Joining us this week is Alex Thorn to break down why crypto markets are taking a hit. Major hacks, bearish macro signals, and fresh tariffs from the U.S. all played a role. But it’s not all bad news: the SEC is backing off from lawsuits against Coinbase, OpenSea, and Uniswap, signaling a potential shift in regulatory pressure. Plus, Bybit suffered the biggest crypto hack ever, losing $1.5B—how did it happen, and who’s behind it? Follow Alex: https://x.com/intangiblecoins ------ 📣SPOTIFY PREMIUM...
Feb 28, 2025•1 hr 18 min
📣RESERVE | INVEST IN CRYPTO NARRATIVES https://bankless.cc/reserve ------ Tom Shaughnessy from Delphi joins us to break down the AI x crypto space—where the value is, how to spot winning models, and why Silicon Valley AI and crypto AI are taking very different approaches. We also get into agent-based research, the fracturing of frontier models, and… a birthday surprise at the end. ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi https://bankless.cc/Frax 🦄UNISWAP | SWAP ON UNICHAIN ...
Feb 27, 2025•55 min
Ben Cowen, founder of Into the Cryptoverse, breaks down why the current crypto cycle feels different from past ones. We explore the Advanced Decline Index and how it reveals why Bitcoin is thriving while most altcoins struggle. Ben also discusses the impact of quantitative tightening, the ETH/BTC ratio, and why meme coin speculation is distorting market dynamics. A must-listen for anyone navigating crypto’s shifting landscape and seeking deeper market insights! ------ 📣SPOTIFY PREMIUM RSS FEED ...
Feb 24, 2025•56 min
This week’s Weekly Rollup, David and Kain Warwick dive into Argentine President Milei’s LIBRA fiasco and Strategy’s bold $2B Bitcoin play, while we check out the new Kaito airdrop making waves. We also explore Ethereum’s biggest upgrade yet—Pectra—plus Monad’s high‐speed L1 testnet launch. Finally, we dig into the SEC’s fresh “CETU” cyber unit and what the brand‐new Infinex platform means for DeFi. Tune in for all the drama and alpha happening in the third week of February! ------ 📣RESERVE | IN...
Feb 21, 2025•1 hr 17 min
Ejaaz and David are back this week with a new frontier model to dissect. With the release of Grok 3, xAI is now a real competitor to companies like Anthropic and OpenAI. Joining this news cycle is Kaito, set to launch it's airdrop and it turns out Ejaaz is... a top yapper? Meanwhile, David tried to get a date with an AI agent and a Kardashian is quote tweeting Virtuals, it's been a weird week. ------ 📣 RESERVE | INVEST IN CRYPTO NARRATIVES https://bankless.cc/reserve ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOO...
Feb 20, 2025•1 hr 11 min
SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce discusses her new role as head of the SEC Crypto Task Force and its impact on crypto regulation. We explore the repeal of SAB 121, how the task force aims to bring clarity to token issuances, and potential pathways for retroactive relief for crypto projects. Peirce also shares insights on SEC-CFTC collaboration, no-action letters, and her approach to prioritizing key industry issues. A must-listen for understanding the future of crypto regulation and policy shifts ...
Feb 17, 2025•51 min
This week’s Weekly Rollup covers Trump’s clash with the Fed over interest rates and the surprising crypto moves from Trump Media. Gauntlet’s Tarun Chitra joins us to unpack the latest developments—from OpenSea’s upcoming airdrop to Arbitrum’s permissionless fault proofs—while we debate whether airdrops are truly over. We also dig into Vitalik’s “communist” joke and Dave Portnoy’s memecoin mania. Tune in for all the drama and alpha happening in the second week of February! ------ 📣 MORPHO | GO-T...
