The Breakdown

The Breakdown

By BlockworksBusinessInvesting
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The Breakdown episodes

  • The Recession Discussion Is Incredibly Dumb

    This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Chainalysis and FTX US.

     

    “Recession” is the latest word to run afoul of our shifting definitions and political newspeak. This week, numbers from Q2 came out showing that the U.S. had seen a declining GDP for the second quarter in a row – a fairly standard definition of a recession. The political spin was immediate and tortured, but in today’s episode, NLW argues that the caring about the label itself may be the bigger problem. 

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    Nexo is a security-first platform where you can buy, exchange and borrow against your crypto. The company safeguards your crypto by relying on five key fundamentals including real-time auditing and insurance on custodial assets. Learn more at nexo.io.

    -

    Chainalysis is the blockchain data platform. We provide data, software, services and research to government agencies, exchanges, financial institutions and insurance and cybersecurity companies. Our data powers investigation, compliance and market intelligence software that has been used to solve some of the world’s most high-profile criminal cases. For more information, visit www.chainalysis.com.

    -

    FTX US is the safe, regulated way to buy Bitcoin, ETH, SOL and other digital assets. Trade crypto with up to 85% lower fees than top competitors and trade ETH and SOL NFTs with no gas fees and subsidized gas on withdrawals. Sign up at FTX.US today.

    -

    “The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Eleanor Pahl`` and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “The Now” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: Malte Mueller/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

    20 min
  • Volatility Ahead?

    This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Chainalysis and FTX US.

    On this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at four reasons markets could see heightened volatility between now and November: 

    • Fund managers making YOLO bets to avoid redemptions
    • Inflation surprises shift the Fed back to hawkish
    • Regulatory and media surprises for crypto 
    • Politics and geopolitics 

    Nexo is a security-first platform where you can buy, exchange and borrow against your crypto. The company safeguards your crypto by relying on five key fundamentals including real-time auditing and insurance on custodial assets. Learn more at nexo.io.

    -

    Chainalysis is the blockchain data platform. We provide data, software, services and research to government agencies, exchanges, financial institutions and insurance and cybersecurity companies. Our data powers investigation, compliance and market intelligence software that has been used to solve some of the world’s most high-profile criminal cases. For more information, visit www.chainalysis.com.

    -

    FTX US is the safe, regulated way to buy Bitcoin, ETH, SOL and other digital assets. Trade crypto with up to 85% lower fees than top competitors and trade ETH and SOL NFTs with no gas fees and subsidized gas on withdrawals. Sign up at FTX.US today.

    -

    “The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “The Now” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: Nuthawut Somsuk/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

    19 min
  • Why Markets Viewed the Fed's Latest 75 Basis Point Hike as 'Dovish'

    This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Chainalysis and FTX US.

     

    Yesterday was “Fed Day” and the U.S. Federal Reserve announced its second 75 basis point interest rate hike in a row. Despite the fastest pace of monetary tightening in a generation, markets rallied after Chair Jerome Powell’s presser. On today’s episode, NLW explains why so many in the market interpreted the Fed’s Q&A as dovish, and what it means going forward. 

    -

    Nexo is a security-first platform where you can buy, exchange and borrow against your crypto. The company safeguards your crypto by relying on five key fundamentals including real-time auditing and insurance on custodial assets. Learn more at nexo.io.

    -

    Chainalysis is the blockchain data platform. We provide data, software, services and research to government agencies, exchanges, financial institutions and insurance and cybersecurity companies. Our data powers investigation, compliance and market intelligence software that has been used to solve some of the world’s most high-profile criminal cases. For more information, visit www.chainalysis.com.

    -

    FTX US is the safe, regulated way to buy Bitcoin, ETH, SOL and other digital assets. Trade crypto with up to 85% lower fees than top competitors and trade ETH and SOL NFTs with no gas fees and subsidized gas on withdrawals. Sign up at FTX.US today.

    -

    “The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “The Now” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

    20 min
  • What's Behind Growing US-China Tensions?

    This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Chainalysis and FTX US.

     

    U.S. President Joe Biden is slated to talk with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week. In the background lurks growing tensions around House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s potential visit to Taiwan next month. On today’s episode, NLW looks at the big issues behind these headlines that are shaping both the U.S. and China’s response to growing tensions. 

