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.

Business
Investing
1051
Microsoft Bets on Metaverse With $69B Acquisiti...
This episode is sponsored by , and .  Microsoft today announced it is acquiring game publisher Activision Blizzard in a nearly $69 billion all-cash deal. The acquisition is being widely seen as a big bet to keep Microsoft competitive in the...
16 min
1052
A Former US Senator and Ambassador to China on ...
This episode is sponsored by , and . This week’s “Long Reads Sunday” reading is Max Baucus’ “.”  Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  Spotify: Google:   Join the discussion:   Follow on...
12 min
1053
‘Every Company Will Be a Crypto Company’; A Ven...
This episode is sponsored by , and .   In today’s “Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at a slew of funding rounds announced this week, including: Near Protocol, $150 million ZeroHash, $105 million Checkout.com, $1 billion SEBA, $119 million DeFi...
13 min
1054
Rio de Janeiro is the Newest Bitcoin City
This episode is sponsored by , and . This was, NLW argues, a very good week for crypto. He covers: The mayor of Rio announcing big bitcoin/crypto support this week  Strike launching in Argentina Northwest Arkansas offering tech workers $10,000...
15 min
1055
Meet the Bitcoin Legal Defense Fund
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW covers: The new Bitcoin Legal Defense Fund from Jack Dorsey and others Crypto nuggets from 250 pages of former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s emails The latest out of the...
15 min
1056
What the Highest Inflation in 4 Decades Means f...
This episode is sponsored by , and . Markets have been nervous since last week’s FOMC meeting minutes revealed the Fed was considering early “balance sheet normalization” or quantitative tightening. At yesterday’s confirmation hearings, Fed...
16 min
1057
A Web 3 Company Just Bought a Stake in a TradFi...
This episode is sponsored by , and .   On today’s episode of “The Breakdown,” NLW covers the latest news from macro and the crypto space, including: Value investing legend Bill Miller holds 50% of his net worth in bitcoin  Paradigm...
15 min
1058
The Macro Battle That Will Shape Crypto Markets...
This episode is sponsored by , and . Last week, the December FOMC meeting minutes revealed that not only was the Fed expecting at least 3 rate hikes in 2022, they were actively considering “balance sheet normalization” (read: quantitative...
20 min
1059
Breaking Down the Fight Between Bitcoin and Web 3
This episode is sponsored by , and . This week’s Long Reads Sunday features a reading of David Z. Morris’ Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  Spotify: Google:   Join the discussion:   Follow on...
16 min
1060
Welcome to 2022 - The Year of Absolutely Everyt...
This episode is sponsored by , and . In the first 2022 edition of the Weekly Recap, NLW looks at: The Fed’s impact on crypto markets. The situation in Kazakhstan and how it impacts bitcoin mining. NFTs finding their way into U.S. politics. ...
14 min
1061
Internet Shut Down, Bitcoin Mining Offline as K...
On today’s episode of “The Breakdown,” NLW provides a basic primer on the escalating political crisis in Kazakhstan. He covers: The country’s basic economic overview and modern political history. The fuel price increase that started protests...
17 min
1062
Why Bitcoin and Crypto Are Crashing
This episode is sponsored by , and . Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at one of the most important relationships in economics: the relationship between Fed statements and market actions. With bitcoin cratering under $43,000 NLW explores: The...
18 min
1063
We’ve Come a Long Way Since ‘What the Hell’s an...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode of “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at the latest news out of NFTs, including: Samsung’s NFT TV announcement OpenSea’s fundraise at a $13.3 billion valuation Bored Apes flippen CryptoPunks...
14 min
1064
A Massive $879.6M Bitcoin Mining Machine Buy Ki...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW rounds up news from the last few weeks of 2021, including updates on the global bitcoin mining landscape as well as central bank digital currency (CBDC) and regulatory updates from the...
16 min
1065
13 Years On, The Significance of ‘Chancellor on...
This episode is sponsored by , and . Thirteen years ago today, Satoshi released the Bitcoin Genesis Block - block 0. Embedded in it was a quote, “The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks." In today’s episode, NLW...
18 min
1066
12 Big-Picture Power Shifts to Watch in 2022
This episode is sponsored by , and . On “The Breakdown’s” first episode of the new year, NLW looks at the most important power shifts that he’s watching this year, including: Fed vs. stock market  U.S. midterm elections Stablecoins vs....
19 min
1067
Jason Yanowitz and Michael Ippolito on the Most...
This episode is sponsored by . On the final episode of “The Breakdown’s” “End of Year Extravaganza,” NLW is joined by Jason Yanowitz and Michael Ippolito, the founders of Blockworks, a growing media company focused on the stories shaping the...
26 min
1068
Tom Shaughnessy on the Big Metaverse Bet
This episode is sponsored by . On this episode of “The Breakdown’s” “End of Year Extravaganza,” NLW is joined by Tom Shaughnessy. Tom is a co-founder at Delphi Digital, where he invests in early-stage innovation in the crypto space. ...
24 min
1069
Katherine Wu on What Gets Built Next in Crypto
This episode is sponsored by . On this episode of “The Breakdown’s” “End of Year Extravaganza,” NLW is joined by Katherine Wu. Katherine invests in early-stage crypto companies with Coinbase Ventures.  Find our guest on Twitter: ...
22 min
1070
Travis Kling on Why Elon’s BTC Buy Was the Bigg...
This episode is sponsored by .  On this episode of “The Breakdown’s” “End of Year Extravaganza”, NLW is joined by Travis Kling. Travis is the co-founder and chief investment officer of Ikigai Asset Management, and discusses the shift in...
23 min
1071
The Programmable Future of Bitcoin, Feat. Munee...
This episode is sponsored by . On this episode of “The Breakdown’s” “End of Year Extravaganza,” NLW is joined by Muneeb Ali. Muneeb is the co-founder of Stacks and CEO of Hiro. In this conversation, he discusses the programmable...
21 min
1072
The Emergence of DAOs With Santiago Santos
This episode is sponsored by . On this episode of “The Breakdown’s” “End of Year Extravaganza,” NLW is joined by Santaigo Santos. Santiago is a crypto investor, thinker and podcast. He built one of the first funds in DeFi, was early into...
24 min
1073
Deeze on Why 2021 Was the Year of NFTs
This episode is sponsored by .  On this episode of “The Breakdown’s” “End of Year Extravaganza,” NLW is joined by Deeze. Deeze is known throughout NFT circles as a true community member. As host of one of the most popular regular...
28 min
1074
Nexo’s Antoni Trenchev on the Stories That Shap...
This episode is sponsored by . Today on “The Breakdown’s” “End of Year Extravaganza,” NLW is joined by the co-founder and managing partner of Nexo.  Find our guest on Twitter: Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast...
21 min
1075
The Year of Institutional Bitcoin, Feat. Galaxy...
This episode is sponsored by . On this edition of “The Breakdown’s” “End of Year Extravaganza,” Galaxy Digital’s head of firmwide research discusses the key trends that shaped 2021.  Find our guest on Twitter: , the...
22 min