Unchained

By Laura Shin

Crypto assets and blockchain technology are about to transform every trust-based interaction of our lives, from financial services to identity to the Internet of Things. In this podcast, host Laura Sh... more

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The podcast currently has 1,017 episodes available.

Unchained episodes:

September 19, 2024The Chopping Block: SVM vs. EVM, VC Investment in Solana and Memecoins’ Future - Ep. 706
Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest in crypto. This week, the squad is joined by special guest Mert Mumtaz, co-founder of Helius. In this episode, the crew dives into the growing rivalry between SVM and EVM, the surge of VC investments in the Solana ecosystem, and the fierce debate over rollups. They also explore the rise and fall of memecoins, Solana’s infrastructure evolution, and the future for high-performance blockchains. Tune in for a high-energy discussion on the cutting edge of crypto!
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Pandora, Castbox, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Show highlights
🔹 SVM vs. EVM Showdown: The team breaks down the growing battle between Solana's SVM and Ethereum's EVM, examining what’s at stake for both ecosystems.
🔹 VC Investments in Solana: As VC interest in Solana surges, the crew discusses how this new wave of funding could reshape the future of blockchain development.
🔹 Memecoin Chaos: The rapid rise and fall of memecoins comes under fire, with a debate on whether they are a net positive or simply speculative noise in the market.
🔹 Solana’s Infrastructure Evolution: Solana's ongoing efforts to improve scalability and performance are highlighted, especially with innovations like Fire Dancer and ZK compression.
🔹 Network Extensions Controversy: A heated discussion on Solana’s push to rebrand rollups as “network extensions,” sparking backlash from Ethereum proponents.
🔹 VC vs. Market Sentiment: The role of venture capital in the crypto space is examined, with insights into whether VCs are driving innovation or creating unsustainable hype.
🔹 Solana Breakpoint Preview: Excitement builds around Solana’s flagship event, with predictions on what key announcements could impact the blockchain’s future.
Hosts
⭐️Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Tom Schmidt, General Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Tarun Chitra, Managing Partner at Robot Ventures

Guest
⭐️ Mert, Co-founder & CEO at Helius
Disclosures

Timestamps
0:00 Intro
02:02 Impressions of Singapore
07:55 Mert's Journey & Solana Advocacy
15:41 Challenges & Growth in Solana Ecosystem
21:01 EBOLA [EVM Bags Over Logic Affliction]
31:13 Solana's Resilience
34:38 The Rise of SVM and Developer Perspectives
41:41 Network Extensions vs. Rollups
51:08 Future of High-Performance Blockchains
59:47 AI's Impact on Developer Ecosystems
01:06:19 Memecoins and Market Dynamics

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1h 14min
September 17, 2024Trump’s Crypto Project May Attract Hackers. That's Why This Security Expert Joined - Ep. 705
World Liberty Financial (WLF), the Trump-backed DeFi project, launched this Monday.
In this episode, crypto security expert Ogle discusses his role as an advisor to WLF. He dives into why he joined the project, what makes it unique, and how Trump’s involvement could bridge the gap for many who are new to the space.
Plus, Ogle shares his thoughts on the security challenges WLF might face and the project's potential to rival major players in the market.
He also touches on his new L1 blockchain Glue, and why he thinks it will provide a better user experience than what is out in crypto today.
Show highlights:
2:05 Ogle’s background and how he came up with a standard for dealing with crypto hacks
10:28 Where crypto hackers are usually from
13:21 Why he does security work for free
16:57 Why Ogle is advising the Trump family’s DeFi project, World Liberty Financial
22:30 Why some in the crypto community are skeptical of WLF
26:39 His thoughts on how to prevent a crypto hack of a high-profile project
32:52 Why Ogle is not worried about WLF having been forked from the hacked app Dough Finance
33:54 How the Trump family is involved in WLF
41:00 How Donald Trump is excited about the project and actually gets it, according to Ogle
43:49 Why Ogle believes WLF will attract as much traction as the entire market cap of Shiba Inu
47:04 How Ogle's new layer 1 blockchain, Glue, aims to be crypto’s AOL
56:33 Why Glue’s L2s will be specific to certain areas of the industry
1:02:41 When Ogle expects Glue to launch and whether it’ll have a token
1:04:19 How North Korean hackers are now “just so clever, socially”
1:13:56 Ogle’s tips for crypto users
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
Polkadot
Mantle
Stellar
Gemini
Guest:
Ogle, crypto security expert, founder of Glue, and advisor to World Liberty Financial.
Previous appearance on The Chopping Block: How This DeFi Hack Negotiator Gets Hackers to Return Stolen Money
Links
World Liberty Financial (WLFI)
Unchained: Trump’s New DeFi Project Could Be a Magnet for Hackers
CoinDesk: In Trump-Backed Crypto Project World Liberty Financial (WLFI), Insiders Are Poised for Unusually Big Token Payouts
IBTimes: Donald Trump Announces DeFi Project's Launch Date – What To Know About World Liberty Financial
Latin Times: Who Is Ogle? The Crypto Sleuth Recruited As An Advisor For Trump's DeFi Project
Glue:
Glue, The Web3 Network Built for Regular Users
How Glue Will Keep User Assets Safe
Scams and North Korea:
FBI Fraud report
North Kora Aggressively Targeting Crypto Industry with Well-Disguised Social Engineering Attacks

