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
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
1277
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
1278
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
1279
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
1280
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
1281
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
1282
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
1283
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
1284
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
1285
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
1286
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
1287
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
1288
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
1289
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
1290
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
1291
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
1292
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
1293
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
1294
This DAO Is Trying to Buy the Constitution for ...
This episode is sponsored by . On Thursday, Nov. 18th, Sotheby’s is auctioning off one of just 13 (or 11, depending on your source) copies of the original edition of the U.S. Constitution, printed in September 1787 for distribution to members of the...
18 min
1295
Crypto Is for the Dissidents and Disenfranchised
This episode is sponsored by . On this edition of “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads two pieces: “” by William Foxley “” by Anna Baydakova , the institutional-grade platform for bitcoin, is making it possible for thousands of banks who...
14 min
1296
Is Jack Dorsey About to Announce a Bitcoin DeFi...
This episode is sponsored by . On this edition of “The Breakdown Weekly Recap,” NLW follows up on the story about the politics of bitcoin with an SEC commissioner’s recent essay on decentralized finance (DeFi). He also looks at the forthcoming...
14 min
1297
The Politics of Bitcoin
This episode is sponsored by . On today’s episode of “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at how bitcoin’s place in the political dialogue in the United States has changed dramatically over the years. He argues 2021 will be remembered as the year...
14 min
1298
Why Yesterday Was One of the Most Illuminating ...
This episode is sponsored by . Yesterday was quite the day. A 6.2% inflation print led to a new bitcoin all-time high. Within hours, however, BTC’s price crashed 10% on an overall risk-off move in markets. That was precipitated by rumors that...
14 min
1299
Inflation Nation: US Sees Highest Price Increas...
This episode is sponsored by . New statistics show a 6.2% rise in the consumer price index (CPI) year over year for October. On today’s episode, NLW breaks down the news, discussing: How the 2020 inflation debate set up the current bitcoin bull...
15 min
1300
Apple CEO Tim Cook Reveals Crypto Holdings as B...
This episode is sponsored by . Last night both BTC and ETH hit new all-time highs. In today’s episode, NLW explores: What on-chain analysis suggests about how this ATH differs from previous ones Why some are pointing to institutional accumulation...
13 min