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- Bits + Bips: Bitcoin in Geopolitics, ETH’s Momentum, SOL ETFs & China’s Crypto Pivots? - Ep. 748
In this episode of Bits + Bips, hosts James Seyffart, Ram Ahluwalia, and Noelle Acheson are joined by Jamie Coutts to analyze Ethereum’s breakout and its improving fundamentals, how China’s “moderately loose” policy stance is changing the global liquidity landscape, and the pro-market implications of Paul Atkins leading the SEC.
They also explore Jerome Powell’s and Putin’s takes on Bitcoin, the controversial CBOE withdrawal of the Solana ETF filing, and the role of Bitcoin in geopolitics.
Show highlights:- How the employment data showed some mixed reactions in regard to next steps for the Fed
- Whether China will start a new era of augmented liquidity
- Why the U.S. dollar getting stronger is bad for crypto prices
- How bitcoin is not a competitor to the U.S. dollar
- The significance of David Sacks as Crypto & AI Czar
- Why everyone believes that Atkins in the SEC is very positive for markets
- Whether China will pivot and adopt friendlier crypto regulation
- Putin’s remarks on the role of bitcoin
- Why CBOE withdrew its SOL ETF filing
- Jamie’s analysis on how liquidity affects prices and where we’ll see a top
- Why Ram thinks that MSTR has peaked
- Why Jamie believes that ETH will continue its momentum and perform better than the broader market
- Why Microsoft and Amazon might adopt bitcoin on their balance sheet
- Whether the breakthrough in quantum computing will disrupt Bitcoin
- How Solana’s daily fees have grown to a significant percentage of the L1 landscape
Hosts:James Seyffart, Research Analyst at Bloomberg IntelligenceRam Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of LumidaNoelle Acheson, Author of the “Crypto Is Macro Now” NewsletterGuest:Jamie Coutts, Chief Crypto Analyst at Real Vision
LinksChina Rally:
- China Politburo policy shift spurs surge in stocks, bonds | Reuters
- China Eases Overall Monetary Policy Stance for First Time in 14 Years
Fed and Powell:
- Decrypt: Fed Chair Jerome Powell Likens Bitcoin to Gold, Says It’s Not Dollar Rival
Timestamps:
- 00:00 Intro
- 01:42 Mixed signals from employment data and the Fed’s next steps
- 07:33 China’s “moderately loose” policy and its liquidity impact
- 13:32 Why a stronger U.S. dollar spells trouble for crypto
- 23:49 Bitcoin’s role alongside the U.S. dollar, not against it
- 27:49 David Sacks as Crypto & AI Czar: What it means for the industry
- 29:40 Why Paul Atkins at the SEC is a win for markets
- 34:00 Whether China could adopt a pro-crypto stance
- 37:53 Putin’s surprising take on Bitcoin’s geopolitical role
- 41:39 What’s behind the SOL ETF filings
- 43:25 Jamie’s take on crypto’s potential upside
- 46:49 Why Ram believes MSTR may have peaked
- 49:59 Jamie’s bullish outlook on ETH outperforming the market
- 56:26 Could Microsoft and Amazon add Bitcoin to their balance sheets?
- 59:05 The quantum computing breakthrough
- 1:01:05 Solana’s fees climb significantly—what does it mean?
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1 hr 5 min - Under the First Crypto President, What Will Regulation of the Industry Look Like? - Ep. 747
With Paul Atkins as the incoming SEC Chair, David Sacks as the AI & Crypto Czar, and potential CFTC leadership changes, the Trump administration is signaling a major shift for crypto, AI, and financial regulation.
Guests Mike Selig and Jake Chervinsky break down what this means for token launches, enforcement actions, inter-agency collaboration, and the fate of Operation Chokepoint 2.0. Could this mark the end of the U.S.’s regulatory hostility toward innovation?