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1h 20min
September 13, 2024 The Chopping Block: VC vs. Liquid Funds, Friend.Tech’s Decline, Crypto Startup Exits - Ep. 704
Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news in crypto. This week the squad is joined by special guest Jason Choi, co-founder of Tangent. In this episode the crew tackles the overvaluation of crypto projects by VCs, Friend.Tech’s 96% token crash, and the ethics of early token launches They also explore how airdrop farming skews user metrics, the volatility of memecoins, and whether VCs are extracting more value from crypto than they contribute. Tune in for insights into the ever-evolving crypto landscape!
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Pandora, Castbox, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Show highlights
🔹 Friend.Tech Token Crash: Friend.Tech’s token dropped 96%, highlighting the risks of launching tokens without sustainable product planning and user retention strategies.
🔹 Project Exits and Ethics: Early token launches raise concerns about ethical obligations when teams abandon projects, with accusations of rug-pulling increasing.
🔹 Airdrop Farming’s Impact: Airdrop farming distorts true user engagement, leading to inflated metrics that misrepresent product-market fit and real user growth.
🔹 Venture Capital in Crypto: Low barriers for VCs have led to inflated project valuations, often resulting in overhyped, underdelivered crypto ventures.
🔹 Challenges of Early Token Launches: Early token releases often harm long-term project potential by confusing market signals and damaging user retention.
🔹 VC vs. Liquid Funds: Debate over whether venture capital is extracting value from crypto or whether liquid funds can improve market efficiency.
🔹 Hedge Funds and Market Efficiency: Hedge funds may improve market liquidity, but their impact on long-term crypto growth remains under scrutiny.
🔹 Speculative Markets and Long-Term Value: The crypto market continues to grapple with balancing short-term speculative plays and the creation of sustainable, long-term value.

Hosts
⭐️Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Tom Schmidt, General Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Tarun Chitra, Managing Partner at Robot Ventures

