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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1101
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
1102
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
1103
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
1104
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
1105
'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
1106
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
1107
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
1108
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
1109
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
1110
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
1111
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
1112
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
1113
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
1114
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
1115
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
1116
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
1117
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
1118
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
1119
The Market Indicator Flashing ‘Recession’
This episode is sponsored by , and . Since 1955, every U.S. recession has been preceded by the inversion of the U.S. Treasury yield curve, meaning that short-dated notes had higher yields than long-dated bonds. Only one time during that period was...
16 min
1120
Why Is Bitcoin Going Up?
Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  Spotify: Google:   Join the discussion:   Follow on Twitter: NLW: Breakdown: 
17 min
1121
Bitcoin’s Allies in the US Senate Are Increasing
This episode is sponsored by , and .   On today’s episode of “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at the news that long-time Bitcoin advocate Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) is now working with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) on what aspires to be...
19 min
1122
Post-Modern Monetary Theory
  On this edition of “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads two macro-themed Twitter threads.   Sam Bankman-Fried: Lyn Alden:   - Take your crypto to the next level with . Invest and swap instantly, earn up to 20% APR on your idle assets...
17 min
1123
BlackRock’s Larry Fink Says Ukraine Conflict Co...
This episode is sponsored by , and .    On this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at recent comments from the leader of the world’s largest asset manager on Ukraine and digital currencies, as well as other important updates...
14 min
1124
Inside China and Russia's Battle Against the US...
This episode is sponsored by , and .    NLW explores how the global monetary order is shifting. Specifically, he looks at Putin’s demand that Russian energy now be paid for in rubles, as well as the growing discussion between Saudi Arabia...
17 min
1125
The Fed’s Powell Is Getting More Hawkish as Mar...
his episode is sponsored by , and .  On today’s episode, NLW takes a tour of recent macro sentiment, focusing on the shifting tone coming out of the U.S. Federal Reserve. In speeches and interviews this week, Fed Chair Jerome Powell made it...
16 min