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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FAQs about Unchained:

How many episodes does Unchained have?

The podcast currently has 871 episodes available.

Unchained episodes:

May 05, 2023$630M Due Next Week: Is DCG at Default Risk? - Ep. 489
The Genesis bankruptcy is about to take a high-stakes turn with a $630 million payment from Digital Currency Group (DCG) due by May 11. Barry Silbert’s DCG, the parent company of Genesis, is on the hook for the massive payment, but doubts are swirling as to whether the crypto conglomerate can cover it. Lumida Wealth CEO Ram Ahluwalia joins the show to unpack what could happen to Genesis creditors, Gemini Earn users, and the markets should DCG fail to cover its debt obligations.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Show highlights:
whether DCG will be able to pay its debt to the Genesis bankruptcy estate
the ways DCG can “plug the hole”
what the likelihood of DCG filing for bankruptcy is
how FTX’s intent to claw back $3.9 billion from Genesis would affect DCG
whether Gemini Earn customers will be made whole
why Ram says that asymmetric information has plagued the bankruptcy process
whether the creditors should accept the latest term sheet
how the Grayscale lawsuit against the SEC could impact DCG’s cash flow
Thank you to our sponsors!
Crypto.com
Railgun DAO
Stader Labs
Guest
Ram Ahluwalia, CEO & Founder of Lumida Wealth
Previous appearances on Unchained:
Genesis May Be Facing Bankruptcy. Could It Take DCG Down With It?
Gemini vs. DCG Is Heating Up. Could Gemini Force Genesis Into Bankruptcy?
How Will the FTX Collapse Affect Silvergate? A Bear and a Bull Debate
How Is the Fed Going to Respond to the Banking Crisis?
Links
Unchained: FTX Moves to Claw Back $3.9 Billion From Genesis
Reuters: Crypto group DCG says bankrupt unit Genesis' creditors renege on deal
CoinDesk:
Genesis Files for Mediator Assistance Over Amount of DCG Contribution to Reorganization
DCG's CFO Steps Down as Crypto Conglomerate Repays $350M Loan

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46min
May 02, 2023Do You Need to Think Twice Before Restaking Your Assets? - Ep. 488
In this episode, Sreeram Kannan, founder of EigenLayer, and Konstantin Lomashuk, cofounder of Lido Finance, discuss the complex world of staking in Ethereum's post-Shanghai ecosystem.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Show highlights:
how the staking ecosystem in Ethereum looks after the full completion of the Merge
what EigenLayer is and why it's called that
whether EigenLayer's model is more similar to Polkadot or, actually, to Ethereum Layer 2s
what the risks of restaking are, for both projects and users
how Lido is working to keep Ethereum decentralized and censorship-resistant
what superfluid staking is and whether it could be done on Ethereum
how EigenLayer incentivizes alignment between the delegator and the stakers
whether there's a risk that Lido could become a governance layer for Ethereum
what can be done to increase staking services adoption
Thank you to our sponsors!
Crypto.com

Guests:
Sreeram Kannan, founder of EigenLayer
Konstantin Lomashuk, cofounder of Lido Finance
Previous coverage of Unchained on Ethereum staking:
Shapella in the Rearview: After Major Upgrade, What’s Next for Ethereum?
How Will ETH React to Ethereum’s Shanghai Upgrade?
Post-Merge, If Lido Becomes Dominant, What Does That Mean for Ethereum?
In the Recent Crypto Market Meltdown, What Role Did Lido’s stETH Play?
Is ETH on Its Way to Becoming Ultra-Sound Money? Yes, Says Justin Drake
Learn more:
How Liquid Staking Works
A Guide to Ethereum’s Shanghai Upgrade
How to Stake Ethereum With Liquid Staking

