The Breakdown

The Breakdown

By BlockworksBusinessInvesting
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The Breakdown episodes

  • Treasury Secretary Bessent: "The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves"

    The market is finally digesting that there is no Trump put, and that Trump 2.0 is more concerned with remaking the global economic order than on making Wall Street happy -- at least for now. NLW talks about the implications for markets, bitcoin and beyond.


    Sponsored by:


    Ledger

    Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors The Breakdown podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER™ device and secure your crypto today. Buy now on Ledger.com.


    Enjoying this content?

    • SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620
    • Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto
    • Subscribe to the newsletter: https://breakdown.beehiiv.com/
    • Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8
    • Follow on Twitter:
    • NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw
    • Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW

    • 16 min
    • Stablecoin Debate Illustrates the Failure of the Anti-Crypto Army

      Two essays that reflect Elizabeth Warren and her anti-crypto army's failure shape the debate around common sense crypto policy.


      Reading and discussion inspired by:

      https://www.coindesk.com/opinion/2025/03/13/no-the-stablecoin-bill-isn-t-built-for-billionaires

      https://www.coindesk.com/opinion/2025/03/13/stablecoins-are-a-vital-innovation-that-risk-being-crushed-by-misguided-fear


      Sponsored by:


      Ledger

      Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors The Breakdown podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER™ device and secure your crypto today. Buy now on Ledger.com.


      Enjoying this content?

      • SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620
      • Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto
      • Subscribe to the newsletter: https://breakdown.beehiiv.com/
      • Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8
      • Follow on Twitter:
      • NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw
      • Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW
      • 15 min
      • The Five Most Important Stories in Crypto This Week

        NLW and Scott Melker count down the most important crypto stories of the week, from more bipartisan pro-crypto legislation to a new discussion of stablecoins to the geopolitical implications of crypto's biggest ever funding deal.


        Sponsored by:


        Ledger

        Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors The Breakdown podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER™ device and secure your crypto today. Buy now on Ledger.com.


        Enjoying this content?

        • SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620
        • Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto
        • Subscribe to the newsletter: https://breakdown.beehiiv.com/
        • Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8
        • Follow on Twitter:
        • NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw
        • Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW

        • 31 min
        • Crypto's Biggest Funding Deal Ever

          Binance has raised $2B in crypto's biggest ever fundraise. What's more interesting than the dollar amount, however, is the geopolitical implications underlying it. Is it part of a broader Gulf-state realignment? US dollar hegemony through stablecoins? NLW explores.


          Sponsored by:


          Ledger

          Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors The Breakdown podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER™ device and secure your crypto today. Buy now on Ledger.com.


          Enjoying this content?

          • SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620
          • Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto
          • Subscribe to the newsletter: https://breakdown.beehiiv.com/
          • Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8
          • Follow on Twitter:
          • NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw
          • Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW

          • 14 min
          • Early Signs of Crypto Bipartisanship in Congress

            Congress has followed the Senate in their vote to repeal a damaging IRS crypto broker rule, and has done so by an even bigger supermajority than the Senate vote. NLW argues that this shows an emerging strand of common-sense bipartisanship around crypto in Washington.


            Sponsored by:


            Ledger

            Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors The Breakdown podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER™ device and secure your crypto today. Buy now on Ledger.com.


            Enjoying this content?

            • SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620
            • Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto
            • Subscribe to the newsletter: https://breakdown.beehiiv.com/
            • Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8
            • Follow on Twitter:
            • NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw
            • Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW

            • 13 min
            • Markets Get Spooked By Recession Possibility

              NLW explores macro turmoil, including the growing (at least in analysts' estimation) possibility of a recession. He also looks at how it's impacting the crypto markets.


              Sponsored by:


              Ledger

              Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors The Breakdown podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER™ device and secure your crypto today. Buy now on Ledger.com.


              Enjoying this content?

              • SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620
              • Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto
              • Subscribe to the newsletter: https://breakdown.beehiiv.com/
              • Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8
              • Follow on Twitter:
              • NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw
              • Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW

              • 12 min
              • Ignore the Whiners: The White House Crypto Summit WAS a Big deal

                The White House held its first Crypto Summit last week. While some people are complaining that it was a nothingburger, NLW argues that they're missing the point.


                Sponsored by:


                Ledger

                Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors The Breakdown podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER™ device and secure your crypto today. Buy now on Ledger.com.


                Enjoying this content?

                • SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620
                • Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto
                • Subscribe to the newsletter: https://breakdown.beehiiv.com/
                • Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8
                • Follow on Twitter:
                • NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw
                • Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW

                • 14 min
                • A Preview of the White House Crypto Summit

                  The big White House Crypto Summit happens on Friday March 7th in DC. NLW covers the scuttlebutt and chatter leading into the event.


                  c er in digital asset security, proudly sponsors The Breakdown podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER™ device and secure your crypto today. Buy now on Ledger.com.


                  Enjoying this content?

                  • SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620
                  • Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto
                  • Subscribe to the newsletter: https://breakdown.beehiiv.com/
                  • Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8
                  • Follow on Twitter:
                  • NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw
                  • Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW
                  • 12 min
                  • Will AI Vibe Coding Lead to Web3 Adoption?

                    That's the argument in discussion today. Source: https://www.coindesk.com/opinion/2025/03/06/mass-adoption-of-web3-through-the-self-writing-internet


                    Sponsored by:


                    Ledger

                    Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors The Breakdown podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER™ device and secure your crypto today. Buy now on Ledger.com.


                    Enjoying this content?

                    • SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620
                    • Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto
                    • Subscribe to the newsletter: https://breakdown.beehiiv.com/
                    • Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8
                    • Follow on Twitter:
                    • NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw
                    • Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW
                    • 12 min
                    • It's Actually Happening: The USA Gets a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve

                      NLW and Scott Melker count down the five most important stories in crypto this week, including the profound news that the US is actually getting a strategic bitcoin reserve. NLW argues that the way they did the BSR actually solves many of the major concerns with it.


                      Sponsored by:


                      Ledger

                      Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors The Breakdown podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER™ device and secure your crypto today. Buy now on Ledger.com.


                      Enjoying this content?

                      • SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620
                      • Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto
                      • Subscribe to the newsletter: https://breakdown.beehiiv.com/
                      • Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8
                      • Follow on Twitter:
                      • NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw
                      • Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW
                      • 30 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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