Show highlights:- 02:18-What changes to expect under an Atkins-led SEC
- 08:58-Who could lead the SEC in the period between Gensler resigning and Atkins assuming
- 11:54-Whether the Democrats will nominate SEC Commissioner Crenshaw again
- 15:50-Elizabeth Warren's influence on the non-Republican SEC commissioner picks
- 23:39-Whether Atkins’ leadership at the SEC might shift crypto regulation away from aggressive enforcement
- 28:26-Whether Gensler’s recent promotion of people in enforcement roles will further his SEC’s regulation-by-enforcement strategy
- 38:52-Whether the SEC and Coinbase will reach a settlement
- 41:47-Why Mike and Jake think it’s not likely that the SEC will pursue litigation in the Ripple case
- 46:03-How the SEC might clarify securities laws around token sales, airdrops, and exemptions
- 55:14-Whether Atkins’ leadership could fast-track Hester Peirce’s Safe Harbor
- 59:53-How the CFTC's potential lead on crypto regulation might redefine how it splits duties with the SEC
- 1:03:03-Whether it even makes sense to have two financial regulatory agencies
- 1:11:00-Who might lead the CFTC
- 1:13:59-Why Jake and Mike believe combining AI and crypto under one ‘czar’ makes sense
- 1:20:31-How the appointment of Scott Bessent for Treasury secretary will affect the crypto industry
- 1:25:47-How the likely end to Operation Chokepoint 2.0 will create a “sea change”
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
- Robinhood & Arbitrum
- Kelp DAO
Guests:Mike Selig, Partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher- Previous appearance on Unchained: Is Gary Gensler on a Mission to Put Crypto Down for Good?
Jake Chervinsky, Chief Legal Officer at Variant- Previous appearances on Unchained:
- The US vs. Crypto: Jake Chervinsky on Crypto's Legal and Regulatory Status
- Why the SEC vs. Ripple Order Is Now About 2 Things: Coinbase and Congress
- The Chopping Block: Jake Chervinsky on How the SEC Has Lost Credibility
- All Things Crypto Regulation With Jake Chervinsky
- Everything You Need to Know About the Looming Battle Over Privacy in Crypto
- Can Crypto Be a Force in the Midterms? Yes, Say Kristin Smith and Jake Chervinsky
Links- Trump’s Office Picks:
- Unchained:
- Why Trump’s SEC Chair Pick, Paul Atkins, Is So Positive for Crypto
- David Sacks as A.I. & Crypto Czar? Why the Industry Was Surprised
- Trump Taps Paul Atkins for Next SEC Chair, Making Good on His Crypto Promises
- Democratic SEC Commissioner Is Stepping Down, but That Doesn’t Mean Trump Will Get 2 Outright Picks
- Trump Taps Hedge Fund Manager Scott Bessent to Be Treasury Secretary
- A Degen Administration? Why the Crypto Czar May Be Allowed to Own Tokens
Tracking Trump’s Cabinet and Staff Nominations- Congressional Results
- John Reed Stark’s tweet:“current SEC Chair Gary Gensler is quietly working behind the scenes to lead the SEC from the grave”
Operation Chokepoint 2.0
- Forbes: How ‘Debanking’ Tech And Crypto Companies Could Kill Businesses
Marc Andreessen and the CFPB: Debunking the Debanking Debunkers by Nic Carter- Unchained: Regulators Are Limiting Banks Serving Crypto Clients. Does That Violate the Law?
- Unchained: Killed By Politics, Ex-Diem Boss Says of Meta’s Stablecoin
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1 hr 32 min - The Chopping Block: XRP’s DeFi Comeback, Trump’s Crypto Picks, and Bitcoin at $100K - Ep. 746
Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner get together and give the industry insider's perspective on crypto. This week, Laura Shin joins the crew to tackle a whirlwind of major market trends and policy shifts.They dive into Bitcoin’s historic leap to $100K, the unexpected "dino coin renaissance" with legacy tokens like XRP and ADA soaring, and the NFT market’s surprising revival. Ripple’s DeFi ecosystem and its place in the broader crypto landscape spark a spirited debate on "chain biases" and decentralization. On the policy front, the team unpacks Trump’s pro-crypto administration, featuring bold regulatory appointments that could redefine the industry. Plus, a look at the dynamics of memecoins, token launch strategies, and the future of ICOs versus airdrops.
