regulatory baggage, should be guiding state crypto policies. They weigh in on Binance’s regulatory track record, Richard Teng’s role as CEO, and Dubai’s ongoing crypto diplomacy, including Crypto.com’s high-profile engagement with Sheikh Maktoum’s government.

The conversation transitions into UAE’s broader digital ambitions and how regions like Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) are pioneering DAO regulation through RAKDAO. Tracer, where Nish and Michiel are both advisors, is mentioned as a beneficiary of this innovative framework.

The duo then dissects the Mantra (OM token) meltdown. Nish explains how OTC deals, lack of transparency, and Coffeezilla’s exposé exposed potential manipulation. Michiel brings up parallels with traditional finance and the lack of fair disclosure in crypto. They both praise crypto sleuths like Coffeezilla and ZachXBT for filling investigative gaps left by traditional media.

Shifting gears, the episode explores China lifting IP protections for luxury goods. Nish notes the online surge in knockoffs, and Michiel discusses how US-China tensions over trade and tariffs are spooking investors. They bring in historical context and media biases, with Michiel drawing parallels between the internet’s early mischaracterization and crypto’s current media portrayal.

The show wraps with chatter about social media wars: Sam Altman potentially launching an OpenAI competitor to X, Threads’ poor UX, and BlueSky’s slow traction. They close on Meta’s antitrust scrutiny and Google’s ad-tech monopoly troubles before ending with Michiel lamenting Nvidia’s stock dip amid US chip export restrictions.

Chapters

1. 00:28 – From Kyrgyzstan with CZ

Binance’s founder resurfaces as a state advisor; or does he?

2. 03:39 – Crypto Diplomacy in Dubai

Sheikh Maktoum, Crypto.com, and Dubai’s $100B digital agenda

3. 06:51 – RAK

Ras Al Khaimah’s DAO regulations and Tracer’s regulatory home

4. 08:01 – Mantra Meltdown and OTC Mayhem

Token crashes, Coffeezilla, and the dark arts of crypto fundraising

5. 15:51 – ZachXBT Saves the Day (Again)

How blockchain sleuths outpace legacy media

6. 16:46 – The Great Chinese Knockoff Wave

IP law rollback floods socials with fake Birkins and Dior bags

7. 20:21 – Altman vs Musk: X Wars

Can OpenAI clone a social network just to feed the data beast?

8. 21:33 – The Drama of Threads and BlueSky

Why no one uses Zuckerberg’s Twitter clone and who really uses BlueSky?

9. 25:20 – Meta on Trial, Google in Trouble

Congressional heat and ad-tech monopolies in the US

10. 26:33 – Nvidia’s Chip Woes

Export bans, stock dips, and staying bullish through the pain

Links

• Binance advises countries
• Dubai leader Maktoum talks with crypto.com
• Mantra CEO denies insider selling
• Coffeezilla interviews Mantra CEO JP Mullin
• ZachXBT on X
• Birkin bags
• Sam Altman vs Elon Musk (Altman announced OpenAI might build an X competitor)
• Netflix posts record profits
• Google is an ad tech monopoly
• Shocking testimony from Facebook whistleblower shows Zuckerberg accommodated China
• Nvidia faces $5.5 billion charge as US restricts chip sales to China

Please remember: the NFA Podcast is Not Financial Advice!

End of tariffs and meme coins plus AI billions and chlorinated chicken

Summary

While global markets tumbled under the weight of Trump’s new tariffs, this episode of the NFA Podcast cuts through the panic to spotlight the bullish stories buried under the headlines. Nish and Frackers start with the week’s rollercoaster in crypto and tech stocks, comparing the sharp drops in Ethereum and Solana to a surprisingly resilient Bitcoin. Nish explains how the meme coin engine Pump.fun has lost steam, while Michiel shares horror stories from past crashes, andpension fund absurdities.

Then, in the most underreported bullish news of the year: OpenAI quietly raised $40 billion and wants to buy Jony Ive's startup for an AI iPhone killer Sam Altman invested in, ex-OpenAI CTO Mira Murati is going for $2 billion at a $10 billion valuation, and OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever's Safe Superintelligence is targeting a $30 billion valuation with Alphabet and Nvidia on board. But none of them seem to have functional websites. 