Guest
⭐️Jason Choi, Co-Founder of Tangent
Disclosures

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1h 7min
September 13, 2024Bitcoin Is Worth Over $1 Trillion. How Much Will Coinbase’s New cbBTC Grab? - Ep. 703
On Thursday, Coinbase unveiled cbBTC, a tokenized version of Bitcoin on its Base layer 2 and Ethereum. This launch follows the recent BitGo controversy about the custody arrangement for Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) now involving Justin Sun, sparking concerns within the crypto community.
In this episode, Will Robinson, Coinbase’s VP of engineering, discusses the strategic importance of cbBTC, how it differs from other wrapped Bitcoin products, and what this means for the future of Bitcoin within DeFi ecosystems.
Will Coinbase’s reputation as a "trusted custodian" be enough to make cbBTC the go-to choice for Bitcoin in DeFi, or will the industry remain skeptical?
01:54 Why Coinbase launched cbBTC and how it aims to bring Bitcoin into the world of DeFi
04:05 What happens behind the scenes when users mint cbBTC
05:21 What sets cbBTC apart from other wrapped Bitcoin options, according to Will
06:32 Whether Coinbase will expand cbBTC to other layer 2s and where users can already use it on major DeFi platforms
08:45 Will’s response to criticisms about the centralization of cbBTC
12:28 Why Coinbase's cbBTC launch was part of long-term plans, unrelated to the recent controversy around WBTC and Justin Sun
13:31 How Coinbase plans to make money from cbBTC, considering that WBTC has not been a big moneymaker for BitGo
15:38 Why Coinbase has the ability to freeze and blacklist cbBTC addresses
19:34 How Coinbase ensures that Bitcoin backing cbBTC remains the property of token holders and won’t be used as collateral or rehypothecated
20:58 Why Coinbase, a centralized entity, is launching cbBTC, a product for the decentralized, onchain world
23:57 Why Will doesn't want to predict how much demand there'll be for cbBTC
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
iTrustCapital
Polkadot
Mantle’s FBTC
Gemini
Stellar
Guest
Will Robinson, VP of Engineering at CoinbaseLinks
cbBTC
Unchained: Coinbase’s Wrapped Bitcoin Product cbBTC Launches on Base and Ethereum
BitGo changing custody and its implications:
Unchained:
Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) Redemptions Vastly Outpaced Minting Since BitGo’s Custodial Changes Announcement
Lending Protocol Aave to Propose Onboarding TBTC in Response to Concerns About Latest WBTC Custodial Changes
Could dlcBTC Resolve the Issues With Wrapped Bitcoin?
BitGo Abruptly Pivots on Holders of WBTC Multi-Sig Keys Following Community Outcry
MakerDAO Considers Offboarding WBTC as BitGo Plans Custody Changes
Aave DAO’s Chaos Labs Says ‘Risk-Off’ Recommendation for WBTC ‘Premature’

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38min
September 11, 2024Bits + Bips: Why Hasn't This Macro Cycle Boosted the Crypto Markets? - Ep. 702
As crypto markets continue to struggle, experts weigh in on whether the capitulation phase is finally over and what lies ahead. In this episode, hosts James Seyffart and Joe McCann, along with guest Noelle Acheson, delve into the recent market downturn, the potential for a recession in 2025, and why Bitcoin's divergence from gold is puzzling analysts. They also explore the impacts of upcoming rate cuts, the lingering effects of fiscal dominance, and whether Ethereum ETFs are living up to the hype.
Show highlights:
Why crypto has been down so bad recently despite the macro cycle
The three factors weighing on the bitcoin price for the moment, according to Noelle
The chances of a recession in the U.S. in 2025 and how much the Fed might cut rates
Why the current rate-cutting cycle is unusual, with markets expecting far more cuts than usual, and how a potential spike in inflation could complicate the Fed's response
Why the K-shaped economy endures, driven by the U.S. government's reliance on capital gains taxes
Why fiscal dominance is a growing concern and why bitcoin's recent divergence from gold is puzzling, as they typically move together during crises
Whether retail has been a buyer of the spot Bitcoin ETFs or it’s just onchain traders who are now buying them
Why James says the Ethereum ETFs “have been an absolute flop"
Sponsors:
Gemini
Stellar
Hosts:
James Seyffart, Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence
Joe McCann, Founder, CEO, and CIO of Asymmetric
Guest:
Noelle Acheson, Author of the “Crypto Is Macro Now” Newsletter

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
03:35 Why crypto is struggling recently
09:16 Three key factors weighing on Bitcoin's price
15:12 Chances of a 2025 U.S. recession and potential Fed rate cuts
25:55 Unusual rate-cutting cycle and inflation risks
32:06 Enduring K-shaped economy and capital gains tax impact
34:37 Concerns about fiscal dominance and Bitcoin’s divergence from gold
54:57 Retail vs. onchain traders in spot Bitcoin ETFs
1:01:43 Whether Ethereum ETFs have been a "flop"