Show highlights
🔹 Bitcoin Hits $100K: The crew celebrates Bitcoin crossing into six-figure territory, discussing market reactions and the volatility surrounding this milestone.
🔹 Dino Coin Renaissance: Legacy tokens like XRP, ADA, and HBAR are skyrocketing, signaling retail’s return and sparking debate about the sustainability of these "boomer coin" rallies.
🔹 Memecoin Mania: Memecoins as "crypto gaming 2.0" are dissected, with insights on their role in market dynamics and their surprising impact on Layer 1 ecosystems.
🔹 Ripple's DeFi Evolution: Robert shares his deep dive into Ripple’s AMM features and emerging DeFi capabilities, addressing "chain biases" and decentralization concerns.
🔹 Trump’s Crypto Revolution: The panel analyzes the implications of Trump’s pro-crypto administration, featuring key appointments like SEC Chair Paul Atkins and Crypto Czar David Sacks.
🔹 NFT Revival: A surprising rebound in NFT markets sees CryptoPunks, Bored Apes, and Pudgy Penguins soaring, with speculation on what's driving the renewed interest.
🔹 Regulatory Shifts Ahead: Predictions on how new SEC leadership might redefine crypto policy and the industry's hopes for a safer, more transparent regulatory environment.
🔹 ICOs vs. Airdrops: Exploring token launch strategies, the conversation evaluates the potential for a new wave of innovative fundraising models.
Hosts
⭐️Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Tom Schmidt, General Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Robert Leshner, CEO & Co-founder of Superstate
⭐️Laura Shin, journalist, author of ‘The Cryptopians,’ founder and CEO of Unchained
DisclosuresTimestamps
- 00:00 Intro
- 01:06 100K Bitcoin & Dino Coin Renaissance
- 04:11 Unit Bias and Retail Investors
- 12:05 XRP, Ripple & DeFi
- 24:53 Trump's Pro-Crypto Administration Picks
- 37:53 Does Laura Own Crypto?
- 41:18 Regulatory Surprises and Nominations
- 45:05 NFT Market Revival
- 51:41 Memecoins and Market Dynamics
- 56:48 Future of ICOs and Airdrops
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1 hr 5 min - Why Trump’s SEC Chair Pick, Paul Atkins, Is So Positive for Crypto - Ep. 745
With the nomination of the pro-crypto Paul Atkins to be the next SEC chair, the crypto industry is potentially facing a 180 from the agency. As co-chair of The Digital Chamber’s Token Alliance initiative and a board member of Securitize, Atkins is not only pro-crypto, but also against the type of “regulation by enforcement” strategy of current Chair Gary Gensler.
In this episode, Cody Carbone, president at The Digital Chamber, explains why Atkins is likely to start reassessment of the agency’s lawsuits against crypto firms, why Trump might break with protocol to fill one of the commissioner seats that would typically be filled by a Democrat, and who he thinks might make for a good “crypto czar.”
