Bell Curve - podcast cover

Bell Curve

Blockworksblockworks.co
Bell Curve breaks down the most important themes in crypto for people who, like us, are confined to the middle of the bell curve. Each season explores a different thesis that we'll test and refine through debate with crypto's best. If you're a crypto native, degen or investooor, this podcast is for you. Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3R1D1D9 Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3pQTfmD Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3cpKZXH Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ Join the Bell Curve Telegram group: https://t.me/+nzyxAvQ0Xxc3YTEx
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Episodes

Oneshot: Tempo Mainnet, Agentic Payments, and SEC Crypto Rulemaking | Roundup

This week, Michael and Vance sat down to discuss the macro impact of Middle East tensions on oil and markets, the SEC's crypto asset rulemaking, private credit liquidity risks, Tempo's mainnet launch, the agentic payments landscape, and the sustained growth trajectory of AI foundational models and GPU compute demand. Thanks for tuning in! – Follow Oneshot: https://x.com/OneshotPodBW Follow Framework Ventures: https://x.com/hiFramework Follow Michael: https://x.com/im_manderson Follow Vance: http...

Mar 20, 202647 min

Tempo Goes Live: Can Stripe’s Blockchain Own the Payment Rails? | Roundup

This week, Mippo, Myles, and Xavier sat down to discuss crypto's maturation and institutional momentum. They then conduct a bull/bear analysis of Tempo, a Stripe-incubated payments-focused Layer 1 blockchain, covering its tech architecture, distribution advantages, agent micropayments potential, competitive risks, and token versus equity considerations. Thanks for tuning in! Resources The Agentic Web and Original Sin: https://stratechery.com/2025/the-agentic-web-and-original-sin/ — The Canton Ne...

Mar 20, 20261 hr 10 min

Oneshot: Market Uncertainty, AI Valuations, and Crypto’s Path Forward | Roundup

This week, Michael and Vance sat down to discuss the state of the market, private-versus-public valuation gaps in AI and venture markets, a proposal to convert the Across token to equity, Strategy’s STRC product, potential crypto recovery narratives, and the role of bitcoin miners in AI data center infrastructure. Enjoy! – Follow Oneshot: https://x.com/OneshotPodBW Follow Framework Ventures: https://x.com/hiFramework Follow Michael: https://x.com/im_manderson Follow Vance: https://x.com/pythiani...

Mar 13, 202651 min

Can Hyperliquid Become the Everything Exchange? | Roundup

This week, Mippo, Myles, and Xavier sat down to discuss Hyperliquid’s rapid growth, competitive advantages, what the team did right, and potential bull and bear cases for Hyperliquid’s long-term outlook. Thanks for tuning in! — The Canton Network is the only public, permissionless blockchain built for institutional finance— combining privacy, compliance, and scalability. It enables real-time, secure synchronization and settlement across asset classes on a shared, interoperable infrastructure. It...

Mar 13, 20261 hr 9 min

What TradFi’s Crypto Integration Actually Looks Like | Sid Powell & Theo Golden

This week, we’re joined by Sid Powell and Theo Golden to discuss TradFi’s integration of DeFi, tokenization structures, RWA adoption, liquidity constraints, and how incumbents and DeFi-native firms may converge. Thanks for tuning in! — The Canton Network is the only public, permissionless blockchain built for institutional finance— combining privacy, compliance, and scalability. It enables real-time, secure synchronization and settlement across asset classes on a shared, interoperable infrastruc...

Mar 10, 20261 hr

Oneshot: The Bill That Could Reshape Crypto | Rebecca Rettig

This week, Michael and Vance sat down with Jito Labs’ CLO Rebecca Rettig to discuss the status of the CLARITY market structure bill, including congressional negotiations, committee roles, and the debate over stablecoin yield. They also cover regulatory dynamics, potential SEC and CFTC rulemakings, stablecoin oversight, implications for DeFi, and how the industry may evolve with or without new legislation. Thanks for tuning in! – Follow Rebecca: https://x.com/RebeccaRettig1 Follow Oneshot: https:...

Mar 06, 202651 min

A New Era in Crypto: Product-led Founders Take Over | Roundup

This week, Mippo, Myles, and Xavier sat down to discuss diverging institutional and crypto-native sentiment, exchange innovation, and how founder archetypes are shifting toward operators, and product-led builders. They also cover AI’s impact on execution and evolving crypto venture dynamics, fund sizing, and distribution-led value add. Thanks for tuning in! — The Canton Network is the only public, permissionless blockchain built for institutional finance— combining privacy, compliance, and scala...