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1h 12min
September 10, 2024ETH Is Down Bad, While Layer 2s Are Ripping. Are L2s Parasitic to Ethereum? - Ep. 701
Ethereum's Layer 2 solutions are booming, but are they inadvertently holding back the value of ETH itself?
In this episode, Justin Bons and Ryan Berckmans engage in a heated debate over whether L2s are enhancing Ethereum's ecosystem or siphoning off its potential. They discuss the impact of L2s on decentralization, network effects, and whether Ethereum L1 can scale on its own or if the base layer and the rollups now have different incentives. Has Ethereum scaled appropriately for future usage, or was scaling via L2s the wrong roadmap for Ethereum?
Show highlights:
02:43 How Ethereum's rollup-centric roadmap consists of a decentralized Layer 1 (L1) for security with Layer 2 (L2) providing more transaction throughput
04:53 Why Justin is so critical about how L2s centralize Ethereum
14:53 Why, according to Ryan, Layer 2 solutions aren't parasitic to Ethereum but instead enhance its network effects, decentralization, and long-term value
25:35 Why Justin criticizes Ryan’s reliance on "trust me, bro" arguments, questioning the tribalism and authority in claiming the superiority of Ethereum researchers over those from other blockchains
28:15 How Justin thinks the Ethereum L1 could scale and what the tradeoffs are
39:58 Justin’s argument that Ethereum is stuck in the past and his claim that the blockchain trilemma doesn't exist anymore
46:30 Ryan’s take on Ethereum's L1 scaling focuses on solving bandwidth limitations and addressing whether L2s are going to fully decentralize
51:01 Whether SNARKS is the way that Ethereum scales the L1
59:24 Whether L2s will start accepting other tokens to pay for gas
1:05:23 Why Ryan predicts Ethereum's L2 adoption will surge, driving up L1 fees and boosting Ether's value as the leading digital money
1:05:39 Whether based rollups are a good solution for Ethereum to scale without losing all the fees
1:13:21 Why L2s would even try to decentralize and why Justin says that Solana has a better roadmap than Ethereum
1:17:54 Concluding thoughts from Ryan and Justin
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
Polkadot
Mantle
Stellar
Coinbase
Guests:
Justin Bons, Founder & CIO of Cyber Capital
Previous appearances on Unchained:
Is Bitcoin Doomed to Fail? Eric Wall and Justin Bons Face Off
Ryan Berckmans, Ethereum community member and investor
Links
Previous coverage on Unchained of ETH and L2s:
Are L2s 'Parasitic'? Analysis Shows Ethereum Only Gets a Tiny Percentage of Fees
Are Solana's 'Network Extensions' Just Like Ethereum's Layer 2s But by a Different Name?
Ethereum Has Had a Banner Year in Most Areas. Except Price.
Should Ethereum Layer 2s Urgently Decentralize Their Sequencers?
Others
Justin’s thread on whether L2s are parasitic
Tweet by Zach Rynes, aka ChainLinkGod
Adam Cochran’s tweet on based rollups
Ethereum Foundation September AMA
Vitalkin on L2s
How do layer 2s really differ from execution sharding?
Layers 2s as cultural extensions of Ethereum