Show highlights:
- Why Cody that Atkins leading the SEC would be a massive transformational shift
- What can be expected from Atkins given his prior experience
- What crypto cases might be dropped under his leadership
- Whether Atkins could provide rulemaking before Congress passes legislation
- Cody’s hard criticism of Gary Gensler’s modus operandi
- Why Cody thinks Trump could surprise people when it comes to replacing Democratic Cmr. Jaime Lizárraga
- How long it could take for Congress to confirm Atkins
- Why Cody believes that Atkins will support Hester Peirce’s Safe Harbor proposal
- Whether the CFTC will be the primary regulator of the crypto industry in a Trump administration
- Whether the U.S. will have a crypto czar and who it could be
- What crypto legislation Cody thinks is likely to be passed in 2025
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
- iYield
GuestCody Carbone, President at The Digital ChamberLinks- Trump’s Office Picks:
- Unchained:
- Trump Taps Paul Atkins for Next SEC Chair, Making Good on His Crypto Promises
- Democratic SEC Commissioner Is Stepping Down, but That Doesn’t Mean Trump Will Get 2 Outright Picks
- Trump Taps Hedge Fund Manager Scott Bessent to Be Treasury Secretary
- Trump’s Plans for a ‘Crypto Czar’ and a Crypto Advisory Council: Here’s What We Know
- A Degen Administration? Why the Crypto Czar May Be Allowed to Own Tokens
Tracking Trump’s Cabinet and Staff Nominations- Congressional Results
- John Reed Stark’s tweet:“current SEC Chair Gary Gensler is quietly working behind the scenes to lead the SEC from the grave”
- Buckley LLP Infobytes Blog: SEC commissioner proposes cryptocurrency safe harbor
- Fox Business: Perianne Boring among contenders to lead agency involved with crypto in Trump admin
Timestamps:
- 00:00 Intro
- 02:19 Why Cody believes Atkins would be a transformational SEC chair
- 03:13 Insights from Atkins’ past experience and what it means for crypto
- 07:19 SEC/crypto cases likely to be dropped under Atkins’ leadership
- 14:31 Potential for SEC rulemaking before Congress passes legislation
- 18:19 Cody’s critique of Gary Gensler’s regulatory approach
- 21:13 Why Trump might break with protocol to replace Democratic commissioner Jaime Lizárraga
- 23:27 Expected timeline for Congress to confirm Atkins
- 26:52 Support for Cmr. Hester Peirce’s Safe Harbor proposal
- 28:18 An expanded role for the CFTC in crypto regulation?
- 31:37 Speculation on the potential for a U.S. crypto czar
- 35:03 Key crypto legislation to watch for in 2025
- 38:24 Crypto News Recap
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51 min - Bits + Bips: Why XRP Might Have Been The ‘Most Hated’ Rally Ever - Ep. 744
In this episode of Bits + Bips, hosts James Seyffart, Noelle Acheson, and Ram Ahluwalia are joined by Alex Thorn, head of research at Galaxy Digital, to discuss the surprising mainstream buzz around XRP’s latest rally, dubbed the “most hated rally in crypto.”
They also analyze the new Treasury Secretary’s ambitious economic plan and what it could mean for inflation, fiscal discipline, and market stability. Meanwhile, Ethereum struggles to reclaim its narrative as the go-to blockchain, even as its ETH/BTC ratio shows signs of life.
And in a moment that captures the personal side of crypto’s rise, the team reflects on Thanksgiving table conversations, where bitcoin and digital assets became unexpected stars.
Show highlights:- Why the newly appointed Treasury Secretary might be the right person for the job
- Whether the December rates cut is unnecessary
- How Marc Andreessen brought Operation Chokepoint 2.0 to the spotlight
- How Facebook’s project Libra would have benefited the US Dollar hegemony
- Whether the U.S. Congress will pass stablecoin legislation in 2025
- Why Ram believes Ryan Selkis would be a good Crypto Czar
- How people have been asking more about bitcoin during Thanksgiving
- Whether the XRP rally is a negative indicator
- What James thinks about the filings for news ETFs, such as WisdomTree’s XRP
- Why Alex thinks that ETH could continue its recent rally
- The impact of MicroStrategy being added to the Nasdaq-100, aka the QQQ ETF
Hosts:James Seyffart, Research Analyst at Bloomberg IntelligenceRam Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of LumidaNoelle Acheson, Author of the “Crypto Is Macro Now” NewsletterGuest:Alex Thorn, Head of Firmwide Research at Galaxy DigitalLinksPolitics
- Unchained:
- Trump Taps Hedge Fund Manager Scott Bessent to Be Treasury Secretary
- The Trump-Connected Brad Bondi Is A New SEC Chair Contender and Pro-Crypto
- Investing: How Scott Bessent Plans to Reshape the US Economy with His 3-3-3 Rule
Macro
- Investing: US manufacturing improves in November as orders rebound, input price gains slow
Operation Chokepoint 2.0
- Forbes: How ‘Debanking’ Tech And Crypto Companies Could Kill Businesses
Marc Andreessen and the CFPB: Debunking the Debanking Debunkers by Nic Carter- Unchained: Regulators Are Limiting Banks Serving Crypto Clients. Does That Violate the Law?