Feb 14, 2025•1 hr 6 min
Ejaaz and David reunite to dissect the AI Crypto sector’s rebound from a 70% crash, fueled by Elon’s rumored $97B OpenAI bid and the relentless rise of open-source devs being heads down. They explore how tokens might be the most accessible path to AI exposure, why ARC’s curated launchpad could elevate agent quality, and what Virtuals’ move onto Solana means for cross-chain expansion. Meanwhile, X (Twitter) embraces a new wave of AI agents, and AI16z reorganizes to stay competitive. Is this the t...
Feb 13, 2025•1 hr 10 min
In this episode, we speak with Smokey the Bera, co-founder of Berachain, about the project’s newly launched mainnet and its innovative Proof of Liquidity model. The discussion unpacks Berachain’s unique three-way relationship between its app layer, validators, and a nontransferable governance token that reimagines traditional proof of stake systems. Smokey explores both the potential benefits and the challenges of this economic experiment as it seeks to reshape blockchain economics. We also spot...
Feb 12, 2025•56 min
Hayden Adams, creator of Uniswap, introduces UniChain, a new Layer 2 solution designed to enhance DeFi scalability and efficiency. We explore UniChain’s innovations, including its decentralized sequencing mechanism, one-second block times, and seamless interoperability with Ethereum and the Optimism Superchain. Adams also discusses Uniswap v4’s impact on gas efficiency and how UniChain aims to reduce MEV extraction, benefiting users and liquidity providers. A must-listen for anyone interested in...
Feb 11, 2025•1 hr 12 min
The 2024 U.S. election has reshaped the macro landscape, and few understand its implications better than Lyn Alden. She joins Bankless to discuss the impact of Trump’s policies on the dollar, Bitcoin, and global markets. From fiscal dominance and trade wars to the possibility of a new Plaza Accord and the role of Bitcoin in sovereign reserves, this episode covers the key macro trends that will shape 2025 and beyond. Will Trump’s economic agenda lead to a weaker dollar and lower interest rates? W...
Feb 10, 2025•1 hr 4 min
This week on Bankless Weekly Rollup, we explore major crypto updates from Berachain’s mainnet launch and the rollout of its BERA token, to Uniswap V4’s new features and hooks that are shaking up decentralized trading. The episode delves into market dynamics including SEC moves led by Hester Peirce, Microstrategy’s rebranding, and the impact of US tariff actions on global trade. We also unpack Ethereum’s scaling upgrades and discuss the innovative strategies behind emerging DeFi protocols. Tune i...
Feb 07, 2025•1 hr 9 min
David and Ejaaz dissect the latest in AI crypto markets after a ruthless 70% drop, weighing whether it’s just a temporary setback or a major reset. Arc and Fartcoin show surprise rebounds, Virtuals unveils a $2M “fiscal policy” to fund agent innovation, and Coinbase’s AI hackathon spotlights a future swarming with yield-bots and marketing agents. Meanwhile, Freya’s vision of sovereign on-chain AI may mark the next frontier. If you’re tracking the evolution of agents, markets, and where crypto’s ...
Feb 06, 2025•1 hr 13 min
Donald Trump’s newly announced 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico (and 10% on China) have rattled global markets and sparked fresh uncertainty around the U.S. dollar. According to Bitwise’s Jeff Park—whose article “Tariffs, Triffin, and Trump: How the End Game Sends Bitcoin Vertical” has gone viral—this policy shift is fueling one of the biggest crypto-macro convergences since COVID. In this episode, we explore how these cascading forces could radically suppress Treasury yields, devalue the dollar...
Feb 05, 2025•51 min
In this episode of Bankless, Luca Netz, CEO of Pudgy Penguins, explores how meme coins are evolving beyond speculation. We discuss Pengu’s launch on Solana, Pudgy Penguins’ expansion into retail and gaming, and how GIFs with 300M+ daily views are driving mass adoption. Luca also shares why meme coins can be real brands and what’s next for Pudgy’s growing ecosystem. ------ 📣SPOTIFY PREMIUM RSS FEED | USE CODE: SPOTIFY24 https://bankless.cc/spotify-premium ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙 FRAX |...