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1h 24min
September 06, 2024Are All Crypto Funds Basically Engaging in Illegal Activity Now? - Ep. 700
The SEC and CFTC’s recent actions against Uniswap and Galois Capital could mark a turning point in crypto regulation. With both firms settling on relatively low fines, are we witnessing regulators establish precedent for a broader crackdown on the industry?
In this episode, Larry Florio, general counsel at 1kx, delves into the implications of these settlements, the frustrations asset managers face with regulatory compliance, and whether the SEC’s approach could push the crypto industry into a corner. Will these actions set a precedent for more aggressive enforcement ahead?
Show highlights:
Why the SEC's action against Galois Capital highlights a shift in language, focusing on tokens "offered and sold as securities"
What a qualified custodian is and why the SEC's action against Galois punishes them for using FTX, which could have fit one definition of a qualified custodian if it hadn’t been perpetrating a fraud
How the SEC demands crypto fund managers comply with regulations on qualified custodians while also limiting qualified custodians in crypto
Whether the SEC is effectively banning crypto funds by requiring compliance with impossible rules
How the SEC penalized Galois for giving affiliates better liquidity terms than outside investors
How SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda’s call for clarity on "crypto asset securities" reflects the industry’s frustration with the lack of clear guidelines from the SEC
Why the CFTC's fine against Uniswap for alleged leveraged transactions may set a precedent for future enforcement actions
How Commissioner Summer K. Mersinger's dissent highlights the unfairness of punishing Uniswap despite their proactive compliance, according to Larry
Whether the New York Attorney General’s subpoenas to VCs about Uniswap signal a renewed adversarial approach to regulating DeFi
The timing of these actions, along with the SEC’s Wells notice to OpenSea
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
iTrustCapital
Polkadot
Mantle
Gemini
Stellar
Guest
Larry Florio, general counsel at 1kx
Timestamps:
➡️ 01:51 - The SEC using different language to describe tokens as securities
➡️ 04:53 - Qualified custodians & Galois Capital's use of FTX
➡️ 09:04 - Compliance frustrations for crypto asset managers
➡️ 11:58 - The SEC effectively banning crypto funds?
➡️ 18:22 - Penalty for giving some investors undisclosed preferential treatment
➡️ 18:25 - SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda’s call for clarity on crypto assets
➡️ 19:35 - CFTC's fine against Uniswap: A troubling precedent?
➡️ 23:09 -Uniswap's compliance efforts & two CFTC Commissioners’ dissents
➡️ 24:56 - NY Attorney General’s subpoenas
➡️ 27:04 - OpenSea’s Wells notice: NFTs as securities?
➡️ 30:34 - Crypto News Recap
Links
Galois Capital:
The Block: SEC charges and settles with crypto-focused Galois Capital over custody issues
Larry Florio’s thread
Uniswap:
CoinDesk: Uniswap Labs Settles CFTC Charges Over 'Illegal' Margin Products
Blockworks: CFTC Commissioners dissent on Uniswap settlement
Comments from Uniswap counsel
Axios: The SEC has questions for VCs about Uniswap
NY Attorney General’s Subpoenas
CoinDesk: VC Giants a16z, Union Square Ventures Get Subpoenaed by New York About Uniswap: Sources
OpenSea’s Wells notice:
Unchained: If the SEC Sues OpenSea, Here's Why the NFT Platform Could Win Easily
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40min
September 05, 2024 The Chopping Block: Trump’s World Liberty Financial Unveiled, Memecoin Market Trends, and DeFi Developments - Ep. 699
Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. In this episode, the boys tackle the buzz around World Liberty Financial, a controversial DeFi project linked to Donald Trump, and its ties to a previously hacked protocol. They explore the motivations behind the Trump family's involvement in crypto, questioning the legitimacy and future of the project.
The conversation pivots to memecoins, with debates around the sustainability of the memecoin market and the growing influence of platforms like Pump.fun. We explore the thought-provoking discussion on the evolution of financial games in crypto, where both strategies and the game's rules can change dynamically. The squad also reflects on broader crypto market trends, touching on AI-driven markets, decentralized finance, and the shifting regulatory landscape.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Pandora, Castbox, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Show highlights
🔹 World Liberty Financial, a DeFi project allegedly linked to Donald Trump, sparks controversy with its origins in a hacked protocol.
🔹 Debate on the motivations behind Trump family involvement in crypto, questioning the legitimacy of World Liberty Financial.
🔹 Discussion around memecoins and their market cycles, with concerns about the sustainability and long-term viability of these tokens.
🔹 The concept of dynamically adjusting financial rules in crypto systems, contrasting it with traditional finance.
🔹 Pump.fun reaches $100M in revenue, marking it as a dominant memecoin platform, but also raising questions about the health of the memecoin ecosystem.
🔹 The innovation in memecoins, suggesting that dynamic mechanics could extend the life cycle of these tokens.
🔹 Broader reflections on the future of memecoins, potential market corrections, and how the crypto ecosystem will adapt.
🔹 Speculation on the continued rise of AI-driven markets and the evolving role of decentralized finance in a digital-first world.
Hosts
⭐️Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Tom Schmidt, General Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Tarun Chitra, Managing Partner at Robot Ventures
DisclosuresLinks
Coindesk article: “Inside the Trump Crypto Project Linked to a $2M DeFi Hack and Former Pick-Up Artist”
https://www.coindesk.com/business/2024/09/04/in-trump-backed-crypto-project-insiders-are-poised-for-unusually-big-paydays

