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.
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976
The Debate Around SBF’s Regulatory Ideas
This episode is sponsored by , and . On this week’s “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads Sam Bankman-Fried’s He also references Erik Voorhees and a featuring Scupytruples. - allows you to trade on the spot and futures...
30 min
977
Is Voluntary Regulation the Right Approach to D...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at the state of crypto legal proceedings and global regulatory discussions, including: Hodlonaut wins against Craig Wright in Norway Coinbase,...
19 min
978
The Institutions Aren’t Just Sticking With Cryp...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW gives the latest in his recurrent theme on “post-narrative institutionalization” – the idea that during the 2022 bear market institutional actors have not only not abandoned...
17 min
979
A Head of Lettuce Outlasted British PM Liz Truss
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW looks at the short, fitful reign of the U.K.’s shortest-serving Prime Minister, Liz Truss. He argues that the problems with her time in office were not just about British...
17 min
980
100% Chance of Recession
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode of “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at the various signals markets are grappling with, including continued hawkish commentary from the Fedeal Reserve, financial modeling that keeps...
16 min
981
A CFTC Commissioner Proposes a New Definition o...
This episode is sponsored by , and . Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW covers a number of stories from across the crypto space, including: A new definition of retail investors? Mastercard gets deeper into crypto with Paxos Why BNY...
18 min
982
Are NFTs Still Disruptive in a Zero-Royalty World?
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW looks at the non-fungible token community’s current debate about royalties. Marketplaces are moving to zero-royalty or royalty-optional models, while many in the space think it...
20 min
983
Is Bitcoin Maximalism a Historical Aberration?
This episode is sponsored by , and . On this edition of “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads “” by Dr. Paul J. Dylan-Ennis. - allows you to trade on the spot and futures markets with a 50% discount on fees. You always get the best...
22 min
984
Why Chip Manufacturing Is at the Center of Grea...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On this episode, NLW provides a 101-style primer on chip manufacturing and why it has become a key geopolitical concern for the U.S. and China, especially over the last few years. - allows you to...
18 min
985
Are Regulators Spending Too Much Time on Crypto?
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW looks at the latest chatter around the crypto industry, including: Jamie Dimon’s newest negative comments on crypto Acting OCC Hsu’s comments that crypto is taking up too much...
17 min
986
Inflation Surprise! Markets Swerve Wildly as Co...
This episode is sponsored by , and . Today’s release of the September inflation numbers surprised economists with a larger-than-expected growth in inflation – particularly in the core inflation data on which the U.S. Federal Reserve...
17 min
987
Post-Narrative Institutionalization vs. Regulat...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW covers stories that reflect the two big themes of the 2022 crypto bear market: post-narrative institutional adoption on the one hand, and regulatory enforcement on the other. He...
17 min
988
Will Earnings Reports Portend Recession?
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW checks in on the macro scene, including: What the earnings report season that begins this week might tell us about where corporate America is headed Why the Federal Reserve still...
17 min
989
Is PayPal Going to Fine You for Your Opinions?
This episode is sponsored by , and . On Saturday, a PayPal policy was announced where customers could be fined up to $2,500 for misinformation and other causes, at the sole discretion of the company. The internet’s outrage was quick and...
16 min
990
A Legal Argument for Why Staking Doesn’t Make E...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On this week’s “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads “.” The piece was authored by: Rodrigo Seira, crypto counsel at Paradigm Amy Aixi Zhang, policy counsel at Paradigm Jake Chervinsky, head of policy...
18 min
991
Ray Dalio and Big-Picture Power Shifts
This episode is sponsored by , and . On this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at a slew of Federal Reserve comments indicating that no pivot on interest rates is on the horizon. He also reads a set of Ray Dalio threads as the...
17 min
992
Hacks and Doxxing Raise Questions About CeFi Ma...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On this crypto recap episode, NLW looks at the latest news including: Binance Smart Chain exploit Celsius user data leak MiCA regulation text finalization - allows you to trade on the spot...
16 min
993
What OPEC+ Oil Cuts Mean for the Global Economy...
This episode is sponsored by , and . As inflation rages, the global economy slows, and the U.S. releases more and more oil from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve, OPEC+ has decided to decrease oil output. The move happens in spite of significant...
17 min
994
Elon’s Twitter Deal Is Back On!
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW checks in on “Uptober” and asks whether the market rally has legs beyond Monday. He then looks at the news that Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter is back on track, and explores what...
16 min
995
After Rektember, Is Uptober Back?
This episode is sponsored by , and . After a brutal “Rektember,” might a green “Uptober” be back on the menu? On today’s episode, NLW looks at the markets’ impressive October Day One performance and what’s behind the positive shift. He...
18 min
996
Is Credit Suisse the Next Lehman Brothers?
This episode is sponsored by , and . After a wild weekend of speculation and discussion, NLW breaks down what’s actually happening with beleaguered Credit Suisse, as well as why the FinTwit doom machine seems so focused on it. - ...
16 min
997
What One Crypto VC Is Focusing on During the Be...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On this edition of “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads threads from MacroAlf on , degentrading on and Meltem Demirors on . - allows you to trade on the spot and futures markets with a 50% discount on fees....
17 min
998
The Fed Crushes the Idea of a UK-Inspired Pivot
This episode is sponsored by , and . On this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW summarizes the Bank of England’s intervention into U.K. bond markets and covers comments from various Federal Reserve officials that make clear the BOE’s...
15 min
999
Jerome Powell Confusingly Calls Out DeFi for La...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW catches up on recent crypto news including: Jerome Powell’s recent comments on DeFi California enforcement actions An update on Do Kwon TBD teams up with Circle - is a...
15 min
1000
Is the Problem That Not Enough Is Breaking?
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW examines a theory articulated by folks like analyst Jim Bianco. His theory is, the biggest issue for equities markets right now isn’t that things are breaking but that while...
19 min