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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1276
The 10 (Other) Most Crypto Influential
This episode is sponsored by . CoinDesk has just completed its list of . On today’s episode, NLW shares that list, and then adds brief commentary on 10 more people or groups that he might have included, including Dylan LeClair and Will Clemente,...
13 min
1277
The Highest Inflation Since 1982
This episode is sponsored by . November inflation came in at 6.8%, the highest in 39 years. In this episode, NLW looks at: The state of the inflation discussion following October Why the Biden administration tried to reframe expectations...
12 min
1278
Yesterday's Hearing Was Crypto's Most Positive ...
This episode is sponsored by . Yesterday the House Financial Services Committee held a hearing on the future of digital assets. Shockingly to almost everyone, the tone was respectful, collegial and considered, and lawmakers seemed genuinely interested...
21 min
1279
Meet Visa's New Crypto Advisory Unit
This episode is sponsored by . Today’s episode covers a set of topics, including: Visa’s new crypto advisory unit An AWS official is leaving for Unstoppable Domains AWS downtime brings up questions of decentralized infrastructure Saule Omarova...
13 min
1280
Is the Decentralization in DeFi an ‘Illusion’?
This episode is sponsored by . Today’s episode of “The Breakdown” is a grab bag of news stories from the past several days. NLW covers: The Bank for International Settlements report “DeFi Risk and the Decentralization Illusion” ...
13 min
1281
Why Bitcoin Crashed
This episode is sponsored by . Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at the dramatic move downward in the crypto markets that started late Friday night U.S. time. He looks at both market structure factors such as low liquidity and thin weekend order...
12 min
1282
The Innovation at the Heart of the Global Crypt...
This episode is sponsored by . This week’s Long Reads Sunday is a reading of Dan Jeffries’ “.” - , the institutional-grade platform for bitcoin, is making it possible for thousands of banks who have trusted relationships with...
16 min
1283
Goldman Looking Into Bitcoin-Backed Lending as ...
This episode is sponsored by . On this edition of “The Breakdown Weekly Recap,” NLW covers: The latest jobs report and what it means for Fed policy Comments from SEC Chair Gensler and a House crypto hearing next week The latest...
10 min
1284
20 Predictions About the Future of Money
This episode is sponsored by . As part of CoinDesk’s Future of Money week, they asked some of crypto’s biggest brains for their predictions on the future of money. In today’s episode, NLW goes one by one through those predictions, saying whether...
17 min
1285
How November Bear Market-Proofed the Crypto Ind...
This episode is sponsored by . On today’s episode, NLW breaks down investor Travis Kling’s of the biggest events in crypto from the month of November. He says two trends are huge capital raises and a focus on NFTs and the metaverse. Both, he...
14 min
1286
The Long Strange Journey of Facebook's Libra Pr...
This episode is sponsored by . On today’s episode, NLW does a retrospective of Facebook’s libra project, which was renamed late last year to diem. He argues that, whatever happens with diem specifically, it has a place in the historical record as...
14 min
1287
Powell and Yellen Talk Stablecoins, Inflation a...
This episode is sponsored by . On today’s episode of ”The Breakdown,” NLW follows up on Twitter’s leadership change, covering a new privacy policy that some are saying has big implications for the platform. He also looks at Sen. Sherrod...
12 min
1288
What Jack Dorsey Leaving Twitter Means for Bitcoin
This episode is sponsored by . On today’s episode, NLW looks at two topics. The first is the market crash that left bitcoin down 8.5% on Friday, only to partially recover over the weekend. NLW looks at the combination of macro factors – led by the...
14 min
1289
America and the Metaverse
This episode is sponsored by . On this week’s “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW draws from two threads by on Twitter: , the institutional-grade platform for bitcoin, is making it possible for thousands of banks who have trusted relationships...
13 min
1290
Alyse Killeen on Why Bitcoin Was Ready for Nati...
This episode is sponsored by . On the final part of his three-part miniseries “Gratitude for Bitcoin,” NLW is joined by Stillmark’s Alyse Killeen, a venture capitalist focused entirely on the bitcoin ecosystem. Alyse explains how remarkable it...
27 min
1291
Dan Held on the Mainstreaming of Bitcoin
This episode is sponsored by . On part 2 of NLW’s three-part “Gratitude for Bitcoin” miniseries, he’s joined by serial bitcoin entrepreneur and Kraken’s director of growth marketing, Dan Held. Dan discusses the changes happening as bitcoin...
24 min
1292
Dylan LeClair on Bitcoin Data Where Macro Meets...
This episode is sponsored by . Today, NLW kicks off his “Gratitude for Bitcoin” three-part miniseries with Bitcoin Magazine and UTXO Management bitcoin analyst Dylan LeClair. Find Dylan on Twitter: , the institutional-grade platform for...
30 min
1293
What Jerome Powell’s Second Term Means for Bitcoin
This episode is sponsored by . This week, after months of speculation, President Joe Biden has named Jerome Powell to a second term as Federal Reserve chairman. His most likely alternate, Lael Brainard, was promoted to vice chairwoman. On today’s...
15 min
1294
Are El Salvador’s Bitcoin ‘Volcano Bonds’ an En...
This episode is sponsored by . Today on “The Breakdown,” a check in on El Salvador, where President Nayib Bukele has just announced “Bitcoin City,” a new community that will feature no income or capital gains tax and be designed to attract...
16 min
1295
Are Stablecoins the Path to Continued Dollar Do...
This episode is sponsored by . In today’s Long Reads Sunday, NLW goes back to read excerpts from two Nic Carter pieces that seem particularly prescient today, as the U.S. weighs the opportunities and risks of stablecoins. , the...
12 min
1296
What Billions of Dollars in Crypto Fundraising ...
This episode is sponsored by . Description From $400 million to a crypto exchange to $2.5 billion for the biggest crypto fund in history, NLW tells the story of this week’s big fundraising events by the numbers. , the institutional-grade...
12 min
1297
Did ConstitutionDAO Shift the Overton Window on...
This episode is sponsored by . Last night the crypto community waited with bated breath to see who had won the first printing of the U.S. Constitution. Despite raising over $40 million from 17,000 people, the ConstitutionDAO was ultimately outbid. In...
17 min
1298
What We Learned From Congress' ‘Demystifying Cr...
This episode is sponsored by . Yesterday’s show was a global regulatory roundup, but today’s is all about the U.S. The Joint Economic Committee held an event this week all about “Demystifying Crypto.” In this episode, NLW looks at: The...
13 min
1299
Will New Anti-Terrorism Rules Help Israeli Cryp...
This episode is sponsored by . On today’s episode, NLW does a whistle-stop tour of global crypto regulatory news, including: India – set to ban crypto as payment but regulated as asset? Israel – might new AML rules make it easier for...
15 min
1300
What Drove Bitcoin's Dip Under $60K
This episode is sponsored by . Bitcoin has been on a journey over the last 24 hours, from nearly $65,000 all the way down to $58,000 and everywhere in between. On today’s episode, NLW explores what’s driving it, including: Leveraged traders...
15 min