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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1126
Nic Carter on How to Make the Best of a Bear Ma...
This episode is sponsored by , and . NLW is joined on “The Breakdown” by Nic Carter, the founding partner at Castle Island Ventures. In this conversation, they discuss the market cycle, what’s valuable about being in a bear market...
26 min
1127
Crypto’s Appetite for Legal Battles Is Growing
This episode is sponsored by , and . There is a growing appetite among crypto companies to avail themselves of the legal system to fight for what they believe. This week, Custodia Bank (formerly Avanti), run by Caitlin Long, filed suit...
13 min
1128
Bitcoin Is Human Rights Technology
This episode is sponsored by , and . Crypto critics have been emboldened lately. The New York Times this week published an article seemingly meant to convince people that because early bitcoin mining was concentrated, bitcoin’s ideal...
13 min
1129
The Great Repricing Comes to Crypto
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW covers a set of recent news in the crypto industry, including: Reactions to the Responsible Financial Innovation Act SEC investigating Binance over BNB Reuters report on...
15 min
1130
The First Comprehensive US Crypto Legislation I...
This episode is sponsored by , and . After months of anticipation, new landmark crypto legislation has arrived. Senators Cythnia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) released their Responsible Financial Innovation Act today. The...
18 min
1131
So, Are We Headed Into Recession or Not?
This episode is sponsored by , and . Last week, corporate executives from Tesla’s Elon Musk to BlackRock’s Larry Fink discussed what they see as a coming recession. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon called the coming economic...
16 min
1132
How Crypto Wealth Will Change the Impact Sector
This episode is sponsored by , and . On this edition of “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads “” by Rhys Lindmark. - is an all-in-one platform where you can buy crypto with a bank card and earn up to 16% interest on your assets....
18 min
1133
New York's Latest Anti-Crypto Action
This episode is sponsored by , and . On this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at New York State’s latest crypto-unfriendly actions, including a last-minute, frankly sneaky passing of a proof-of-work mining moratorium. ...
15 min
1134
It's OpenSeason for Regulatory Enforcement
This episode is sponsored by , and . In September, then-OpenSea product manager Nate Chastain was discovered to be front running the market by using secret addresses to buy non-fungible tokens (NFT) from collections that the site was...
17 min
1135
Should Bitcoiners Be Worried About Biden's Ener...
This episode is sponsored by , and . Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at a story – or at least a headline – that is getting big traction on Twitter. The headline is about the Biden administration pushing Bitcoin to be more...
19 min
1136
RIP Transitory Inflation, Long Live Quantitativ...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW marks the next phase in the shift in monetary policy. Starting this month, the Federal Reserve is going to allow U.S. Treasurys and mortgage-backed securities held on its...
18 min
1137
Biden Meets with Powell as Inflation Battle Hea...
This episode is sponsored by , and . “Sell in May and go away,” says the old market aphorism. Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW previews a set of discussions he believes will shape markets this summer: The inflation battle – the...
17 min
1138
Bitcoin Isn't Apolitical, but It Is Nonpartisan
This episode is sponsored by , and . On this week’s “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads and comments on “” by Daniel Kuhn. - is a secure crypto exchange and crypto lending platform. Buy 40+ hot coins with your bank...
15 min
1139
Sequoia's Guide to Surviving the 2022 Bear Market
This episode is sponsored by , and . On this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at why venture capitalists are not only recommending their companies batten down the hatches, but wondering if the fundamental assumptions of their...
15 min
1140
The Supercycle Is Dead: Welcome to Goblintown
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW analyzes community sentiment as bitcoin and ether have their most protracted, continuous downturns of all time and while consumer sentiment in traditional markets hits...
16 min
1141
As the Market Slinks Down, It's Time to Touch G...
This episode is sponsored by , and . Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW explores the macro set-up, including Fed unanimity on two 50 basis point rate hikes in June and July followed by optionality at the September FOMC meeting. He also...
17 min
1142
OCC: ‘No Contagion’ Post-Terra Collapse
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW covers: Acting Comptroller Michael Hsu’s comments on systemic risk in crypto following Terra South Korean authorities’ push for answers USDC on Ethereum flippens USDT on...
15 min
1143
Oslo Freedom Forum and Why Bitcoin Matters
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW looks at a number of topics from across the crypto space and wider economy, including: New Fed data about the percentage of Americans using crypto. Wall Street’s...
16 min
1144
What Davos Man Thinks of Bitcoin and Crypto Thi...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode of “The Breakdown,” NLW previews two things happening this week: First, hope from the markets that slightly dovish comments from the Fed might prompt a relief rally. ...
17 min
1145
Could Local Digital Currencies Improve Communit...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On this week's “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads “.” - is a secure crypto exchange and crypto lending platform. Buy 40+ hot coins with your bank card in seconds and swap between exclusive pairs...
17 min
1146
5 Key Takeaways From a16z's State of Crypto Report
Venture giant Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) recently published its inaugural "State of Crypto" report. In this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at five key takeaways from the research as well as UST-luna investor postmortems. - is a...
16 min
1147
Travis Kling on Why a Decentralized Web 3 Is Wo...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today's episode, NLW is joined by Travis Kling, co-founder and chief investment officer at Ikigai Asset Management. They discuss Ikigai's just-announced $30 million Web 3 fund, and what got Travis...
58 min
1148
Tether’s Reserve Attestations: Commercial Paper...
This episode is sponsored by , and . Tether has released its Q1 reserve attestations. On today’s episode, NLW covers what many in the industry are seeing as positive shifts. He also looks at some recent regulatory news, including the...
14 min
1149
Capital Flight or the Seeds of the Next Cycle?
This episode is sponsored by , and . Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW covers a number of signals suggesting institutional buyers are leaving the crypto space. At the same time, he looks at new corporate engagement and Web 3...
16 min
1150
New Data Shows Underground Bitcoin Mining Thriv...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode of “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at new bitcoin mining data from the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance. Surprisingly (or unsurprisingly, depending on whom you ask),...
17 min