Plus:

         •       Binance founder CZ’s next move is advising Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan on blockchain adoption

         •       Trump’s pro-crypto SEC pick Paul Atkins is approved

         •       Ripple’s SEC lawsuit nears its endgame

         •       Europe and China flirt over electric vehicles to counter US tariffs

         •       And yes, the UK might end up with chlorinated chicken as a reward for trade realignment

The episode ends with predictions: Frackers sees a cautious market rebound, Nish calls it sideways. But both remain long-term bullish, still think there will be a Bitcoin all-time high this year.

Keywords

crypto, market trends, investment, tariffs, AI, blockchain, pension funds, media influence, Bitcoin, Ethereum, CZ, Broadcom, Pump.fun, meme coins, SSI, Thinking Machines Lab, Mira Murati, Ilya Sutskever, Sam Altman, Jony Ive, io Products, AI iPhone killer

Chapters

00:00 – Marketsin Meltdown: What Just Happened?

02:15 – FromLehman to Today: War Stories and Wipeouts

05:11 – TeslaTanks, Bitcoin Holds: Who’s Really Losing?

06:18 – Ethereum’sCollapse, Solana’s Shriveling, and the Meme Coin Freeze

10:10 – GoodNews Buried: Why Bullish Stories Got Snowed Under

10:51 – CZ’sNext Moves: From Binance to Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan

11:30 – Trump’sSEC Pick, Ripple’s SEC Endgame, and the Rise of Pro-Crypto Policy

12:36 – OpenAI’s$40 Billion Raise, and Sam Altman Buying the AI device maker from Jony Ive and…himself?

15:17 – JonyIve’s $60M AI Theater and the weird world of AI startups, with Mira Murati ofThinking Machines Lab

18:32 – Alphabet,Nvidia, and the $30B Valuation of Ilya Sutskever’s Safe Superintelligence

20:13 – TariffChaos, EU-China EV Drama or Partnership, and the Brexit Chlorinated ChickenPlot Twist

22:34 – Predictions:Sideways, Comebacks, and Bitcoin All-Time Highs?

Links

CZadvises Pakistan

OpenAIreportedly buying JonyIve's and Sam Atlman's startup

Frackers on "theiPhone killer with AI"

ex-OpenAICTO Mira Murati's newAI-startup Thinking Machines raising $2 B

OpenAIco-founder Ilya Sutskever's newAI-startup SSI raising at $30 B valuation

new Stanfordreport: AI isimproving, complex challenges remain difficult

Chinaand EU in talks about electric vehicle pact

NFA Podcaston other channels

·     NFApodcast newsletter on Linkedin

·     NFA podcast newsletter onSubstack

·     NFAchannel on Youtube

·     NFAchannel on Spotify

·     NFAchannel on Apple podcasts

·     NFAaccount on Instagram

·     Nisheta Sachdev on X

·     Michiel Frackers on X  

Pleaseremember: the NFA Podcast is Not Financial Advice!

NFA PODCAST NEWSLETTER EPISODE 10, APRIL 4, 2025

This week, Nish and Frackers unpacked one of the most volatile market weeks of the year, sparked by a wave of aggressive tariffs and a cascade of investor panic.

Market Meltdown

The Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs triggered the largest one-day equity selloff since March 2020. Even penguins on McDonald Island weren’t spared, as Frackers noted about the randomness of trade policy.

Tech Stocks vs Crypto Performance(Year-to-Date)

Frackers compared year-to-date losses across sectors:

• Big tech stocks (BATMMAAN) are down 21 percent on average

o Tesla and Broadcom each fell 34 percent

o Meta and Microsoft held up best, down around 9 to 11 percent

• Crypto markets performed worse, down 27 percent on average

o Ethereum, Dogecoin, and Cardano each dropped around 46 to 48 percent

o Bitcoin fared better at minus 11 percent

o XRP was the outlier, down just 2 percentNFT Shakeout and Shift

Nish covered the closure of NFT marketplace X2Y2, which is pivoting to a vaguely defined AI venture. Both hosts agreed the collectible era of NFTs is over, but emphasized that NFTs still hold promise as infrastructure, especially in applications like carbon credit issuance.

The Airdrop Economy

Nish recounted a profitable airdrop experience from an Ordinal that turned out to be worth 0.1 Bitcoin, while Frackers compared the tactic to the “heroin marketing strategy” where the first shot is free. Despite skepticism, both acknowledged airdrops remain a powerful growth tool.