- Unchained: Killed By Politics, Ex-Diem Boss Says of Meta’s Stablecoin
XRP
- Unchained:
- XRP Becomes the Top Traded Token on Binance and Coinbase, Hits Almost 7-Year High
- XRP Rallies 70% in a Week to Top Solana, Tether Market Cap
- The Block: WisdomTree files with SEC for spot XRP ETF
Ethereum
- Unchained: Ether Gains 19% Against Bitcoin in a Week After Months of Underperformance
Timestamps:
- 00:00 Intro
- 02:15 Why the new Treasury Secretary could reshape the economy
- 06:28 Is a December rate cut unnecessary?
- 15:18 How Marc Andreessen spotlighted Operation Chokepoint 2.0
- 19:54 The missed opportunity of Facebook’s Libra for USD dominance
- 26:48 Will stablecoin legislation finally pass in 2025?
- 31:28 Why Ram thinks Ryan Selkis should be the “Crypto Czar”
- 34:45 Bitcoin conversations taking over Thanksgiving dinner
- 39:48 Is the XRP rally a red flag for the market?
- 48:15 James’s take on new ETF filings like WisdomTree’s XRP
- 55:48 Why Alex believes ETH could extend its recent gains
- 1:01:37 What MicroStrategy’s NASDAQ addition means for crypto
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1 hr 6 min - How the Tornado Cash Lawsuit Was Won and Why It Matters - Ep. 743
Last week, the crypto world celebrated a major legal victory when a federal appeals court struck down OFAC’s sanctions on Tornado Cash’s immutable smart contracts in a Coinbase-funded lawsuit. While this decision is a significant win for crypto, its implications go far beyond the industry—it challenges the very limits of U.S. sanctions authority on open-source code.
In this episode, Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal and VP of Legal Leah Bressack discuss the case, the reasoning behind the court’s decision, and its broader implications, especially given that other cases are still in court. They address whether they think the government will appeal, how this ruling impacts other privacy tools and the other lawsuits, and why the case is a critical precedent for the intersection of code, law, and innovation.
Plus, what does this mean for Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm?
Show highlights:- Why the decision was so significant, according to Paul
- What reasons the judge used in the ruling
- The basics of Tornado Cash and why OFAC sanctioned it in 2022
- Why Coinbase decided to get involved in the case
- Why a District Court had previously agreed with OFAC
- Whether the government will appeal and what the implications of the case are outside of crypto
- When users could start using the protocol
- Whether users will be safe to use relayers, which add privacy
- Why Paul believes that the 11th Circuit, where the Coin Center Tornado Cash lawsuit was filed, will not ignore this ruling from the 5th Circuit
- Whether the judges were encouraging Congress to update IEEPA to make it possible for OFAC to sanction smart contracts
- Whether there’s a risk that under new legislation OFAC could sanction smart contracts
- How the case of Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm could be impacted by this decision
- Paul’s and Leah’s take on Balaji’s proposal to build privacy-preserving zero knowledge smart contracts on ZEthereum
- Whether the judges’ opinion will have an impact on existing privacy projects
- What types of sanctions and regulations the government can impose to prevent money laundering
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
- Robinhood & Arbitrum
Guests:Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s chief legal officer- Previous appearances on Unchained:
- Coinbase’s Top Lawyer Calls SEC Wells Notice a ‘Massive Overreach’ - Unchained
- Just a Coincidence? Coinbase and Polygon Lawyers See Bad Omens in SEC Crackdown
Leah Bressack, VP of legal at CoinbaseLinks- Previous coverage of Unchained on Tornado Cash:
- Did OFAC Overstep by Sanctioning Tornado Cash?
- Tornado Cash Sanctioned. Did the Government Overstep Its Bounds?
- Unchained: Treasury Overstepped With Tornado Cash Sanctions, Rules U.S. Appeals Court
- Balaji’s tweet on Zatoshi and Zethereum
- Bankless: Roman Storm Speaks - Tornado Cash Developer on What’s at Stake
Timestamps:
- 00:00 Intro
- 01:39 Why this ruling is a major milestone for crypto
- 02:50 The judge’s key reasoning in striking down the sanctions
- 04:00 Why Tornado Cash was sanctioned in 2022
- 06:43 How Coinbase became involved in this landmark case
- 13:05 Why the District Court initially sided with OFAC
- 15:55 Whether the government will appeal, and what’s at stake beyond crypto
- 21:22 When Tornado Cash could be used again
- 25:07 Are users safe to use relayers for added privacy?
