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
1001
Did We Just Enter the Beginnings of the Post-Do...
  This episode is sponsored by , , and .    This week on “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads and discusses “” by David Z. Morris.    - Take your crypto to the next level with . Invest and swap instantly, earn up to 20% APR...
15 min
1002
Did Bitcoin Just Become Legal Tender in Switzer...
This episode is sponsored by , , and .  On this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW checks in on the state of key bitcoin, crypto and economic narratives, from bitcoin’s institutional bid to bitcoin as legal tender to inflation as...
16 min
1003
Enforcing Sanctions in Crypto Isn't the Problem
This episode is sponsored by , , and .  Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at scrutiny around sanctions and the crypto industry. He talks about three situations that show the state of the discourse: Recent statements by the Treasury...
17 min
1004
Ukraine and the War Airdrop That Never Came
  This episode is sponsored by , , and .  Over the last week, the government of Ukraine has held one of the most successful fundraising efforts of all time. It has raised over $50 million in crypto from over 100,000 donation transactions....
20 min
1005
Citadel Is Coming to Crypto
This episode is sponsored by , , and .    While much of the recent focus of “The Breakdown” has been on the relationship between crypto and geopolitics, today’s episode revisits the institutional narrative that drove industry adoption...
17 min
1006
Is Bitcoin Freedom Money or a Tool for Sanction...
This episode is sponsored by , , and .    On today’s episode, NLW looks at the contrasting public images of crypto regarding the Ukraine-Russia war. On the one hand, the Ukrainian resistance has raised more than $30 million from more than...
18 min
1007
Russian Banks Cut Off From SWIFT, Central Bank ...
This episode is sponsored by , and . Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at what we learned over the weekend about the U.S. and European Union’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The West significantly increased its economic pressure...
20 min
1008
What the West Got Wrong on Ukraine
This episode is sponsored by , , and .   On this week’s “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads three threads about Russia-Ukraine: - is a powerful, all-in-one crypto platform where you can securely store your crypto. Invest, borrow, exchange...
15 min
1009
Can Bitcoin Stay Bipartisan?
This episode is sponsored by , , and .   This week on the “Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at the rising partisan tension around bitcoin, highlighting Sen. Ted Cruz’s recent appearance at the Conservative Political Action Committee...
14 min
1010
What Grassroots Communities in Emerging Markets...
This episode is sponsored by , , and .   Today NLW is joined by Anita Posch. Anita is the founder of Bitcoin for Fairness and the author of “(L)earn Bitcoin.” She is about to depart on a trip to southern Africa where she will conduct bitcoin...
34 min
1011
15 Key Economic Questions After Russia Invades ...
This episode is sponsored by , , and . In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, NLW explores 15 key economic questions including: Why isn’t the world going even bigger on sanctions? How is Russia’s economy tied to the rest of the world? Why...
30 min
1012
Why One Stablecoin Is Being Backed by Bitcoin
  This episode is sponsored by , , and .   Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at: The latest from Russia, including skepticism about the effectiveness of the first round of sanctions  Updates on Canada’s use of the Emergencies...
17 min
1013
How Russia’s Escalation in Ukraine Is Impacting...
This episode is sponsored by , , and .   Monday, President Vladimir Putin announced Russia’s recognition of two breakaway territories in the Ukrainian region of Donbas. The recognition was widely seen as a major escalation of the tense standoff...
17 min
1014
How Bitcoin Helps Marginalized Communities Buil...
This episode is sponsored by , , and .   This week on “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads “” by Charlene Fadirepo.    - is a powerful, all-in-one crypto platform where you can securely store your crypto. Invest, borrow, exchange and...
13 min
1015
States Are Proposing Mining Incentives as Big O...
This episode is sponsored by , , and .   On this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at:  a new valuation for Circle a new token fund from Sequoia The FBI’s new crypto enforcement division ConocoPhillips partners with bitcoin...
14 min
1016
Why a US Senator Just Said the Fed Should Buy B...
This episode is sponsored by , , and . On today’s episode, NLW looks at the increasingly political discourse around inflation in the United States. The Right is claiming government overspending is to blame while the Left is pushing a new narrative...
14 min
1017
Does El Salvador's Bitcoin Adoption Threaten th...
Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at three geopolitical situations shaping the bitcoin discourse: Continued tensions and recent cyberwarfare between Ukraine and Russia Crypto wallets targeted in ongoing Canada protests  A U.S. bill to...
15 min
1018
JPMorgan Moves Into the Metaverse
This episode is sponsored by , , and .   On today’s episode, NLW looks at the news that JPMorgan has opened a lounge in Decentraland. Specifically, he explores whether the growing corporate interest in the metaverse is a positive reflection on...
15 min
1019
Bitcoin Fixes This: Canada Protest Edition
  This episode is sponsored by , , and .   Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW digs into the recent news from Canada. Specifically, he looks at the activation of the Emergencies Act which, among other things, will allow banks and financial...
17 min
1020
US Treasury Department Won’t Go After Miners, a...
This episode is sponsored by , , and .   Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW covers a set of news from the past few days, including: U.S. Treasury Dept. sends a letter to six concerned senators, saying it won’t be including miners and validators...
16 min
1021
NFTs, Markets and What Happens Next
This episode is sponsored by , , and . On this edition of “Long Reads Sunday," NLW reads three threads: on why NFTs are a better business model for games  on what NFT skeptics should know  on the 2022 crypto outlook  - is a...
16 min
1022
Why This Week's House and Senate Hearings Sugge...
This episode is sponsored by , , and .   This week saw a hearing on stablecoins in the House and on crypto in general and the role of the CFTC in specific in the Senate. On this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW argues that both were...
15 min
1023
The Game Theory Behind Russia's New Crypto Policy
  This episode is sponsored by , , and . On today’s episode, NLW explores possible reasons why Russia’s recent 180 on cryptocurrencies might make sense. As the country prepares to legalize and regulate cryptos as a type of currency, he looks...
18 min
1024
What's More Important: BlackRock Trading Crypto...
This episode is sponsored by , , and . Today Twitter was alight with discussion of the biggest inflation print since 1982. With 7.5% inflation, a hike of 50 basis points is looking more and more likely in March. This should be bad news for risk...
15 min
1025
As the US Seizes $3.6B in BTC, a Frontline Stor...
This episode is sponsored by , , and .   Yesterday the U.S. government arrested two individuals in connection with money laundering and the 2016 Bitfinex hack that saw nearly 120,000 BTC stolen. They also announced the confiscation of around...
33 min