Binance and CZ’s Global Play

CZ from Binance was appointed as an advisor to Kyrgyzstan on blockchain matters. Nish and Frackers praised his innovation record and argued he remains a valuable strategic mind despite his recent legal troubles.

Wash Trading and Legal Double Standards

CLS Global was fined for wash trading. The conversation turned to the inconsistencies between what’s allowed in traditional finance, like IPO price support by underwriters, and what’s condemned in crypto.

Outlook for the Week Ahead

Nish expects crypto to stabilize but warns of more bumps ahead. Frackers believes April 4 may mark a local bottom, predicting markets may begin to recover after another sharp drop when Wall Street opens.

Chapters list

00:00 Tariffs Hit Tech and CryptoMarkets Hard

03:54 NFTs: Future Outlook andMarket Changes

08:44 Market Makers andRegulatory Challenges

14:51 Data Privacy and CorporateResponsibility

17:23 Tech Stock Market Trends

18:32 The Crypto Market Analysis

22:10 The Impact of Founders onCompany Success

23:44 Market Predictions andStrategies

28:53 Final Thoughts and AudienceEngagement

Links

·     Vietnam hit hard by tariffs

·     Penguins hit by tariffs as well

·     Tracer uses functional NFTs in one smart contract

·     CZ advises Kyrgyztan

·     CZ advises more countries

·     UAE-based Crypto Firm CLS Global Fined $428,000 for Wash Trading Scheme in U.S. Markets

·     Charles Hoskinson, Cardano

·   Subscribe to tech and crypto market analysis in Michiel Frackers' free weekly newsletter

NFA Podcast on other channels

·   NFA podcast newsletter on Linkedin

·     NFA podcast newsletter on Substack

·     NFA channel on Youtube

·     NFA channel on Spotify

·    NFA channel on Apple podcasts

·     NFA account on Instagram

·     Nisheta Sachdev on X

·     Michiel Frackers on X  

Please remember: the NFA Podcast is Not Financial Advice!

Episode 9 Summary – The NFA Podcast with Nish & Frackers

In episode 9, Nish and Michiel kick things off with a discussion on Nish describing Michiel as ‘TradFI Chad Guy” on LinkedIn.

Michiel opens with insights from Meltem Demirors, who described the current altcoin market as a “game of musical chairs,” noting its total market cap and volume is back to 2020 levels. 

The duo then breaks down a major drama involving Hyperliquid and GameStop’s stock dropping 8% after announcing a $1.3 billion Bitcoin buy plan. They also discuss standout Murad’s talk at Token2049 on meme coins.

Nish mentions World Mobile, Michiel dives deep into Apple’s failed rollout of Apple Intelligence, raising the question of whether Tim Cook should step down.

Chapter List

00:00 Introduction to the the NFA Podcast and the hosts Nish & Frackers

02:16 Market Overview: Altcoins market cap same as 4 years ago

02:16 Investment Strategies and Market Sentiment

03:23 Hyperliquid and Jelly issue

03:51 GameStop's Bitcoin Investment Plans Hammered

06:40 Ethics and Morality in Crypto

09:05 The Community and Culture of Crypto

10:12 World MObile

11:13 Innovative Solutions in Connectivity

12:35 Apple's AI Ambitions and Challenges

15:35 The Apple Streaming Service Struggles

19:00 Tim Cook out?

Links

NFA Podcast newsletter on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/nfa-podcast-7295819854043860992/

LinkedIn post Nish

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7310282312791789569/

Meltem Demirors on Bloomberg

https://youtu.be/c2dsvh9T63Q?si=3g7XUVh4MZ4Devsl&t=1070

Meltem Demirors at CFC 

https://youtu.be/HL400JZ9lrI?si=FTYIzxYR0kn09Ua2

Meltem Demirors: the United States of Shitcoins

https://medium.com/@Melt_Dem/the-united-states-of-shitcoin-1362a6e0a40e

Hyperliquid

https://hyperfoundation.org/

Timeline: Jelly token goes sour after $6M exploit on Hyperliquid

https://cointelegraph.com/news/timeline-jelly-token-exploit-hyperliquid

Hyperliquid Price Crash: What Led to the HYPE Price Drop After the Jelly Incident

https://coinfomania.com/hyperliquid-price-crash-what-led-to-the-hype-price-drop-after-the-jelly-incident-whats-happening/