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1h 3min
September 03, 2024Bitcoin Is Just for Libertarians, Right? Two Progressives Disagree - Ep. 698
As the 2024 elections draw near, Bitcoin and crypto have become hot topics on the political stage. In this episode, Trey Walsh, host of The Progressive Bitcoiner podcast, and Jason Maier, author of “A Progressive’s Case for Bitcoin,” explain why they believe progressive values align with Bitcoin. They discuss how Bitcoin can be a tool for social justice and financial inclusion, challenge misconceptions about its environmental impact, and debate whether making Bitcoin a presidential issue in 2024 was premature.
With Elizabeth Warren attacking crypto and the unfriendly environment for the industry under the Biden administration, the guests also highlight that there’s a slight change in the Democratic party, though they are not certain that the Harris campaign will adopt a pro-Bitcoin stance.
Show highlights:
How Trey and Jason became Bitcoiners
What progressivism means to Trey and Jason, highlighting Bitcoin's alignment with social justice and financial inclusion, beyond its typical libertarian associations
How Jason and Trey persuade skeptical progressives about Bitcoin
Whether they believe that other areas of crypto besides Bitcoin have value
Why they think Bitcoin’s environmental impact is the biggest misconception among progressives
Whether Elizabeth Warren’s focus on consumer protection blinds her to Bitcoin as a tool for financial inclusion
Why Jason believes pushing Bitcoin as a presidential issue in 2024 was premature
Why Trey sees potential hope for pro-crypto policies under a potential Harris administration, despite the hostility of the Biden administration
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
Polkadot
Stellar
Mantle
Coinbase
Guests:
Trey Walsh, host of The Progressive Bitcoiner podcast
Jason Maier, author of “A Progressive’s Case for Bitcoin”
Trump and the Future of Bitcoin, Jason’s op-ed
Timestamps:
➡️ 02:06 - How Trey and Jason became Bitcoiners
➡️ 05:14 - Bitcoin, progressivism & social justice
➡️ 11:24 - Persuading skeptical progressives
➡️ 16:19 - Value beyond Bitcoin? Other cryptos
➡️ 21:46 - Environmental impact misconceptions
➡️ 34:36 - Elizabeth Warren & Bitcoin: Consumer protection vs. financial inclusion
➡️ 41:24 - Was making Bitcoin a 2024 election issue premature?
➡️ 55:15 - Potential for pro-crypto policies under Harris?

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1h 9min
August 31, 2024The Chopping Block: Telegram's Founder Arrested, OpenSea Under Fire, and Ethereum's Dilemma - Ep. 697
Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. In this episode, the squad is joined by Rebecca Rettig, Polygon’s Chief Legal & Policy Officer, to dissect the SEC's impact on the crypto landscape, particularly focusing on OpenSea's Wells notice and impending legal challenges.
They discuss the arrest of Pavel Durov, Telegram's founder, analyzing the political and cybersecurity ramifications. The conversation shifts to the internal frictions within the Ethereum Foundation and Vitalik Buterin's criticism of DeFi, reflecting the community's mixed reactions. The broader implications for the crypto industry, privacy, and regulatory clarity are highlighted with special insights from guest Rebecca Rettig, who adds depth on the legal and historical context. Wrapping up, they anticipate future challenges and emphasize staying informed.
Show highlights
🔹 Arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov in France sparks global free speech and encryption debates.
🔹 Impact of Pavel Durov's charges on Telegram's role in global communication and crypto communities.
🔹 DeFi protocols face challenges with decentralization, privacy, and regulatory pressures.
🔹 OpenSea receives a Wells notice from the SEC, raising concerns about NFT marketplaces and royalty enforcement.
🔹 Ethereum Foundation's spending and Vitalik Buterin's critical comments on DeFi stir community debate.
🔹 Tension between public goods and financial services in Ethereum's future development.
🔹 Real-World Assets (RWAs) and their controversial role in Ethereum's ecosystem.
🔹 Speculation on future Ethereum protocol changes and their impact on network efficiency and user experience.
🔹 Broader implications of the SEC's aggressive stance towards crypto exchanges and NFT platforms.
Hosts
⭐️Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Tom Schmidt, General Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Tarun Chitra, Managing Partner at Robot Ventures

Special Guest
⭐️Rebecca Rettig, Chief Legal & Policy Officer at Polygon Labs

DisclosuresLinks
Plurality philosophy in an incredibly oversized nutshell by Vitalik:
https://vitalik.eth.limo/general/2024/08/21/plurality.html

OpenSea’s response to SEC Wells notice “Taking a stand for a better internet” by Devin Finzer
https://opensea.io/blog/articles/taking-a-stand-for-a-better-internet

Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:24 Telegram’s Pavel Durov’s Arrest
05:12 Free Speech/Encryption in the Crypto World
09:26 Policy Implications for Tech Platforms
13:57 France's Role and International Reactions
27:49 SEC Targets OpenSea
36:35 SEC’s Jurisdictional Strategies
40:29 Good vs. Bad Actors
45:16 Ethereum Foundation: Public Good or DeFi?
56:43 Vitalik vs. Crypto Twitter

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1h 4min

FAQs about Unchained:

How many episodes does Unchained have?

The podcast currently has 1,017 episodes available.