- 33:53 Why the 11th Circuit might uphold this ruling
- 38:28 Whether Congress is being nudged to rewrite sanctions laws
- 40:52 Could new legislation let OFAC target smart contracts again?
- 44:46 What this means for Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm
- 48:34 Thoughts on Balaji’s idea for ZEthereum
- 50:53 How the ruling could influence other privacy projects
- 54:08 What sanctions might look like in the fight against money laundering
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1 hr 1 min - The Chopping Block: DeSci Critiques, Hyperliquid's No-VC Model, and Freysa’s AI Games- Ep. 742
Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner get together and give the industry insider's perspective on crypto. This week, special guest Casey Caruso from Topology joins the crew to tackle the latest in crypto and tech. They explore the rise of AI memecoins like Freysa, blending gamified AI agents with blockchain mechanics, and the fallout from a major hack. The discussion also highlights Hyperliquid’s $1.9 billion airdrop and its no-VC funding model, signaling new trends in token launches. The crew critiques decentralized science (DeSci), questioning its accountability and funding models, with a spotlight on Pump.Science’s tokenized longevity experiments. Finally, they examine the success of Base’s incentive-light approach and the impact of frameworks like Eliza on crypto’s evolution. Tune in for a dynamic take on innovation, trends, and challenges shaping the crypto world.
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
🔹 The Rise of AI Memecoins: Exploring the explosive trend of AI memecoins like Freysa, their gamification, and unique mechanics. The crew delves into how these coins combine on-chain activity with AI, creating a new layer of engagement and speculation.
🔹 Freysa’s AI: A detailed look at how Freysa’s prize pool was jailbroken, the mechanics behind the attack, and what it reveals about the vulnerabilities of AI agents connected to smart contracts.
🔹 AI Agents and Crypto Innovation: An overview of AI-enabled agents and their crossover into crypto applications, with insights on current limitations, gamification trends, and how AI integrates with Web3 frameworks like Eliza.
🔹 Airdrop Trends and Hyperliquid: Breaking down Hyperliquid’s $1.9 billion airdrop, its innovative “no VC funding” model, and the market impact of launching into a bull market with a high float percentage.
🔹 The Decentralized Science Debate: Analyzing the potential and pitfalls of decentralized science (DeSci), including critiques of funding mechanisms, accountability, and the practicality of crowdfunding drug discovery through tokenized models.
🔹 Base’s Community-Led Success: Examining how Base has attracted top developers and projects without heavy incentive programs, reshaping the playbook for L1 and L2 ecosystems.
🔹 Pump.Science and Longevity Tokens: A closer look at Pump.Science’s tokenized longevity experiments, the mechanics of its funding model, and the aftermath of its private key leak.
🔹 Challenges of Token-Based Funding: Comparing decentralized incentive models for projects like DeSci with the successes and lessons learned from DeFi, highlighting the difficulty of creating effective accountability mechanisms.
🔹 The DAO Debate: Examining the viability of DAOs for deploying funds in high-stakes environments, with skepticism about their long-term effectiveness in innovation.
Hosts
⭐️Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Robert Leshner, CEO & Co-founder of Superstate
⭐️Tarun Chitra, Managing Partner at Robot Ventures
Guest:
⭐️Casey Caruso, Founder Topology
DisclosuresTimestamps
- 00:00 Intro
- 01:24 AI Memecoins & Freysa Challenge
- 07:07 Open Source Models & Security
- 21:15 Hyperliquid Airdrop
- 31:16 Blur vs. Blast Points
- 37:16 Decentralized Science (DeSci)
- 40:04 Criticisms of DeSci
- 48:18 Potential & Future of DeSci
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1 hr 1 min - Vitalik Buterin Aped Into the Social Media App Anoncast. What's It About? - Ep. 741
Farcaster-based social media app Anoncast has quickly grabbed the crypto community’s attention—especially after Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin jumped in.