GameStop buys Bitcoin, shares fall

https://www.investors.com/news/gamestop-stock-bitcoin-investment-q4-2024-earnings-ryan-cohen-march-2025/

Dumb Money trailer

https://youtu.be/bmr8YmwnZ3w?si=H25VeoZyICUqryQu

Murads Memecoins

https://getblock.io/blog/what-are-murad-meme-coins/

World Mobile

https://worldmobile.io/

MG Siegler’s Spyglass

https://spyglass.org/author/mgs/

Rumor: Apple Watch with Camera and perhaps Apple Intelligence

https://www.theverge.com/news/634395/apple-watch-apple-intelligence-cameras

Stewart Alsop

https://www.alsop-louie.com/team/stewart-alsop

Tim time to go?

https://salsop.substack.com/p/dear-tim_cook-is-it-time-to-retire

Apple loses a billion per year on streaming

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2025-03-24/apple-only-loses-1b-a-year-on-streaming-video

https://spyglass.org/apple-tv-plus-strategy

Apple refused to introduce an Apple tv

https://x.com/markgurman/status/1829587912926916662

Shrinking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjHfjQDWl1A

Ted Lasso

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u7EIiohs6U

Eddie Cue, SVP Apple Services

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka9k_a9fROw

When Apple bought Beats in 2014

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2014/05/28Apple-to-Acquire-Beats-Music-Beats-Electronics/

Apple Vision Pro

https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/

Leaked Apple meeting shows how dire the Siri situation really is

https://www.theverge.com/news/629940/apple-siri-robby-walker-delayed-ai-features

Apple stock under Tim Cook

https://www.fool.com/investing/2024/02/13/if-you-invested-10000-in-apple-when-tim-cook-becam/

NFA Podcast on other channels

·      NFA podcast newsletter on Linkedin

·      NFA podcast newsletter on Substack

·      NFA channel on Youtube

·      NFA channel on Apple podcasts

·      NFA account on Instagram

•      Nisheta Sachdev on X

•      Michiel Frackers on X 

Remember: NFA Podcast is Not Financial Advice

Episode Summary 

Key Discussion Points:

         1.      Solana Controversy:

         •       discussesion about the controversial Solanaad about "America visiting a therapist"

         •      Nish thinks Solana wanted to score points with president Trump, while Michiel doesn't understand why companies make these kind of social statements at all

         2.      Pump.Fun and Meme Coin Market:

         •       Nish reports that Pump.Fun went 24 hours without generating revenue, a significant downturn.

         •       Pump.Fun announced plans for its owndecentralized exchange, while Raydium, a linked DEX, announced LaunchLab which competes with Pump.Fun.

         3.      Tokenizing Real Estate in Dubai:

         •       Nish covers the Dubai Land Department’spilot project to tokenize real estate

         •       Michiel comments on how real-world assettokenization has been slow to take off

         4.      AI and Coding Debate:

         •       Michiel says Anthropic’s CEO Dario Amodei claims coding will become obsolete due to AI, but Amodei is challenged by AI-experts Yann LeCun and Andrew Ng.

         5.      China’s Tech and AI Landscape:

         •       Michiel brings up DeepSeek, a Chinese AIcompany whose employees are being asked to surrender their passports to the government.

         •       They discuss how China’s centralized andnationalist approach to tech contrasts with India’s more fragmented and less cohesive progress.

         6.      Google’s $32 Billion Acquisition:

         •       Michiel discusses Google’s acquisition ofWiz, its largest ever, and points out that Google’sstock has underperformed compared to other tech giants.

         7.      Hopscotch Labs - Augmented Reality viaAirPods:

         •       Michiel mentions a new startup calledHopscotch Labs that uses AirPods for AR experiences, which he finds intriguing compared to VR glasses.

         8.      General Thoughts on Indian and ChineseTech:

         •       Michiel and Nish discuss the disparitybetween Indian and Chinese tech ecosystems, noting how China has produced many prominent tech companies while India, despite its talent, hasn’t achieved the same success.

Chapter List:

00:00 Introduction to the NFA Podcast, Nish &Frackers

03:02 The Merging Worlds of Tech and Crypto

06:34 Solana's Controversial Ad

09:43 PumpFun's Decline and scrap with Raydium

14:17 Dubai's Real Estate Tokenization Initiative

16:49 Does AI make coding unnecessary?