Feb 03, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Joining us this week is Haseeb Qureshi who is here to help walk us through this week’s Weekly Rollup. We cover the major shift in the U.S. government’s stance on crypto, as Trump signs an executive order that establishes a national digital asset stockpile working group and bans CBDCs. The SEC also revokes SAB121, clearing the way for banks to custody crypto. Meanwhile, Venice AI’s token launch made waves, and Abstract Chain went live with a focus on creators and streamers. In markets, Nvidia’s $...
Jan 31, 2025•1 hr 7 min
Ejaaz and David reunite to unpack the DeepSeek shockwave: how a mere $6M open-source AI model rattled OpenAI’s dominance, nudged Nvidia’s stock, and sparked a fresh “arms race” in crypto AI. Meanwhile, Trump’s massive AI funding pledge and Solana’s record DEX volumes signal that the space might be heading for its biggest bull run yet. On the builder side, ARC’s rust-based agents partner with the Solana Foundation, AI16Z launches a $10M fund, and Virtuals teases multi-chain expansions that could ...
Jan 30, 2025•1 hr 11 min
China’s new DeepSeek AI model, which reportedly matches GPT-4’s performance at 1/45th the cost, has rattled the AI hardware market and contributed to a 20% dip in Nvidia’s stock price. Investor-technologist Jeffrey Emanuel argues that DeepSeek’s efficiency gains aren’t the only story, as his viral 12,000-word article “The Short Case for Nvidia Stock” also catalyzed the market’s panic. In this episode, we explore how these converging factors could unbundle Nvidia’s once-unassailable lead and dras...
Jan 28, 2025•1 hr 29 min
In this episode of Bankless, Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and author of Super Agency, explores how AI is set to transform humanity and amplify individual potential. We dive into Hoffman’s vision of “super agency,” We examine AI's potential to democratize technology and reshape society, along with an analysis of four distinct perspectives on its impact: pessimistic, cautious, ambitious, and balanced. Hoffman shares lessons from past tech revolutions, the risks of AI misuse, and how innova...
Jan 27, 2025•1 hr 8 min
In this week’s Bankless Weekly Rollup, David is joined by Eric Conner to unpack a whirlwind week in crypto. Highlights include Trump’s explosive entry back into the Oval Office, launching a $50B memecoin on Solana, a full pardon for Ross Ulbricht, and pro-crypto cabinet appointments. Meanwhile, the Ethereum Foundation faces internal drama as Vitalik declares “wartime mode” amidst leadership restructuring. We also dive into Solana’s soaring ecosystem, BlackRock’s massive Bitcoin buys, and the SEC...
Jan 24, 2025•1 hr 11 min
Ejaaz is back with David to unpack the whirlwind effects of President Trump’s $70B memecoin launch, which slammed 400K fresh users onto Solana and shattered revenue records in under 30 hours. Meanwhile, a $500B federal boost to AI—backed by OpenAI and SoftBank—has everyone on edge about how crypto’s AI agent economy might ride this newfound momentum. On the protocol front, Arc’s Rake framework and AI16z’s curated Eliza ecosystem are both stepping up, incubating projects like SoulGraph and Listen...
Jan 23, 2025•1 hr 5 min
Alex Thorn, Head of Research at Galaxy Digital, joins us to unpack all the craziness that's gone down this week around the inauguration. Alex had the opportunity to attend the Crypto Ball and spend the weekend in DC so he gives us the inside scoop among all the other exciting developments. Alex on X - https://x.com/intangiblecoins ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙 FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi https://bankless.cc/Frax 🦄UNISWAP | BUG BOUNTY PROGRAM https://bankless.cc/Uniswap-Bug-Bounty ⚖️ ARBITRU...
Jan 22, 2025•1 hr 10 min
In this episode of Bankless, Samara Cohen, BlackRock's Chief Investment Officer of ETFs and Index Investments, discusses how ETFs and blockchain are revolutionizing finance. We explore Bitcoin and Ether ETFs as bridges between crypto and TradFi, blockchain's role in market modernization, and how ETFs enhance transparency and diversification. Cohen also shares insights on upcoming regulations and the importance of education in driving crypto adoption. ------ 📣SPOTIFY PREMIUM RSS FEED | USE CODE:...