Mar 06, 20261 hr 8 min

Introducing: Inflection Point | The Crypto-TradFi Convergence

In this first episode of Inflection Point, we explore the accelerating convergence between traditional finance and crypto as institutional adoption begins reshaping the foundations of global financial infrastructure. The conversation examines ETFs, DeFi innovation, market structure shifts, institutional flows, and how evolving investor behavior is changing Bitcoin and digital asset markets. Along the way, we discuss regulation, credit markets, technology limitations, and the broader implications...

Mar 05, 20261 hr 4 min

Everything Is Market: How Crypto Is Expanding Finance Into Culture | Jesse Walden

This week, we’re joined by Variant’s Jesse Walden to unpack the “Everything is Market” thesis, arguing that crypto expands finance into culture by lowering barriers to creating markets. We examine markets as change agents, APIs for intelligent agents, hyperfinancialization’s social effects, the evolution from gambling to investing, and implications for ownership, regulation, and AI-driven organizations Thanks for tuning in! Resources Everything is Market: https://x.com/jessewldn/status/202229113...

Mar 03, 202657 min

The Rise of Real World Asset Vaults | Roundup

This week, Mippo, Myles, and Xavier sat down to discuss the rise of vibe coding, and its parallels to past crypto token booms before examining the evolution of DeFi vaults and real-world asset looping. They dive into distribution, curation, oracle and liquidation risks, institutional adoption challenges, and the demand-side hurdles facing tokenized asset strategies. Thanks for tuning in! — The Canton Network is the only public, permissionless blockchain built for institutional finance— combining...

Feb 27, 20261 hr 2 min

Funding Abundance: Aave’s Vision for DeFi and Real-World Assets | Stani Kulechov

This week, we’re joined by Stani Kulechov, Founder of Aave Labs, to discuss the “Funding Abundance” thesis, highlighting DeFi’s capital efficiency, institutional adoption, and expansion into RWAs. We also dive into Aave V4’s modular hub-and-spoke architecture, the Aave app strategy, revenue realignment via “Aave Will Win,” RWA looping, and evolving net interest margins. Thanks for tuning in! Resources Funding Abundance: https://x.com/StaniKulechov/status/2023079479493452013?s=20 — The Canton Net...

Feb 24, 202657 min

Introducing Oneshot: The AI Arms Race and Crypto Market Consolidation | Michael & Vance

Welcome to Oneshot! OneShot is a new weekly podcast from Framework Ventures that explores the intersection of commodities, energy, AI, and emerging technology through a crypto lens. This week, Michael and Vance sat down to discuss progress on U.S. crypto market structure legislation, and industry consolidation. They also cover public versus private market dynamics, token valuations, AI adoption and workplace impact, and the capital-intensive competition among OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI. Thanks f...

Feb 20, 202649 min

The New Rules of Crypto Distribution | Roundup

This week, Mippo, Myles, and Xavier sat down to discuss market sentiment and Hyperliquid’s Policy Center, revisit the fat protocol thesis, and explore the evolving distribution strategies for crypto apps and infrastructure. Thanks for tuning in! — The Canton Network is the only public, permissionless blockchain built for institutional finance— combining privacy, compliance, and scalability. It enables real-time, secure synchronization and settlement across asset classes on a shared, interoperabl...

Feb 20, 20261 hr 23 min

What Makes a Good Token? | Roundup

This week, Mippo, Myles, and Xavier sat down to discuss what makes a “good” token by revisiting token categories, token buybacks versus reinvesting revenue for growth, plus token distribution and emissions challenges. Thanks for tuning in! — The Canton Network is the only public, permissionless blockchain built for institutional finance— combining privacy, compliance, and scalability. It enables real-time, secure synchronization and settlement across asset classes on a shared, interoperable infr...

Feb 13, 20261 hr 12 min

Crypto’s Reality Check | Roundup

This week, Mippo, Myles, and Xavier sat down to discuss crypto’s massive selloff, divergence from equities, and the impact of large liquidations. They compare prior cycles, debate product-market fit versus token-led speculation, and discuss shifting focus toward stablecoins, prediction markets, RWAs, AI and crypto, and tougher VC funding standards. Thanks for tuning in! — The Canton Network is the only public, permissionless blockchain built for institutional finance— combining privacy, complian...

