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
701
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
702
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
703
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
704
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
705
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
706
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
707
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
708
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
709
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
710
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
711
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
712
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
713
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
714
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
715
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
716
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
717
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
718
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
719
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
720
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
721
Gary Wang and Caroline Ellison Plead Guilty to ...
This episode is sponsored by , and .   In breaking news last night, Sam Bankman-Fried was extradited from the Bahamas to the U.S. to face charges ranging from wire fraud to campaign finance fraud. Almost as soon as the plane took off, the U.S....
16 min
722
Why Are a Dead Guy's Crypto Coins Moving?
This episode is sponsored by , and .   Ah, what a perfect way to end a year of fraud, deception and disappointment. Earlier this week, on-chain sleuths noticed that more than 100 BTC were on the move from wallets that were controlled by and...
16 min
723
Elon Bans Journalists, Kills Spaces and Asks if...
This episode is sponsored by , and .   On today’s episode, NLW looks at the latest out of Twitter, including a dust-up about location doxxing and the journalists who were suspended as a result, a new policy banning links to external social...
19 min
724
Audit Firms Don’t Want to Work With Crypto Comp...
This episode is sponsored by , and .   On today’s episode, NLW catches up on the latest in the crypto industry, including: Sam Bankman-Fried changes his tune on extradition DCG-owned coins on the move Audit firms ceasing crypto...
15 min
725
What ChatGPT Might Mean for Web3
This episode is sponsored by , , and the .   On this week’s “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads:“” by Tim Kravchunovsky   “” by Michael J. Casey  - is a security-first platform where you can buy, exchange and borrow against...
15 min