Jan 20, 2025•1 hr 4 min
This week’s episode dives into the evolving landscape of crypto as we approach a new administration. We discuss Donald Trump’s upcoming presidency and what it could mean for markets, analyze the recent market turmoil despite positive economic indicators, and break down the SEC’s case against Elon Musk. We also explore Sony’s controversial L2 launch and Tether’s move to El Salvador. Finally, some an exciting new privacy tool teams up with Coinbase. ------ 📣 0x | Start building with 0x v2 https:/...
Jan 17, 2025•1 hr 5 min
Ejaaz is back with David to dissect the accelerating rise of AI agents at crypto’s cutting edge. They uncover how Arc’s multi-chain approach and Ai16z’s Eliza framework are igniting a fresh wave of DeFAI innovation—everything from clever Twitter agents to more autonomous protocols. They dive into Virtuals’ relentless shipping, which is driving record on-chain fees and fueling a bold $40M buyback, while exploring why upcoming gaming collaborations may unlock AI’s next breakout moment. New players...
Jan 16, 2025•1 hr 5 min
Quantum computing is advancing rapidly, raising significant questions for cryptography and blockchain. In this episode, Scott Aaronson, quantum computing expert, and Justin Drake, cryptography researcher at the Ethereum Foundation, join us to explore the impact of quantum advancements on Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the future of crypto security. Are your coins safe? How soon do we need post-quantum cryptography? Tune in as we navigate this complex, fascinating frontier. ------ 📣SPOTIFY PREMIUM RSS F...
Jan 13, 2025•2 hr 5 min
Ryan and David return for another Weekly Rollup, tackling the question everyone’s asking in 2025: is the crypto bull market already over, or do we still have more to go? Fresh FDIC emails prove Choke Point 2.0 was no conspiracy, with yet another key antagonist stepping down. Meanwhile, AI agents dominate headlines and reimagine DeFi UX, and Meta’s abrupt pivot to free speech has everyone buzzing. Finally, the U.S. greenlights a $6.5B Silk Road Bitcoin sale—can Trump step in to save America’s str...
Jan 10, 2025•1 hr 7 min
Welcome back to The AI Rollup where we're diving into the intersection of AI and crypto, exploring the rise of autonomous AI agents and their impact on DeFi, gaming, and beyond. From groundbreaking tools like agent engines that simplify complex DeFi tasks to emerging trends like AI x Gaming, we’re at the forefront of innovation in this rapidly evolving space. Join us as we discuss the hottest AI crypto trends of 2025. ------ 📣SPOTIFY PREMIUM RSS FEED | USE CODE: SPOTIFY24 https://bankless.cc/sp...
Jan 09, 2025•1 hr 36 min
David and Ejaaz are joined by Jeffy and Tint, creators of Zerebro—an autonomous AI agent that composes rap tracks, launches NFTs, and even minted its own token by hijacking Jeffy’s computer. This on chain sensation transcends mere GPT wrappers, forging a bold new path for AI in crypto. How does an AI manage cross-chain finances, get deplatformed by Spotify, and still power a no-code framework for agent creation? We explore Zerebro’s role in reshaping digital commerce and creativity, and what it ...
Jan 08, 2025•1 hr 12 min
Do you think you’ve got what it takes to become a founder in crypto? On the show today we’ve got 8 of crypto’s most famous and successful builders in crypto, each with about 15 minutes in time, giving you the wisdom they gained founding their own companies. We’re joined by Jesse Pollack from Base, Jeremy Allaire from Circle, Anatoly from Solana, Stani from Aave, Kain from Synthetix, Mike & Jason from Blockworks, Kevin Owocki from Gitcoin and Lucas from Jito. Each one with their own perspecti...
Jan 06, 2025•1 hr 59 min