The platform allows users to speak freely while ensuring no one—not even the platform itself—can trace their identity. And in its short week-and-a-half lifespan, it’s already generated thousands of posts.
In this lighter, Black Friday edition of Unchained, developer Kartik Patel joins to discuss how Anoncast works and why the platform has taken off so quickly. He shares insights on the challenges of maintaining anonymity in a connected world, how AI intersects with these developments, and what it was like to “nerd-snipe” Buterin.
Show highlights:
- What sparked the rise of Anon and how it evolved into a ZK-powered anonymous posting platform
- Kartik’s favorite casts and what he likes about the platform
- Why the platform has evolved so quickly
- How users can make casts
- How Anoncast completely protects the anonymity of all posters
- Kartik’s background in crypto and how he came to be involved in Anoncast
- Why it felt like a “dream” when Vitalik Buterin bought the ANON memecoin
- How AI is intersecting with this new era of social media
- Why Anoncast moderates the posts
- The new feature that was designed to give credit back to 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
- Kartik Patel, developer of Anoncast
Links- Decrypt: Vitalik Buterin Buys Anon, Token Surged 350%—What's It All About?
- Viral cast possibly about the Ethereum Foundation selling ETH
Timestamps:
- 00:00 Intro
- 01:13 How Anoncast became a ZK-powered anonymous platform
- 05:02 Kartik’s favorite casts and why they stand out
- 06:44 Why Anoncast has caught on so quickly
- 07:32 How Anoncast technically enables anonymous posting
- 11:40 How anonymity is protected on Anoncast
- 13:28 Kartik’s story and future plans for app development
- 15:19 Vitalik Buterin’s surprising interaction with Anoncast
- 16:56 The role of AI in the new era of social media
- 20:03 Why Anoncast moderates the posts
- 21:45 A new feature so users can take credit
- 23:42 Crypto News Recap
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35 min - What's the Best Way for Ethereum to Grow? Justin Drake and Martin Köppelmann Debate - Ep. 740
Ethereum has been left behind in this bull market. As rivals like Solana gain ground in metrics such as speed, cost, and developer mindshare, questions are being raised about whether Ethereum’s reliance on Layer 2 solutions is the right path forward—or if it needs a more fundamental redesign.
In this episode, Martin Köppelmann, co-founder of Gnosis, and Justin Drake, researcher at the Ethereum Foundation, discuss the trade-offs of native and based rollups, execution capacity, and Ethereum’s ability to maintain its dominance. They debate how Ethereum should address fragmentation across rollups, whether ETH has strayed from its ultrasound money narrative, and whether its deliberate pace of innovation could make it vulnerable in an increasingly competitive landscape.
Whose ideas will lead Ethereum out of this dark forest?
Show highlights:- 03:10 Why Justin is so optimistic about pre confirmations and Ethereum scaling its throughput
- 06:15 Whether Ethereum could reach “maintenance mode” within 5 years
- 08:20 Whether Ethereum can solve the problem of fragmentation
- 20:21 The difference between based rollups and native rollups
- 25:29 Why Martin believes that Ethereum is not building for developers
- 34:21 What real-time proving is and why it is relevant
- 37:46 How programmable native rollups could have different business models from Ethereum but the same security
- 44:51 Why most assets on L2s might not actually be secured by Ethereum
- 50:24 Whether Ethereum’s consensus layer might see a “clean slate” redesign with the Beam Chain
- 58:59 Whether Ethereum’s slow pace of change could leave it vulnerable to competition
- 01:06:55 How Ethereum's shift to rollups and blob data has reshaped its ultrasound money narrative by transforming the primary sources of fee burn
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
- Robinhood & Arbitrum
- iYield
Guests:Martin Köppelmann, Co-founder and CEO of Gnosis- Previous appearances on Unchained:
- Are Layer 2s Failing Ethereum? A New Proposal Advocates for Native L2s
- Given the Sanctions on Tornado Cash, Is Ethereum Censorship Resistant?