18:04 Comparing China's and India's Growth

19:40 The Coreweave IPO is huge

20:40 Google bought Wiz, don’t nobody care

25:54 Hopscotch Labs make the Marauder’s Map forAirpods

28:16 Wrap-Up and Key Takeaways

Links:

• Solana Ad Disaster: Watch the ad
• Anatoly from Solana Apology: Read the apology
• Pump.fun: a quiet week on the board
• Pump.fun Launches Own DEX, Drops Raydium:  Cointelegraph has more
• Raydium Swap: Visit Raydium
• Raydium Launches Own Pump.fun: Read more onBlockworks
• Dubai starts real estate tokenization pilot: seeCoinDesk
• Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei says AI will write 90% of code in six     months: but don't count on it
• DeepSeek Employees Have to Turn in Passports: that'swhat  you get for being a national treasure

• India Grows Faster, Yet Has Miles to Go to Beat China’s Trillions: Read the article

• CoreWeave First Pure Play AI IPO: Investors betbig that CoreWeave has a market
• Google Buys Wiz for $32 billion: Wall Street didn't care
• Hopscotch Labs: not much to see on the websiteyet, but you can register for 'the Marauder's Map for Airpods'
• Marauder’s Map (from Harry Potter): Watch the boywith the scar get ready for mischief in this video

In Episode 7, hosts Nish and Michiel explore the significant crypto developments of the past week, highlighting Ripple’s surprising regulatory breakthrough in the UAE, Binance's notable $2 billion investment from Abu Dhabi’s MGX fund.

Episode Summary

The episode further explorer broader trends, including declining interest in meme coins, indicating a maturation of the crypto market. Nish elaborates on the necessity of robust projects with clear value propositions, contrasting these against the speculative mania that previously drove much of crypto's popularity. This shift is underscored by both hosts noting that even traditionally conservative hedge fund managers now see crypto as essential for client retention, marking a defensive yet important shift in institutional attitudes.

On the topic of investing versus trading, Nish and Michiel explore the nuances of strategic crypto investments. They stress the importance of long-term thinking and disciplined approaches, such as dollar cost averaging, particularly in uncertain markets. Nish advocates clear target prices for entering Bitcoin positions. Michiel shares personal reflections, including experiences with volatile tech stock investments and challenges associated with liquidity issues on crypto exchanges.

Concluding the episode, they summarize the present state of the crypto market as undergoing a necessary shakeout, poised for recovery and growth, especially for fundamentally sound projects.

__________________________

CHAPTER LIST EPISODE 7

00:00 Introduction to the NFA Podcast

00:24 Market Overview: Crypto News and Trends

03:35 Investing vs. Trading: Perspectives on Bitcoin

04:11 Ripple's Comeback and Regulatory News

06:08 Binance's Investment and Market Position

07:45 Emirates NBD and Crypto Trading Launch

08:50 Tether and USDC: Trust and Regulation

10:16 Coinbase vs. Binance: A Comparative Analysis

11:35 Navigating Liquidity in Crypto Trading

12:53 The Evolution of Meme Coins

14:07 Emerging Trends in Digital Assets

16:43 Trading vs. Investing: Understanding the Differences

19:05 Strategies for Entering the Market

22:23 Evaluating Altcoins: Risks and Rewards

23:58 The Impact of Market Sentiment on Investments

26:27 The Challenge of Trading and Investing

29:03 Long-Term vs. Short-Term Strategies in Tech Stocks

__________________________

SHOW NOTES EPISODE 7

The Tracer-project, cofounded by Michiel, where Nish is an advisor:

https://jointracer.io/

Ripple Secures First Middle East Approval, Unlocks $40B UAE Payments Market

https://www.ccn.com/news/crypto/ripple-first-middle-east-approval-40b-uae-payments-market/

Binance secures ‘largest investment ever’ in crypto as Abu Dhabi’s MGX pledges $2 billion

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/13/abu-dhabis-mgx-to-invest-2-billion-in-crypto-exchange-binance.html

Emirates NBD’s bet on crypto: A tipping point for Gulf banks?