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1h 10min
April 29, 2023The Chopping Block: Why Are We Still Building Layer 1s? - Ep. 487
Welcome to “The Chopping Block” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news in digital assets. In this live episode from Consensus 2023, they are joined by Avery Ching, chief architect of Aptos, to discuss the latest SEC enforcement actions, an embarrasing admission by audit firm Certik, and crypto’s impact on the coming election.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Show highlights:
everyone's impressions of the conference
why Korea has become a hub for crypto adoption
why there's no benchmarking infrastructure to compare data across blockchains
how Sui decided not to airdrop a token and what the implications for future airdrops are
whether CertiK bears responsibility in the Merlin DEX rugpull
whether the US elections have an effect on how the SEC is playing the case with Coinbase
what impact AI will have on the crypto industry
Hosts
Haseeb Qureshi, managing partner at Dragonfly
Tarun Chitra, managing partner at Robot Ventures
Tom Schmidt, general partner at Dragonfly
Guest
Avery Ching, cofounder and CTO of AptosDisclosuresLinks
Unchained:
Coinbase Seeks to Compel SEC Response to Rulemaking Petition
Exploit or Rug Pull? $1.8 Million Drained From zkSync DEX Merlin Despite Audit
SEC Sues Bittrex, Names Dash, Algorand and Other Tokens ‘Crypto Asset Securities’
CoinDesk: Sui Network to Issue Token Following Exchange Sale; Airdrop Hunters Dismayed

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46min
April 28, 2023Coinbase's Legal Action Against the SEC: How It Will Likely Unfold - Ep. 486
Major crypto exchange Coinbase has decided to take action to get an answer from the Securities and Exchange Commission: this week, they filed a court action seeking to compel Gary Gensler’s agency to give specific rulemaking on crypto assets. J.W. Verret, associate professor of law at George Mason Law School, talks about how both parties are playing this game, how it could change the Howey test, and much more.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Show highlights:
whether there's a long-term chess strategy being played by Coinbase
whether the case could actually change the Howey test
why the 'West Virginia vs. EPA' is important for crypto
what the SEC's strategy is and why the Kraken settlement was an “overreach,” according to J.W.
whether the SEC could develop a new framework for crypto assets
how the Ripple case will unfold and how long it will take if it is appealed
Thank you to our sponsors!
Crypto.com
Railgun DAO
Guest
J.W. Verret, Associate Professor of Law at George Mason Law School
J.W.’s thread
My story of telling the SEC ‘I told you so’ on FTX
Public Request for Rulemaking: Securities Regulation Genesis Block Proposal
Previous coverage of Unchained on the SEC’s actions:
Rep. Emmer on Why He Believes Gary Gensler Is a ‘Bad-Faith Regulator’
Is the Government Trying to Kill Off Crypto in the US?
Coinbase’s Top Lawyer Calls SEC Wells Notice a ‘Massive Overreach’
Links
Unchained: Coinbase Seeks to Compel SEC Response to Rulemaking Petition - Unchained Crypto
Coinbase takes another formal step to seek regulatory clarity from SEC for the crypto industry
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT COINBASE, INC.’S PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS TO THE
Coinbase petition for SEC rulemaking

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39min
April 25, 2023Gary Gensler vs. Crypto: What Will the SEC Attack Next? - Ep. 485
Two lawyers, Josh Klayman, head of digital assets at Linklaters, and Marc Boiron, chief legal officer at Polygon Labs, offer their takes on the SEC’s recent crypto crackdown. They share what they heard from SEC Chair Gary Gensler’s Congressional testimony, whether this crackdown was inevitable or sparked by FTX, and why a proposed change to the definition of an exchange could be an existential threat for DeFi in the U.S.
Show highlights:
what Gary Gensler’s approach to crypto was when he took office
whether the FTX collapse had any impact at all on the SEC’s recent actions
whether the actions against Coinbase are “inappropriate”
what the differences between Coinbase and Kraken staking services are
why the concept of “exemptive relief” is important for exchanges
whether the SEC is looking to go after AMM-based decentralized exchanges
why SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce says that complying with a new proposal wouldn’t be possible for much of DeFi
why, according to Marc, the industry should be “pushing very hard” against the newly proposed definition of an exchange
whether the SEC’s ability to pursue enforcement actions against ETH is diminished by the statements of the previous SEC chair
Thank you to our sponsors!
Crypto.com
Halborn
Guests:
Josh Klayman, head of blockchain and digital assets at Linklaters,
Marc Boiron, chief legal officer at Polygon Labs.
Sufficient Decentralization
Previous coverage of Unchained on the SEC’s actions:
‘Is ETH a Security?’ Why Gary Gensler Couldn’t Give Congress a Straight Answer
Rep. Emmer on Why He Believes Gary Gensler Is a ‘Bad-Faith Regulator’
Is the Government Trying to Kill Off Crypto in the US?
Coinbase’s Top Lawyer Calls SEC Wells Notice a ‘Massive Overreach’
SEC Chair Gary Gensler Avoids Question: ‘Is Ethereum a Security?’
SEC Sues Bittrex, Names Dash, Algorand and Other Tokens ‘Crypto Asset Securities’
Links
CoinDesk: U.S. SEC Moves Toward DeFi Oversight as It Reopens Proposed Regulations
Proposed rule: Amendments Regarding the Definition of “Exchange” and Alternative Trading Systems (ATSs)
Rendering Innovation Kaput: Statement on Amending the Definition of Exchange
POLITICO: McHenry clashes with SEC’s Gensler over crypto crackdown
Forbes: Crypto Exchange Beaxy Shuts Down Amid SEC Charges
Treasury Releases 2023 DeFi Illicit Finance Risk Assessment

