The Breakdown

A daily analysis of macroeconomics, bitcoin, geopolitics and big picture power shifts, hosted by Nathaniel Whittemore @nlw. The Breakdown is part of Blockworks.

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Investing
551
Genesis Files for Chapter 11
After weeks, if not months, of speculation, Genesis has finally filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing more than $5.1 billion in liabilities. On today’s episode, NLW looks at the implications of the filing plus the battles to come. He...
16 min
552
Would a Genesis Bankruptcy Actually Be Good for...
Yesterday, news outlets started reporting that a prepackaged bankruptcy for DCG subsidiary Genesis was close to completion. On today’s episode, NLW looks at the community’s reaction on whether this would be a good or bad thing for the space. He...
16 min
553
Bitz Who Now? Department of Justice Takes Down ...
On today’s episode, NLW catches up on the latest on crypto crime and fall out, including: Disgraced 3AC founders’ attempt to build a new exchange with bankrupt CoinFLEX called GTX. Sam Bankman-Fried’s latest blog post arguing about how FTX.US...
17 min
554
Bitcoin at $21K: Bull Trap or Ooo Baby We're Back?
Bitcoin (and crypto more broadly) has been on a tear the last few days, but the question on everyone’s mind is: why? Is it a real, fundamentals-based movement? Does it reflect a changed macro setup for risk assets or just market structure and a...
15 min
555
The Legacy of Aaron Swartz 10 Years Later
On this edition of “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads:   - Stefan George  - the DeFi Edge - Patrick Campbell    Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  Spotify: Google:   Join the discussion: ...
15 min
556
The SEC Sues Gemini/Genesis as SBF Starts a Blog
On this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at the Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit against Gemini and Genesis involving the Gemini Earn program. He also sums up the recent developments around FTX, including $5 billion of recovered...
14 min
557
How Big a Deal Was Binance’s Previous $1B BUSD ...
Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW catches up on some crypto cleanup stories from earlier in the week. He looks at community reactions to research uncovering that at times in 2020 and 2021 Binance peg BUSD was undercollateralized by as much as $1...
15 min
558
Will Negative Inflation Prompt a Shift in Fed P...
On today’s episode, NLW digs into December’s just-released CPI numbers. For the sixth month in a row, year-over-year inflation declined. For the first time in more than two years, month-over-month inflation declined. For many, this confirms a...
14 min
559
DCG Responds as Gemini Accuses Company of Fraud
Crypto 2023 – like Crypto 2022, but angrier. This week, Gemini co-CEO Cameron Winklevoss accused Genesis, DCG and DCG CEO Barry Silbert of fraud in a major escalation of their fight over frozen funds. Silbert and DCG, CoinDesk’s parent, responded...
20 min
560
The Fed’s Interest Rate Message Is Clear: Get t...
On today’s episode, NLW looks at the latest communiques from Federal Reserve officials, including comments by Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic and San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly, as well as a speech on Tuesday by Federal Reserve Chair...
16 min
561
The SEC and DOJ Are Reportedly Investigating DCG
On today’s episode, NLW catches up on: Why bitcoin’s price went up firmly above $17,000 The latest Binance concerns  Reports the Securities and Exchange Commission and Justice Department are investigating DCG’s internal transfers  ...
14 min
562
Where Bitcoin Mining Goes From Here
On this Long Reads Sunday, NLW reads: by Zack Voell  By George Kaloudis  By Daniel Kuhn  Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  Spotify: Google:   Join the discussion:   Follow on Twitter:...
16 min
563
Is Political Gridlock Good for Crypto?
On the first Weekly Recap of 2023, NLW hones in on the political impasse in Washington D.C. and explores whether a divided Congress (and a divided Republican party within Congress) might be good for crypto in a year that politicians are feeling...
15 min
564
The Crypto Reckoning Continues
NLW profiles another brutal week in the crypto computation and cleanup following the disasters of 2022.    He examines:   Celsius ex-CEO Alex Mashinsky sued by NYAG 3AC subpoenaed via Twitter Silvergate laying off 40%  Genesis...
15 min
565
The Fed Is Scared of Stock Market Animal Spirits
  In today's episode, NLW looks at the macro landscape that will set the tone for the markets in 2023. According to the minutes of the December Federal Open Markets Committee Meeting, released on Wednesday, the Federal Reserve is concerned about...
16 min
566
SBF Pleads Not Guilty; Trial Set for October
On today’s episode, NLW discusses Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX, including his bail hearing from December, the unusual request to keep his bail bond-backers private, and his not guilty plea from yesterday’s arraignment.  Enjoying this content?...
15 min
567
On Bitcoin’s 14th Birthday, the Gemini-DCG War ...
Bitcoin celebrates its birthday today! This is also the first Breakdown of the year. NLW discusses the news and events from the past couple weeks, including the arrest of Mango Markets exploiter Avraham Eisenberg as well as the escalating feud between...
16 min
568
Bitcoin Is Optimism, With Alex Gladstein
This episode is sponsored by , and .   Today’s guest is Alex Gladstein, chief strategy officer at the Human Rights Foundation.   Find our guest on Twitter: - is a security-first platform where you can buy, exchange and borrow against...
38 min
569
Mike Dudas on Crypto Community Resilience
This episode is sponsored by , and .   Today’s guest is Mike Dudas of 6th Man Ventures and LinksDAO.    Find our guest on Twitter: - is a security-first platform where you can buy, exchange and borrow against your crypto. The...
29 min
570
Muneeb Ali on the Future of Bitcoin Building
This episode is sponsored by , and .   Today’s guest is Muneeb Ali, CEO of Trust Machines and founder of Stacks.   Find our guest on Twitter: - is a security-first platform where you can buy, exchange and borrow against your crypto. The...
33 min
571
Sam Abbassi on Why Proof of Reserves Matters Now
This episode is sponsored by , and .   Today’s guest is Sam Abbassi, founder and CEO of Hoseki.   Find our guest on Twitter: - is a security-first platform where you can buy, exchange and borrow against your crypto. The company ensures...
25 min
572
The New Crypto Policy Blueprint, With Kristin S...
This episode is sponsored by , and .   Today’s guest is Kristin Smith, executive director of the Blockchain Association.    Find our guest on Twitter: - is a security-first platform where you can buy, exchange and borrow against...
33 min
573
Why Bitcoin Is Thriving, With Alyse Killeen
This episode is sponsored by , and .   Today’s guest is Alyse Killeen, founder and general partner at Stillmark.    Find our guest on Twitter: - is a security-first platform where you can buy, exchange and borrow against your...
32 min
574
The Top 10 Things That Happened in Bitcoin 2022
This episode is sponsored by , and .   On this year’s final “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads “” by Cory Klippsten, Tomer Strolight and Sam Callahan.  - is a security-first platform where you can buy, exchange and borrow against...
12 min
575
Ryan Selkis on the Crypto Outlook for 2023
This episode is sponsored by , and .   Today’s guest is Messari CEO Ryan Selkis.    Find our guest on Twitter: Read Crypto Theses for 2023: - is a security-first platform where you can buy, exchange and borrow against your crypto....
40 min