    -

    Nexo is a security-first platform where you can buy, exchange and borrow against your crypto. The company safeguards your crypto by relying on five key fundamentals including real-time auditing and insurance on custodial assets. Learn more at nexo.io.

    -

    Chainalysis is the blockchain data platform. We provide data, software, services and research to government agencies, exchanges, financial institutions and insurance and cybersecurity companies. Our data powers investigation, compliance and market intelligence software that has been used to solve some of the world’s most high-profile criminal cases. For more information, visit www.chainalysis.com.

    -

    FTX US is the safe, regulated way to buy Bitcoin, ETH, SOL and other digital assets. Trade crypto with up to 85% lower fees than top competitors and trade ETH and SOL NFTs with no gas fees and subsidized gas on withdrawals. Sign up at FTX.US today.

    -

    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 Rob Mitchell and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “The Now” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

    21 min
  • The State of Crypto in 3 Themes

    This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Chainalysis and FTX US.

     

    On today’s episode, NLW looks at a slate of news from the crypto industry, organized around three big-picture themes:

    • Regulatory – including the latest from the SEC, CFTC and Treasury Department 
    • Institutional involvement – including a Barclays investment in a crypto custodian 
    • Builder activity – including a new non-token Web3 project from Tether and Bitfinex 

     

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    Nexo is a security-first platform where you can buy, exchange and borrow against your crypto. The company safeguards your crypto by relying on five key fundamentals including real-time auditing and insurance on custodial assets. Learn more at nexo.io.

    -

    Chainalysis is the blockchain data platform. We provide data, software, services and research to government agencies, exchanges, financial institutions and insurance and cybersecurity companies. Our data powers investigation, compliance and market intelligence software that has been used to solve some of the world’s most high-profile criminal cases. For more information, visit www.chainalysis.com.

    -

    FTX US is the safe, regulated way to buy Bitcoin, ETH, SOL and other digital assets. Trade crypto with up to 85% lower fees than top competitors and trade ETH and SOL NFTs with no gas fees and subsidized gas on withdrawals. Sign up at FTX.US today.

    -

    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 Rob Mitchell and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “The Now” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: Malte Mueller/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

    19 min
  • The SEC’s Escalating Battle Against Crypto

    This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Chainalysis and FTX US.

     

    On today’s episode, NLW catches listeners up on the criminal charges filed against a former Coinbase employee and two of his associates last week around insider trading. The charges come from the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission, and it is the SEC’s charges that have the biggest implications. Nine of the tokens traded are being labeled by the SEC as securities, but the token issuers are not being given a chance to defend themselves. In a wildly unusual breach of protocol, a commissioner from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission accused the SEC of “regulation by enforcement” in a public press release response. NLW breaks down the escalation on the part of the SEC. 

    -

    Nexo is a security-first platform where you can buy, exchange and borrow against your crypto. The company safeguards your crypto by relying on five key fundamentals including real-time auditing and insurance on custodial assets. Learn more at nexo.io.

    -

    Chainalysis is the blockchain data platform. We provide data, software, services and research to government agencies, exchanges, financial institutions and insurance and cybersecurity companies. Our data powers investigation, compliance and market intelligence software that has been used to solve some of the world’s most high-profile criminal cases. For more information, visit www.chainalysis.com.

    -

    FTX US is the safe, regulated way to buy Bitcoin, ETH, SOL and other digital assets. Trade crypto with up to 85% lower fees than top competitors and trade ETH and SOL NFTs with no gas fees and subsidized gas on withdrawals. Sign up at FTX.US today.

    -

    “The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “The Now” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

    20 min
  • How Bitcoin Can Support the Green Energy Transition

    This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Chainalysis and FTX US.

     

    On this week’s “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW looks at two discussions of the positive role Bitcoin can play in greening the grid. 

     

    He reads:  “Need a Use Case for Decentralization? Start with Energy” - Michael Casey

     

    Thread by Level39

     

    -

    Nexo is a security-first platform where you can buy, exchange and borrow against your crypto. The company safeguards your crypto by relying on five key fundamentals including real-time auditing and insurance on custodial assets. Learn more at nexo.io.

    -

    Chainalysis is the blockchain data platform. We provide data, software, services and research to government agencies, exchanges, financial institutions and insurance and cybersecurity companies. Our data powers investigation, compliance and market intelligence software that has been used to solve some of the world’s most high-profile criminal cases. For more information, visit www.chainalysis.com.