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1h 15min
April 22, 2023The Chopping Block: Are Layer 2s Stealing Ethereum’s Thunder? - Ep. 484
Welcome to “The Chopping Block” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Robert Leshner, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news. In this episode, the gang plays “guess the chart” and takes a deep dive into the booming world of Ethereum Layer 2s.

Show highlights:
how much Layer 2s are spending to post data to Ethereum
whether L2s suck up all the value of ETH
the challenge of providing a good user experience across multiple rollups
how the underlying technology of security is not improving but attackers are getting more sophisticated
whether centralized lending in the industry is dead
why crypto users still hold stablecoins that yield much lower than Treasury bills
the new approach to bringing real-world assets and tokenized yields to blockchains
whether all L2s are running via proof of authority
whether alternative Layer 1s are dead or are actually more important than ETH L2s
Hosts
Haseeb Qureshi, managing partner at Dragonfly
Robert Leshner, founder of Compound
Tarun Chitra, managing partner at Robot Ventures
Tom Schmidt, general partner at Dragonfly
DisclosuresLinks
Hildebert’s charts

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1h
April 21, 2023‘Is ETH a Security?’ Why Gary Gensler Couldn’t Give Congress a Straight Answer - Ep. 483
It got heated this week on Capitol Hill with SEC Chair Gary Gensler testifying before the House Financial Services Committee on his agency’s efforts to rein in the U.S. crypto industry. Jason Gottlieb, partner at Morrison Cohen, unpacks what was said and whether we’ll continue to see more crackdowns from the U.S. securities regulator.

Show highlights:
Whether ETH is a security and what would be the impact if it was declared as such by the SEC
Whether the SEC is harming investors
What the potential impacts of the SEC lawsuit against Bittrex are
Why the case against crypto exchange Beaxy could serve as a precursor to a potential case against Coinbase
How the SEC’s lack of clear regulation is pushing crypto out of America, according to Jason
Why the SEC is trying to expand the definition of an exchange and its possible effects on DeFi
Thank you to our sponsors!
Crypto.com
Railgun DAO
Guest
Jason Gottlieb, Partner at Morrison Cohen & Chair of the Digital Assets Department
Previous appearances on Unchained: The Department of Justice Goes After Its First NFT Insider Trading Case
Previous coverage of Unchained on the SEC’s actions:
Rep. Emmer on Why He Believes Gary Gensler Is a ‘Bad-Faith Regulator’
Is the Government Trying to Kill Off Crypto in the US?
Coinbase’s Top Lawyer Calls SEC Wells Notice a ‘Massive Overreach’
Links
CoinDesk: U.S. SEC Moves Toward DeFi Oversight as It Reopens Proposed Regulations
Unchained:
SEC Chair Gary Gensler Avoids Question: ‘Is Ethereum a Security?’
SEC Sues Bittrex, Names Dash, Algorand and Other Tokens ‘Crypto Asset Securities’
Proposed rule: Amendments Regarding the Definition of “Exchange” and Alternative Trading Systems (ATSs)
Rendering Innovation Kaput: Statement on Amending the Definition of Exchange
POLITICO: McHenry clashes with SEC’s Gensler over crypto crackdown
Forbes: Crypto Exchange Beaxy Shuts Down Amid SEC Charges

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41min
April 18, 2023Why MEV Will Always Be Controversial - Ep. 482
Maximal extractable value, or MEV, is a mainstay of the Ethereum landscape. But the process of validators reaping profits from handling new blocks is not without controversy. Ethereum Foundation researcher Justin Drake and bloXroute Labs CEO Uri Klarman assess the current state of MEV. Hear them disagree about the path forward for making Ethereum fairer for all its economic actors.