https://www.thebanker.com/content/52144f65-79c6-4721-8d57-62f1eec9710f

Emirates NBD and Aquanow

https://www.aquanow.com/news-insights/emirates-nbd-enters-the-digital-asset-space-offering-crypto-on-the-liv-x-app

Tether and the doubts about the 5 billion mint: between politics, transparency, and market impacts

https://en.cryptonomist.ch/2024/11/26/tether-and-the-doubts-about-the-5-billion-mint-between-politics-transparency-and-market-impacts/

Wall Street Journal: the Challenge

https://emailseriesheardinvestingchallenge.cmail20.com/t/d-e-jyitlki-dhkyitukut-djt/

__________________________

Nisheta Sachdev on X:

https://x.com/nishoutofwater

Michiel Frackers on X:

https://x.com/frackers

NFA newsletter on Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/nfa-podcast-7295819854043860992/

NFA podcast on Substack:

https://substack.com/@nfapodcast

NFA on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@NFAPodcast2025

NFA on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/0ovtjYbF5Km2v5pIEyz60x

NFA on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/nfa-podcast-with-nish-and-frackers/id1795260561

In this week's NFA Podcast, Nish and Frackers dive into the latest developments shaking up tech and crypto markets. Nish highlights key global events, including China's major stimulus package, a Brazilian fintech firm's Bitcoin adoption (clarifying widespread misconceptions about Brazil’s government involvement), and Vietnam’s upcoming legal framework for digital assets.

Frackers discusses President Trump's recent announcement about establishing a strategic Bitcoin reserve and a "digital asset stockpile" from seized cryptocurrencies. Together, Nish and Frackers unpack the implications and debate the potential impacts of governmental involvement in cryptocurrency.

On the investment side, Frackers shares his continued bullish stance on Nvidia, despite recent downturns in the AI sector, and discusses concerns around the high-cost, uncertain profitability, and market saturation of AI investments.

Nish introduces BitTensor (TAO), highlighting its decentralized AI network as an innovative alternative to dominant centralized AI players.

They also explore current market dynamics, discussing the risks and opportunities in altcoins versus Bitcoin, and share insights on navigating market volatility amid global uncertainties.

This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice.

chapter list:

00:00 Portfolio Management and Investment Strategies

01:57 China’s stimulus package, Brazilian firm’s Bitcoin reserve and Vietnam’s legal crypto framework

03:10 Government Involvement in Cryptocurrency

03:37 Trump's Influence on the Crypto Market

04:37 The Future of Cryptocurrency Regulations

06:15 Global Perspectives on Crypto Adoption

07:18 Market Trends and Predictions

10:25 The Impact of Macroeconomic Factors on Tech and Crypto

13:28 The Evolution of AI and Its Market Dynamics

15:11 Concerns Over AI Business Models and Investment Strategies

17:09 Navigating the Crypto Landscape: Bitcoin vs. Altcoins

26:00 Bitcoin: The Largest Meme Coin?

This episode of the NFA Podcast with Nish and Frackers, Season 1 Episode 5, covered the major market downturn in crypto and tech, highlighting Bitcoin’s 20% drop, altcoin struggles, and the broader market’s reaction to Trump’s tariffs.

Nish and Michiel discussed the decline in new token launches on Pumpfun, BlackRock’s Bitcoin sales, and the SEC ruling that meme coins are not securities. The Bybit hack, linked to North Korean attackers, was another key focus, revealing vulnerabilities in multi-signature transactions.

Lastly, they debated whether Bitcoin will hit an all-time high this year and how its correlation with traditional markets has evolved.

Keywords

NFA Podcast, crypto market, AI impact, investing strategies, meme coins, Bybit hack, market psychology, Bitcoin all time high (ATH), not financial advice, Ethereum, Solana, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Nisheta Sachdev, Michiel Frackers

Chapter List

00:00 Introduction to the Crypto Market Landscape

03:19 Market Analysis: Trends and Shifts

07:49 Institutional Influence and Market Sentiment

09:40 Comparative Performance: Crypto vs. Traditional Assets

11:24 The Future of Crypto: Predictions and Speculations

13:39 The Business Acumen of Zuckerberg

15:04 Contrasting Leadership Styles: Zuckerberg vs. Musk

16:38 Market Predictions and Crypto Trends

17:52 The Bybit Hack: A Deep Dive

22:04 Market Corrections and Future Outlook

closing: New Mariachi Theme song