Feb 07, 202650 min

The Infrastructure Behind Agentic Finance | Roundup

This week, Mippo, Myles, and Xavier sat down to discuss agentic finance at the intersection of AI and crypto. They cover payment rails, emerging standards, agent trust and incentives, identity and collateral mechanisms, market competition, trading use cases, UX challenges, and broader implications for compliance, infrastructure, and value creation in AI-driven financial systems.Thanks for tuning in! Resources The Evolution of Open Source: https://youtu.be/9BwdBkGiFS0?si=Qpy-hjgPixyXLm1E The Inte...

Jan 30, 20261 hr 1 min

The Intersection of AI and Crypto: What Worked, What Didn’t, and What’s Next | Roundup

This week, Mippo, Myles, and Xavier sat down to discuss the intersection of AI and crypto. They cover early hype, infrastructure and compute marketplaces, Bittensor, DePIN, data coordination, SaaS disruption, pricing models, compliance, and where long-term value may emerge.Thanks for tuning in! Resources Ribbit Capital Letters: https://www.ribbitcap.com/perspective – Follow Myles: https://x.com/MylesOneil Follow Xavier: https://x.com/0xave Follow Mike: https://twitter.com/MikeIppolito_ Subscribe...

Jan 23, 20261 hr

Market Structure, Macro Volatility, and the Next Phase of Crypto | Michael Anderson & Vance Spencer

This week, Michael and Vance discuss recent market volatility, crypto legislation,interest rate and housing market outlooks, Tom Lee and BitMine developments, AI industry consolidation, and emerging onchain business models. Thanks for tuning in! – Follow Michael: https://x.com/im_manderson Follow Vance: https://x.com/pythianism Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3R1D1D9 Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3pQTfmD Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3cpKZXH —- TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introductio...

Jan 21, 202651 min

Forward Guidance: The Market Is Rotating Faster Than Policy Can Keep Up

This week, we unpack rising market euphoria, sector rotations and why consumers are suddenly back in focus. We also dig into Fed constraints, Japan’s endgame, Bitcoin waking up, and more. Enjoy! — Follow Tyler: https://x.com/Tyler_Neville_ Follow Quinn: https://x.com/qthomp Follow Felix: https://twitter.com/fejau_inc Follow Forward Guidance: https://twitter.com/ForwardGuidance Follow Blockworks: https://twitter.com/Blockworks_ Forward Guidance Telegram: https://t.me/+CAoZQpC-i6BjYTEx __ Weekly R...

Jan 16, 202651 min

Why Crypto Still Struggles to Capture the Value It Creates | Roundup

In this episode, we trace how open-source software shaped crypto, why value capture remains hard beyond Layer 1s, how rollups and infrastructure borrowed the wrong mental models, and where AI is forcing a rethink of software business models, incentives, and trust. Enjoy!Thanks for tuning in! – Follow Myles: https://x.com/MylesOneil Follow Xavier: https://x.com/0xave Follow Mike: https://x.com/MikeIppolito_ – Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://bit.ly/3R1D1D9⁠ Subscribe on Apple: ⁠https://apple.co/3pQ...

Jan 10, 20261 hr 8 min

Predictions for 2026

This week, Mippo, Myles, and Xavier sat down to discuss their predictions for 2026! They cover ecosystems, corporate chains, DeFi themes, venture capital, prediction markets, and AI.Thanks for tuning in! Resources 2025 Year in Review: https://youtu.be/b3OMNMqMof0?si=q5Or5Vcc00kEwxbO Mippo’s 2026 Predictions: https://x.com/MikeIppolito_/status/2006813164768571857 Mippo on Bankless: https://youtu.be/4R0Xi-XTkt8?si=Hjs4mi3VolsDXs6S — Katana directs chain revenue back to DeFi users for consistently ...

Jan 03, 20261 hr 21 min

2025 Year in Review

This week, Mippo, Myles, and Xavier sat down for the 2025 Year in Review! They cover the biggest winners and losers of 2025, the best and worst calls of the year, the comeback story of the year, and more. Thanks for tuning in! -- Katana directs chain revenue back to DeFi users for consistently higher yields. It starts with VaultBridge, which turns bridged assets into yield streams that back a perpetually funded real yield, boosting rewards for DeFi users. Katana is pioneering Productive TVL, ass...