Show highlights:
what MEV is and how it has evolved over time
the nuances of the newly proposed MEV Blocker and why it’s important for users
whether it’s possible to enable “back-running” while preventing front-running
how to give power back to blockchain users
what the differences and similarities are among several projects trying to solve MEV
how “MEV Burn” will be like the EIP-1559 to what Justin calls contention
whether EigenLayer can help solve MEV problems
whether wallets and DEXs could be doing something different to prevent MEV and generate more revenue
how “exclusive order flow” could be detrimental to DeFi users
what proposer-builder separation (PBS) is and whether it will change MEV distribution
why Uri doesn’t think PBS is the right step forward for Ethereum
Thank you to our sponsors!
Crypto.com
Halborn
Guests:
Justin Drake, researcher at the Ethereum Foundation
Uri Klarman, CEO of bloXroute Labs
Links
Previous coverage of Unchained on MEV:
Why Is Ethereum Trying to Maximize Value From Users? Two Sides Debate
The Chopping Block: Why the Once-Taboo MEV Is Now a Core Part of Ethereum
MEV Blocker
CoinDesk: MEV Blocker Wants to Help You Outrun the Front-Runners
MEV Blocker
Unchained: Ethereum Builders Join Forces to Launch MEV Blocker
MEV Distribution
CoinDesk: Flashbots Proposes New Class of 'Matchmakers' to Share MEV Gains With Ethereum Users
MEV-Share: programmably private orderflow to share MEV with users - The Flashbots Ship
BackRunMe
Wallet-Boost Design Doc · blocknative discourse · Discussion #1 · GitHub
OpenMEV Mechanics and Formulas - Manifold Finance
MEV Smoothing
Committee-driven MEV smoothing - Economics
MEV Burn
Burning MEV through block proposer auctions - Economics
Proposer-Builder separation
Proposer-builder separation | ethereum.org
Vitalik Buterin’s tweet

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1h 11min
April 15, 2023The Chopping Block: Are VCs Bad for Crypto? - Ep. 481
Welcome to “The Chopping Block” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. In this episode, they’re joined by Unchained’s Laura Shin to debate FTX revival rumors, what the U.S. Treasury got wrong about DeFi, and whether VCs are antithetical to crypto’s core principles.

Show highlights:
how much ETH is getting unstaked and deposited after Shapella
the market reaction following the successful implementation of the upgrade
whether FTX could reopen after its massive collapse
why Robert thinks rebooting the exchange is a “terrible” idea
whether FTX could do the same thing as Bitfinex and issue a debt token for creditors
how the U.S. government misunderstands decentralized finance, in stark contrast with regulators from other parts of the world
whether DeFi front-ends should be subject to the Bank Secrecy Act
whether VCs go against the principles of crypto
the difference between democratizing finance and democratizing fundraising
Hosts
Haseeb Qureshi, managing partner at Dragonfly
Robert Leshner, founder of Compound
Tom Schmidt, general partner at Dragonfly
Guest
Laura Shin, author, and CEO of UnchainedDisclosuresLinks
Shapella:
Previous coverage of Unchained on the upgrade:
Shapella in the Rearview: After Major Upgrade, What’s Next for Ethereum?
Ethereum's Shapella Upgrade - What to Expect?
How Will ETH React to Ethereum’s Shanghai Upgrade?
Unchained:
Staked Ethereum Withdrawals Enabled As Shanghai Upgrade Goes Live
Ethereum Surges Past $2,000 Post-Shanghai, $2 Billion Staked Withdrawals Pending
Nansen: The Shanghai Upgrade Dashboard
CoinDesk: What’s Next After the Ethereum Shanghai Upgrade Known as Shapella
FTX:
Unchained: FTX Could Reopen Crypto Exchange, Recovers $7.3 Billion in Assets
Treasury Report:
Unchained: Poor DeFi Cybersecurity Presents Risks for National Security, Says U.S. Treasury

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1h 7min
April 15, 2023 Laura’s 10-Year Anniversary of Self-Employment: A Personal Message
Laura’s 10-Year Anniversary of Self-Employment: A Personal Message

Laura Shin, the host of Unchained, celebrated her 10-year anniversary of self-employment on Wednesday, April 12. She tells her story and has a message that she hopes will help others on their journeys.

Links:
Original Twitter thread

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16min

FAQs about Unchained:

How many episodes does Unchained have?

The podcast currently has 871 episodes available.