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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1001
Did a Second Nation Actually Just Make Bitcoin ...
This episode is sponsored by , and .  On today’s episode, NLW digs into rumors that the Central African Republic has adopted bitcoin as legal tender. He also looks at Panama’s crypto legislation, which has moved forward out of committee....
18 min
1002
How Crypto Can Help the Nascent Cannabis Industry
This episode is sponsored by , and .    On this edition of “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads: - Brett Harrison - Jurrien Timmer  - Alex Gladstein    - From cash to crypto in no time with . Invest in hot coins and swap...
13 min
1003
The Return of Bitcoin ETF Optimism
This episode is sponsored by , and .    On this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at: Bitcoin spot ETF optimism in the U.S. Australian spot ETFs coming next week Coinbase’s new NFT features  Stripe adding crypto...
14 min
1004
Why the Housing Market Is so F%#@ing Insane Rig...
This episode is sponsored by , and .    Housing prices around the country are up 19.2% this year, and 30% since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Videos of desperate couples and families lining up for open houses have become...
24 min
1005
Why Crypto Matters for Emerging Markets
  This episode is sponsored by , and .    Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW covers two topics. First, he looks at a on which countries realized the biggest crypto gains in 2021, and specifically how that list differs from the rank of...
15 min
1006
Crypto's Liminal Phase
  This episode is sponsored by , and .  On today’s episode, NLW examines what he is calling “Crypto’s Liminal Phase.” He argues the crypto industry specifically and the macroeconomic landscape as a whole are in a transitional phase....
17 min
1007
IMF Financial Stability Report Highlights Crypto
This episode is sponsored by , and .    On today’s episode, NLW looks at the latest Financial Stability report from the International Monetary Fund. The report looks at how the war in Ukraine is impacting financial stability. NLW argues...
15 min
1008
Economists See Increasing Risk of Recession and...
This episode is sponsored by , and .    Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW explores the growing chorus of economists who think the U.S. is headed towards a recession as the inevitable consequence of the Federal Reserve’s attempt to fight...
15 min
1009
Why Crypto Isn’t Just the Great Financial Crisi...
This episode is sponsored by , and .  On this edition of “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads Michael Casey’s “.” - From cash to crypto in no time with . Invest in hot coins and swap between exclusive pairs for cash back, earn up to 17%...
15 min
1010
Would a Private Twitter Owned by Elon Musk Be B...
This episode is sponsored by , and .  The Elon Musk-Twitter saga continues! Today, Musk announced an offer to buy 100% of Twitter at $54.20 a share, saying that it was important for free speech and the company needed to be taken private to...
22 min
1011
Web 3 Gobsmacked as Meta Announces 47.5% Creato...
This episode is sponsored by , and .  On this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW explores whether large firms – either from traditional finance or big tech – can be good actors in the Web 3 space? He specifically explores BlackRock’s...
16 min
1012
'Putin's Price Hike' vs. 'Bidenflation': The Bl...
This episode is sponsored by , and .  March saw the U.S.’ highest year-over-year inflation print since 1981, coming in at 8.5%. NLW explores why the discussion around inflation is taking an even more pitched and aggressive turn and how the...
17 min
1013
Janet Yellen’s Shifting Tone on Crypto
This episode is sponsored by , and .    At the beginning of her tenure as Treasury secretary, Janet Yellen gave a number of indications that she was going to be a tough partner for crypto. In a speech last week, the industry got a glimpse...
17 min
1014
The Race to the First Central Bank Digital Curr...
This episode is sponsored by , and .    According to the Biden administration, more than 100 countries worldwide are working on central bank digital currencies. On today’s episode, NLW does a survey of the places that are farthest along...
14 min
1015
Bitcoin Mining and the Return of Realpolitik
This episode is sponsored by , and .    This week’s “Long Reads Sunday” features two essays on the strategic imperative of bitcoin mining.   - Nic Carter - Ben Caselin  - From cash to crypto in no time with . Invest in hot...
24 min
1016
Russia’s Plan to Force the World to Use Rubles
This episode is sponsored by , and .    On this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at the latest news regarding Russia’s economy. Vladimir Putin is trying to leverage energy exports to prop up the ruble. But can he really make...
17 min
1017
Laura Shin on Greed, Hacks and Crypto Idealism
This episode is sponsored by , and .    Laura Shin is the host of “Unchained,” one of the best known and longest running crypto podcasts. She is also the author of the new book “The Cryptopians: Idealism, Greed, Lies, and the Making...
48 min
1018
The Stablecoin TRUST Act Could Enshrine Financi...
This episode is sponsored by , and .    One of crypto’s biggest allies in the Senate, Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), has just released a discussion draft of a bill that would clarify stablecoin legislation. On today’s episode, NLW breaks down what...
15 min
1019
JPMorgan: ‘Bitcoin Shows Some Merit as a Store ...
This episode is sponsored by , and .  JPMorgan has launched two new monthly research reports on the crypto industry, including one on markets and one focused on bitcoin mining. In today’s episode, NLW breaks down the inaugural editions of...
17 min
1020
The UK’s New Push to Be a Global Crypto Hub
This episode is sponsored by , and .    On today’s episode, NLW explores the seeming about-face by the British government on crypto. He first explores the recent tension around a March 31 registration deadline imposed by the country’s...
17 min
1021
Is Elon's 9.2% Stake in Twitter a Web 3 Play?
This episode is sponsored by , and .    Elon Musk has been talking about Twitter a lot lately. He did a poll asking whether it should make its algorithm open source (80% said “yes”). Another poll asked if Twitter lived up to the...
18 min
1022
Where Europe Fits In a Tech-Powered World
This episode is sponsored by , and .    On this edition of “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads:   - Punk6529  - Boaz Sobrado  - From cash to crypto in no time with . Invest in hot coins and swap between exclusive pairs for...
16 min
1023
The New/Old Bitcoin FUD Cycle
This episode is sponsored by , and .    Today on the “Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at two old bitcoin FUDs that came roaring back with a vengeance. The “crypto is for criminals” narrative was built into the assumption that led the...
17 min
1024
The Geopolitics of Crypto, With Jill Gunter
This episode is sponsored by , and .    Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW is joined by Espresso Systems co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer Jill Gunter. She is also an investor with Slow Ventures and the former co-founder of the Open...
55 min
1025
The European Union vs. Self-Hosted Crypto Wallets
This episode is sponsored by , and .   The EU Parliament today voted to advance new anti-money laundering (AML) rules that would require European crypto asset service providers to collect and verify information about the beneficial owners of all...
17 min