Dec 26, 20251 hr 19 min

2026 Predictions with Michael Anderson and Vance Spencer

This week, Michael and Vance joined the show to recap everything that happened in 2025, and give their predictions for 2026. They cover the CLARITY Act, stablecoin growth, prediction markets, and more. Enjoy!Thanks for tuning in! -- Follow Michael: https://x.com/im_manderson Follow Vance: https://x.com/pythianism Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3R1D1D9 Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3pQTfmD Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3cpKZXH -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (3:05) 2025 R...

Dec 19, 20251 hr 8 min

Fixing Crypto’s Broken Token Structures | Roundup

This week, Mippo, Myles, and Xavier sat down to discuss recent events in crypto governance, including Uniswap’s unification plan, Aave’s internal conflict, and Circle’s acquisition of Axelar’s core developers. They dive into token and equity misalignment, investor protections, regulatory challenges, valuation implications, and potential future structures for decentralized protocols. Thanks for tuning in! -- Katana directs chain revenue back to DeFi users for consistently higher yields. It starts...

Dec 19, 20251 hr 3 min

The Return of Corporate Blockchains | Roundup

This week, Mippo, Myles, and Xavier sat down to discuss the resurgence of corporate blockchains, tracing their evolution from early “blockchain not Bitcoin” initiatives to today’s enterprise adoption. They analyze the various blockchain models, design tradeoffs, regulatory and strategic factors, and how companies like Stripe and Robinhood approach blockchain integration, and governance. Thanks for tuning in! -- Katana directs chain revenue back to DeFi users for consistently higher yields. It st...

Dec 11, 20251 hr 20 min

Platforms in Crypto: The Next Phase of Crypto Growth | Roundup

This week, Mippo, Myles, and Xavier sat down to discuss platforms in crypto. They define what a platform is, explore Ethereum and Solana as tech platforms versus monetary assets, and debate the merits of product-led vs. developer-led growth go-to-market strategies. They also dive into the challenges of building and scaling ecosystems, and give their thoughts on where true platform value resides in crypto. Thanks for tuning in! -- Katana directs chain revenue back to DeFi users for consistently h...

Dec 05, 20251 hr 14 min

Breaking Down Uniswap’s Fee Switch and UNIfication Proposal | Hayden Adams & Jesse Walden

In this episode, we’re joined by Hayden Adams and Jesse Walden to discuss Uniswap’s “fee switch”. We cover the proposed “UNIfication” structure, protocol fee mechanics, DUNA legal framework, front-end fee removal, investor alignment, retroactive token burns, and the proposal’s potential industry impact. Thanks for tuning in! -- Resources Uniswap’s UNIfication Proposal: https://gov.uniswap.org/t/unification-proposal/25881 Establishing Uniswap as “DUNI”: https://gov.uniswap.org/t/governance-propos...

Nov 26, 202559 min

Revenue Meta, RWA Looping & Uniswap Fee Switch | Roundup

This week, we break down the violent selloff across equities and crypto, how real revenue, institutional capital, and RWA-looping are reshaping which assets survive. We also discuss the rise of institutional lending markets, Uniswap’s long-awaited fee switch proposal, and why retail-driven tokenomics are dead while fundamentals and sustainable business models take over. Enjoy! -- The Canton Network is the only public, permissionless blockchain built for institutional finance—combining privacy, c...

Nov 14, 202551 min

Inside Crypto’s Liquidity Crunch | Romeo Ravagnan & Sonya Kim

In this episode, we’re joined by Romeo Ravagnan and Sonya Kim from 3F Labs to discuss the $30 billion open-interest wipeout, Binance’s margin issues, and the collapse of Stream Finance’s xUSD. They unpack pooled versus isolated risk models in lending, liquidity dynamics, and emerging strategies for leveraging RWAs onchain.Thanks for tuning in! -- The Canton Network is the only public, permissionless blockchain built for institutional finance— combining privacy, compliance, and scalability. It en...

Nov 07, 20251 hr 8 min

Crypto Finally Goes Mainstream | Roundup

In this solo Roundup, Mippo discusses JPMorgan’s pivot, the disruptive potential of stablecoins, new spot ETFs, the sustained growth of prediction markets, Trump pardoning CZ, and Western Union’s upcoming stablecoin. Thanks for tuning in! -- Resources Stablecoin Linked Cards - Way Better Secured Credit Cards: https://x.com/sytaylor/status/1982474892114096349 -- The Canton Network is the only public, permissionless blockchain built for institutional finance— combining privacy, compliance, and sca...

Oct 31, 202530 min
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