The Breakdown
The Breakdown dives into the deepest topics in crypto, blockchain, and the macro forces shaping markets and power structures. Each episode breaks down complex ideas into clear, grounded analysis — separating signal from noise across crypto, finance, and geopolitics.
Hosted by David Canellis, The Breakdown features explainers, interviews, and conversations with the people building, regulating, and challenging the financial system.
A Blockworks podcast.
Subscribe to The Breakdown newsletter: https://the-breakdown.carrd.co/
801
The IRS Says FTX Owes HOW Much!?
Today on The Breakdown its FTX's Insane tax bill and why 2022 won't leave us alone. Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto Subscribeto the...
14 min
802
Chamber of Commerce Says “The SEC’s actions are...
On today's Breakdown, NLW catches up on: A number of amicus briefs filed in support of Coinbase's lawsuit against the SEC The Chamber of Commerce joins the fight Reps McHenry and Huizenga pen another letter to SEC demanding information Brad...
16 min
803
Congressional Gaslighting: For Crypto, the Part...
Another week, another crypto hearing, and this time the Democrats handed out talking points. NLW discusses how partisan the discourse around crypto and Bitcoin are becoming and assesses whether it is likely to be a winning political strategy. ...
16 min
804
The 3 Blockers to Powell's Soft Landing
We got our report card today! Inflation surprised to the downside, coming in at 4.9%. NLW explores the reaction and why Powell still has three big barriers to getting his soft landing, including, notably, the debt ceiling negotiations. Enjoying...
15 min
805
The Next Big Crypto Battle
..it's not BRC20. (At least not yet). Nope, it's the SEC's custody rule which is yet another attempt at a de-facto crypto ban through legal wrangling. The crypto industry, however, is not having it. Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the...
17 min
806
Binance Says Lightning Support is Coming After ...
A busy weekend around the crypto space. On today's episode, NLW covers: Tl;DR on BRC-20 Binance halting withdrawals and announcing support for Lightning DOJ targeting Binance around sanctions? NYAG introduces even more sweeping crypto...
18 min
807
The Global Role of Bitcoin
On this week's Long Reads Sunday, NLW reads: - Carlos Cardenas - Jonathan Buck Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto Subscribeto...
11 min
808
The End of Consensus Reality with Jon Askonas
One of the jarring but regular experiences of modern life is discovering that someone, perhaps even someone close to you, sees the world and the events that happened in it in a wildly different way from what your perception tells you happened. It can...
40 min
809
Venmo and Stripe Ramp Up on Crypto While Coinba...
In this Friday edition of the Weekly Recap, NLW looks at the key events this week, including: Biden's DAME tax Coinbase and Gemini opening offshore derivatives exchanges Court orders SEC to respond to Coinbase's lawsuit Venmo and Strip expand...
15 min
810
Regional Bank Turmoil Accelerates as Fed Raises...
First Republic failed this week. Did that mean Powell and the Fed would pause their hikes? Absolutely not. NLW covers the "Hawkish Pause" press conference and the 25 bps interest rate raise. Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast:...
14 min
811
Biden's DAME Mining Tax is an Attack on Bitcoin
The White House Council of Economic Advisors yesterday announced the Digital Asset Mining Energy (DAME) excise tax. The proposed 30% tax on "cryptomining" would be a soft ban on mining in the USA according to crypto industry experts. Enjoying...
16 min
812
The Suspicious Denial of Protego Trust: New Yor...
Operation Choke Point 2.0 refers to the idea that there has been coordinated action by bank regulators to try to force crypto out of the system - something which the current administration strenuously denies. New York Magazine recently found more...
15 min
813
First Republic's Failure Shows the Limits of Fe...
After an extended ordeal, beleaguered First Republic Bank has been seized and sold to JP Morgan Chase. NLW covers the build up, the specifics of the deal, and why the example of First Republic illustrates the limits of what the Fed can control. ...
16 min
814
Don't Ban Crypto! The Case for Pro-Innovation R...
On this edition of Long Reads Sunday, NLW reads by the Blockchain Association's Kristin Smith. The article is a response to the growing argument against regulation. Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 ...
15 min
815
Fighting the Regulatory Rugpull
On this edition of the Weekly Recap, NLW breaks down: Gary Gensler's latest cringey SEC video Coinbase's Wells Notice response Dual legislative hearings from Thursday Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast:...
14 min
816
First Republic is a Zombie Bank
All week there has been a high-stakes game of chicken as the Fed, FHLB, FDIC, big banks who pumped $30B into First Republic and FRC itself all try to figure out if this thing can survive. Is it headed for FDIC receievership? Is this how the Biden...
16 min
817
Making the Lightning Network Noncustodial with ...
Bitcoin Builders is The Breakdown Network's new show about the Cambrian explosion of creativity and entrepreneurial energy around Bitcoin and Lightning. In this excerpt from my recent interview with Spiral's Steve Lee, Steve discusses their work on...
11 min
818
The Institutions Are Coming Back to Crypto
Deloitte has hundreds of jobs advertised around digital assets. Franklin Templeton just announced a major blockchain project with Polygon. Standard Chartered Bank is betting on $100k BTC in 2023. The institutions are back, baby. Enjoying this...
16 min
819
Binance Withdraws Voyager Offer as Coinbase Sue...
Both of today's stories are, on some level, about US crypto politics. The first part of the show focuses on Binance US's beleagured and now withdrawn bid for the Voyager Digital assets. Despite a judge overruling US government objections, it appears...
19 min
820
Raoul Pal Previews the Future: AI, Crypto, QE a...
Raoul Pal is the CEO of Real Vision. On this “Paradigm Shift” episode of The Breakdown, NLW and Raoul discuss: Raoul’s concept of “The Everything Code” and “The Exponential Age” Debt monetization The multipollar world ...
103 min
821
Where Bitcoin Fits as Argentina Faces a Dollar ...
Argentina has one of the highest inflation rates in the world, which some economists are estimating at 133% or more. The Argentine Peso also has one of the highest interest rates in the world. On this episode, NLW discusses recent turmoil at the...
19 min
822
The EU Has Now Become the Global Crypto Regulat...
On this week’s “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads: - Daniel Kuhn - Dea Markova Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple: Spotify: Google: Join the discussion: Follow on Twitter: NLW: ...
14 min
823
Hasta La Vista, USA! Crypto Companies Look Abroad
This week Coinbase was on tour in the U.K. and also announced a new Bermuda license, through which it will supposedly soon announce a new derivatives offering. NLW recaps the contrast between the increasingly open arms from the rest of the world and...
14 min
824
A Landmark Moment for Crypto in Europe as MiCA ...
With the passage of MiCA, Europe has jumped out ahead of the U.S. and other jurisdictions when it comes to regulating crypto. Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple: Spotify: Google: Join the discussion: ...
17 min
825
The Case for U.S. Stablecoin Regulation
Last year, the first crypto legislation was supposed to be common-sense rules for stablecoins. The two political parties couldn’t come together, however, and the legislation was scrapped. Now, the House Republicans have reintroduced a draft, and on...
19 min