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/
951
Why Is Bitcoin Dominance So Much Lower Than in ...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On this episode of “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads Noelle Acheson’s “” as well as comments from NLW’s on Bitcoin dominance. - is a security-first platform where you can buy, exchange and...
19 min
952
Congressman Who Called Bitcoin an ‘Unstoppable ...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW catches up on the latest U.S. regulatory news, including the legal battle around the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s actions against the Ooki DAO, a...
16 min
953
2022’s Most Influential Bitcoiners
This episode is sponsored by , and . Crypto Twitter was in a tizzy this week about . Specifically, bitcoin maximalists decried its lack of bitcoin maximalists. On this episode, NLW addresses the controversy, reads and adds his own...
18 min
954
Sherrod Brown Tells SBF, ‘Show Up or Get Subpoe...
This episode is sponsored by , and . Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at the shift in tone around SBF following the FTX collapse. Both the House and the Senate are holding hearings on FTX next week, and have confirmed that if former FTX CEO...
18 min
955
The White-Collar Recession
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW provides an overview of the broader economy, including: Wall Street’s predictions for a bad 2023 PepsiCo layoffs OPEC+ oil decision China backing off Zero-Covid policies ...
14 min
956
Goldman’s Going on a Crypto Company Buying Spre...
This episode is sponsored by , and . In a conversation with Reuters, Goldman Sachs’ head of digital assets suggested the bank would be spending tens of millions of dollars to invest in, or buy outright, crypto firms whose prices had come...
18 min
957
SBF Declines a Congressional Invite; Alameda CE...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW catches up on the latest surrounding the fallout of FTX, including Sam Bankman-Fried’s back and forth with House Financial Services Committee Chair Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.)...
17 min
958
Bitcoin and Opting Out of the IMF & World Bank
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads Alex Gladstein’s Twitter version of his new essay "." - is a security-first platform where you can buy, exchange and borrow against your crypto. The...
16 min
959
Market Whiplash as Jobs Report Undermines Powel...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW catches up on the macro landscape, including recapping Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech on Wednesday and how the jobs report released Friday...
16 min
960
Apple’s Monopoly App Store Tax Coming to Crypto?
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, we catch up on the crypto industry, including: Apple’s dust-up with Coinbase around fees for NFT transfers Stripe’s new fiat-to-crypto tooling for developers Fidelity opens...
16 min
961
Will Sam’s Frenetic Media Tour Save Him or Damn...
This episode is sponsored by , and . Ah Sam, will we ever be able to escape you? This week, “main character syndrome” came roaring back into fashion as Sam Bankman-Fried broke his silence with a string of interviews culminating in...
19 min
962
Post-FTX, India and Europe Push Ahead With CBDCs
This episode is sponsored by , and . In today’s global regulatory roundup, NLW looks at news from: Europe: EU holds a hearing on the FTX collapse and France tests a CBDC India: RBI announces Indian CBDC trials to begin Thursday US: Sen. Ron...
16 min
963
Fed Officials Say Interest Rates to Remain High...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW turns back to the macro, where some amount of optimism had seeped into risk assets since a better-than-expected inflation report a few weeks ago. On Monday, a group of Federal...
16 min
964
BlockFi Files for Bankruptcy, Becoming Latest F...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW returns to his usual daily programming with a review of crypto contagion that took place during the last week. He looks at BlockFi, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New...
16 min
965
The Progressive Case for Bitcoin, With Jason Maier
This episode is sponsored by , and . For our concluding episode of “Grateful for Bitcoin,” NLW chats with Jason Maier, who is currently working on a book on a progressive’s case for bitcoin. In this conversation, they discuss which progressive...
26 min
966
Bitcoin Gas Flare Mining, With Matt Lohstroh
This episode is sponsored by , and . For this edition of “Grateful for Bitcoin,” NLW is joined by Matt Lohstroh, cofounder of Giga Energy. Matt and Giga are leaders in the bitcoin gas flare mining space. On this episode, he and NLW discuss...
24 min
967
Why Lightning Isn’t Just for Bitcoin Believers,...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On this episode of “Grateful for Bitcoin,” NLW is joined by Voltage cofounder and CEO Graham Krizek. Voltage provides enterprise-grade infrastructure for the Lightning Network. On this episode, Graham and NLW...
22 min
968
‘A Fight Worth Having’: A Conversation With Jes...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode of “Grateful for Bitcoin,” NLW is joined by Kraken cofounder and former CEO Jesse Powell. They discuss the fallout from FTX, philosophy, regulations, non-fungible tokens and how the...
33 min
969
The Top 5 Times Bitcoin Was Supposed to Die, Wi...
This episode is sponsored by , and . Today, NLW is joined by Dan McArdle, a bitcoin OG who co-founded Messari, built Case for Bitcoin and more. In this episode, they discuss the top five times bitcoin was supposed to die. Find our...
28 min
970
Okay Proof of Reserves, But for Real This Time?
This episode is sponsored by , and . On this edition of “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads Nic Carter’s newest “” - allows you to trade on the spot and futures markets with a 50% discount on fees. You always get the best possible prices...
16 min
971
The State of Play in Fed Commentary and the Cry...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW follows the path of the crypto contagion including the latest from FTX, Silvergate Bank and Genesis Lending. He also looks at the slate of officials the...
15 min
972
Is DCG in Danger Now, Too?
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW looks at the latest FTX contagion discussion. He examines the Genesis withdrawal shutdown and growing question of whether it has exposed parent company Digital Currency Group to...
15 min
973
Guy Who Oversaw Enron Says FTX Is Worse
This episode is sponsored by , and . Today NLW covers two major updates in the FTX saga. The first is first-day declarations by FTX’s new CEO John J. Ray III that argue that, in short, FTX is worse run than Enron. The second are messages...
18 min
974
Genesis and Gemini Earn Halt Withdrawals as FTX...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW covers the latest fallout from the FTX collapse. Genesis Capital has paused withdrawals and loan origination, which has also led to Gemini pausing its Earn program. NLW also covers...
16 min
975
The State of Post-FTX and Alameda Research Mark...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW explores the state of the market in the wake of the collapse of FTX and Alameda Research. He looks at hedge funds that have reported funds stuck on FTX as well as overall liquidity...
18 min