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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1326
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
1327
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
1328
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
1329
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
1330
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
1331
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
1332
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
1333
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
1334
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
1335
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
1336
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
1337
What Elon Musk's $21B Tesla Sale Gambit Says Ab...
This episode is sponsored by . Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at why the fracas around Elon Musk’s Twitter poll about his selling 10% of his Tesla stock is about much more than Tesla. It has implications for domestic politics, market...
15 min
1338
The End of the Super Bubble vs. WAGMI
This episode is sponsored by . On this week’s ”Long Reads Sunday,” NLW looks at two very different takes on the economy in threads by and . , the institutional-grade platform for bitcoin, is making it possible for thousands of banks who...
13 min
1339
What to Do About the Looming Disaster for Crypt...
This episode is sponsored by . On this edition of “The Breakdown Weekly Recap,” NLW covers: SEC Chair Gensler’s recent comments on crypto enforcement The OCC concludes its crypto sprint Why the crypto community is so concerned about...
12 min
1340
Central Banks Sending Worrisome Signals About t...
This episode is sponsored by . On today’s episode, NLW gets macro with a discussion of a flattening of the yield curve and what increasingly seems like a failed yield curve control experiment in Australia. He looks at: What the “yield curve” is...
10 min
1341
Why Some US Congressmen Are Asking Gensler Abou...
This episode is sponsored by . On today’s episode, NLW follows up on the burgeoning bitcoin-mayor competition between New York City’s Eric Adams and Miami’s Francis Suarez. The show’s main topic is an open letter sent by Congressional...
12 min
1342
New York City Gets Itself a Bitcoin Mayor
This episode is sponsored by . Despite (or perhaps because of) being one of the world’s great traditional financial hubs, New York has a contentious relationship with crypto. Between the BitLicense and a very active state attorney general, New York...
14 min
1343
What You Need to Know About Biden's Stablecoin ...
This episode is sponsored by . The President’s Working Group on Financial Markets has finally released its much-anticipated report on Stablecoins. In this episode, NLW breaks down: The PWG’s three major concerns surrounding stablecoins The...
19 min
1344
Top 5 Things That Happened in Crypto in October
This episode is sponsored by . NLW counts down the top 5 things to happen in crypto over the last month, including a DAO buying a Wu Tang clan album, top 5 US banks creating new crypto offerings, battles around SEC subpoenas and much more. Listen to...
16 min
1345
Where Bitcoin Fits in a Post-Scarcity World
This episode is sponsored by . This week’s “Long Reads Sunday” is a reading of EY Global Blockchain Lead Paul Brody’s latest essay for CoinDesk: “.” , the institutional-grade platform for bitcoin, is making it possible for thousands of...
10 min
1346
Inflation or Deflation? Jack Dorsey, Cathie Woo...
This episode is sponsored by . Last weekend, Jack Dorsey set the internet alight when he proclaimed, “Hyperinflation is going to change everything. It’s happening.” That kicked off a mighty debate involving Cathie Wood, Elon Musk, Jeff Booth and...
10 min
1347
Everything You Need to Know About Facebook’s ‘M...
This episode is sponsored by . Facebook announced yesterday it is changing its corporate name to Meta. The name change reflects the company’s growing focus on virtual reality, augmented reality and a new version of the internet that people are...
18 min
1348
14 Takes on Shiba Inu Coin
This episode is sponsored by . NLW today provides 14 different takes on shiba inu coin (SHIB) that reflect the range of perspectives across the crypto community, including: “You could have been a billionaire if…” This plays into regulator’s...
20 min
1349
CFTC Acting Chair: ‘Nearly 60%’ of Cryptos Are ...
This episode is sponsored by . On today’s episode, NLW does an extended brief, covering: The CFTC Chair arguing for more power to regulate crypto Comments from the FDIC chair saying that banks need to be allowed to participate in crypto...
12 min
1350
Has the SEC Won the Battle to Regulate Stableco...
This episode is sponsored by . 2021 has been the year of crypto regulation. In China, that has manifested as a complete banning of bitcoin mining and crypto trading. In the U.S., the verdict is still out, but it has been clear there has been a fair...
17 min