    -

    FTX US is the safe, regulated way to buy Bitcoin, ETH, SOL and other digital assets. Trade crypto with up to 85% lower fees than top competitors and trade ETH and SOL NFTs with no gas fees and subsidized gas on withdrawals. Sign up at FTX.US today.

    -

    “The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Michele Musso and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “The Now” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: Vladimir Kazakov/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

    16 min
  • What Crypto Needs to Build Next, Feat. Qiao Wang

    This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Chainalysis and FTX US.

     

    Qiao Wang is a creator of and core contributor to Alliance DAO, an accelerator for Web3 companies in decentralized finance (DeFi), infrastructure, distributed autonomous organizations (DAO), non-fungible tokens (NFT) and more. In this episode, he and NLW discuss the macro landscape, how this bear market is different and what he’d like to see entrepreneurs build during this quieter period. 

     

    -

    Nexo is a security-first platform where you can buy, exchange and borrow against your crypto. The company safeguards your crypto by relying on five key fundamentals including real-time auditing and insurance on custodial assets. Learn more at nexo.io.

    -

    Chainalysis is the blockchain data platform. We provide data, software, services and research to government agencies, exchanges, financial institutions and insurance and cybersecurity companies. Our data powers investigation, compliance and market intelligence software that has been used to solve some of the world’s most high-profile criminal cases. For more information, visit www.chainalysis.com.

    -

    FTX US is the safe, regulated way to buy Bitcoin, ETH, SOL and other digital assets. Trade crypto with up to 85% lower fees than top competitors and trade ETH and SOL NFTs with no gas fees and subsidized gas on withdrawals. Sign up at FTX.US today.

    -

    “The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Michele Musso and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “The Now” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit:Westend61/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

     

    26 min
  • Jim Bianco on Inflation, Recession and the Need to Reimagine the Economy for a New Era

    This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Chainalysis and FTX US.

     

    On today’s episode, NLW is joined by Jim Bianco, the president of Bianco Research. In this wide-ranging discussion, they talk about the bind the Federal Reserve finds itself in, the stickiness of inflation, structural economic changes post-coronavirus, and why crypto matters even when prices go down. 

     

    -

    Nexo is a security-first platform where you can buy, exchange and borrow against your crypto. The company safeguards your crypto by relying on five key fundamentals including real-time auditing and insurance on custodial assets. Learn more at nexo.io.

    -

    Chainalysis is the blockchain data platform. We provide data, software, services and research to government agencies, exchanges, financial institutions and insurance and cybersecurity companies. Our data powers investigation, compliance and market intelligence software that has been used to solve some of the world’s most high-profile criminal cases. For more information, visit www.chainalysis.com.

    -

    FTX US is the safe, regulated way to buy Bitcoin, ETH, SOL and other digital assets. Trade crypto with up to 85% lower fees than top competitors and trade ETH and SOL NFTs with no gas fees and nsubsidized gas on withdrawals. Sign up at FTX.US today.

    -

    “The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Michele Musso and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “The Now” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: We Are/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

    45 min
  • The Future of the Bitcoin Energy Debate, Feat. Troy Cross

    This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Chainalysis and FTX US.

     

    Today, the Bitcoin energy debate is all about how much energy bitcoin mining consumes, and what percentage of that comes from renewable sources. Today’s guest Troy Cross argues that in the future, Bitcoin will be seen as a technology that actually enables the overall economy to move to cleaner, greener energy sources even beyond mining itself. 

     

    Find our guest Twitter: @thetrocro  

     

     

    -

    Nexo is a security-first platform where you can buy, exchange and borrow against your crypto. The company safeguards your crypto by relying on five key fundamentals including real-time auditing and insurance on custodial assets. Learn more at nexo.io.

    -

    Chainalysis is the blockchain data platform. We provide data, software, services and research to government agencies, exchanges, financial institutions and insurance and cybersecurity companies. Our data powers investigation, compliance and market intelligence software that has been used to solve some of the world’s most high-profile criminal cases. For more information, visit www.chainalysis.com.

    -

    FTX US is the safe, regulated way to buy Bitcoin, ETH, SOL and other digital assets. Trade crypto with up to 85% lower fees than top competitors and trade ETH and SOL NFTs with no gas fees and subsidized gas on withdrawals. Sign up at FTX.US today.

    -

    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 and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “The Now” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: Eoneren/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

    53 min

About The Breakdown

From the publisher's feed

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.

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