Justin Drake, Researcher at the Ethereum Foundation- Previous appearances on Unchained:
- Why MEV Will Always Be Controversial
- Did the Merge Make Ethereum ‘the Most Secure Blockchain in the World’?
- Can Bitcoin Be Secured Only by Transaction Fees? Two Researchers Sound Off
- Is ETH on Its Way to Becoming Ultra-Sound Money? Yes, Says Justin Drake
Links- Previous coverage of Unchained on Ethereum layer 2s:
- ETH Is Down Bad, While Layer 2s Are Ripping. Are L2s Parasitic to Ethereum?
- 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?
- Ethereum Scaling With L2s Has Damaged Its Tokenomics. Is It Possible to Fix It
Beam Chain:
- Unchained: Ethereum Researcher Justin Drake Proposes Beam Chain Redesign, but Not All OGs Are Onboard
- Bankless: You’re Not Bullish Enough! Ethereum Roadmap & Beamchain with Justin Drake
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1 hr 27 min - Spot Bitcoin ETF Options Are Here. Why You ‘Can’t Overstate’ Their Importance - Ep. 739
On Tuesday, options on BlackRock’s bitcoin ETF, IBIT, launched, seeing $1.9 billion worth of those options changing hands on the first day.
The launch of these options could mark a turning point for crypto markets, with implications for liquidity, volatility, and institutional adoption.
Eric Balchunas, senior ETF analyst at Bloomberg, explains why these options are so significant, who they’re designed for, and how they could impact the broader ecosystem.
Plus, he offers some cautionary advice to bitcoiners, gives insight into whether spot ether etf options are on their way, and discusses the odds of SOL ETFs launching.
Show highlights:
- What bitcoin ETF options are and why they are relevant for traders and investors
- Whether options will reduce the volatility of BTC
- Why Eric offers caution after seeing bitcoin surging so much recently
- What Eric thinks about the possibility for Bitcoin ETF options to spark a “gamma squeeze”
- What type of investors Eric thinks typically trade options
- Whether regulators treat Bitcoin differently and with prejudice
- What he would like to see from a new SEC
- Why IBIT options will likely dominate the market, according to Eric
- Why Eric was surprised that options on futures ETFs was so low compared to the spot ETFs
- How the launch of options will affect Deribit, the main exchange for trading options
- Whether options for ether spot ETFs are coming as well
- His thoughts on the news that spot SOL ETFs may be moving to the next phase
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
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- Mantle’s FBTC
GuestEric Balchunas, Senior ETF Analyst at Bloomberg- Previous appearances on Unchained:
- Why Spot Ether ETFs Are Now Likely to Be Approved on Thursday
- How, in 7 Weeks, Bitcoin ETFs Reached Inflows That Took Gold ETFs 3 Years
- Why Spot Bitcoin ETFs Are Likely to Finally Start Trading on Thursday
- Will a Spot Bitcoin ETF Finally Get Approved?
Links- Previous coverage of Unchained on bitcoin ETFs options:
- Why Bitcoin ETF Options Could Unlock Massive Amounts of Capital for Crypto
- Unchained: Bitcoin Hits New All Time High as IBIT’s First-Day Volume Nears $1.9 Billion
Timestamps:
- 00:00 Intro
- 01:15 Why Bitcoin ETF options are a game-changer for traders
- 07:35 How options could impact Bitcoin’s volatility
- 11:38 Eric’s cautionary take after Bitcoin’s recent surge
- 13:13 Whether price rises will be due to gamma squeezes or a lack of resistance
- 16:04 Insights into the typical investors trading ETF options
- 16:58 Perceptions of bias against Bitcoin in traditional markets
- 18:53 What Eric hopes for under new SEC leadership
- 20:47 Why IBIT options might dominate the market
- 23:05 Comparison between futures and spot ETF options
- 25:20 What IBIT options mean for Deribit’s dominance
- 28:58 Are ether spot ETF options on the horizon?
- 29:25 What Eric thinks of the filings for SOL ETFs
- 32:37 News Recap
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46 min
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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…
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