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.
Subscribe to The Breakdown newsletter: https://the-breakdown.carrd.co/
2026
Crypto Daily 3@3 - 8.5 | Protests & privacy / G...
A key theme from last week's Senate Banking Committee hearing was the sense that, like it or not, cryptocurrency was an inevitable force. On this top 5 summary of Long Reads Sunday, we look at that plus how the global macro narrative is converging...
19 min
2027
Crypto Daily 3@3 - 8.2 | Q2 Crypto Data Extrava...
The Q2 crypto data reports are in, so on this special edition we’re breaking down the most interesting trends. We cover: asset performance; network activity in Bitcoin and Ethereum; the “non-correlated” narrative in Bitcoin and BTC’s relative...
20 min
2028
Crypto Daily 3@3 - 8.1 | UASF at 2 & power in c...
It was the two year anniversary of UASF (and the BCH chain split from BTC), which marked a significant moment in the history of Bitcoin. In short, the culmination of the block size war demonstrated the relative power of the distributed network of...
15 min
2029
Crypto Daily 3@3 - 7.31 | What Fed rate cuts me...
The Fed cut interest rates today for the first time in Bitcoin's life. This move is interesting directly because lower rates lead to more money in the markets. It's interesting symbolically as it represents a major narrative evolution where financial...
13 min
2030
Crypto Daily 3@3 - 7.30 | Recap of Senate Banki...
In their second hearing in 2 weeks, the Senate Banking Committee invited 3 panelists to discuss the current state of and recommendations for crypto and digital asset regulation. In this recap, I look at three key points: 1) the shadow of Libra and Big...
13 min
2031
Crypto Daily 3@3 - 7.29 | Lightning Network vs....
Weekly countdown of the 5 most important essays and threads from the week before on Long Reads Sunday. This week featuring Lightning Network vs the encroaching surveillance state; a US Congressman's response to Circle leaving the US; a hot take on the...
19 min
2032
Crypto Daily 3@3 - 7.24 | Encryption Backdoors ...
The US Attorney General has reignited a debate about encryption backdoors for law enforcement. Libra has a long way to go, with a recent poll finding it significantly less trustworthy to Americans than Bitcoin. And finally, a regulatory roundup...
13 min
2033
Crypto Daily 3@3 - 7.23 | Trontroversy! // Ethe...
Justin Sun canceled his lunch with Warren Buffett this week, claiming kidney stones. Reports today, however, suggested that he was compelled not to leave China by border authorities due to investigations. But then he showed up in SF? So basically,...
15 min
2034
Crypto Daily 3@3 - 7.22 | The "Libra Goes To Wa...
From 5 to 1, counting down the most important threads, essays and content from last week. Featuring the key setup questions for the Libra hearings; a case study of Cuba on whether a project like Libra could make a difference to the "unbanked"; the...
28 min
2035
Crypto Daily 3@3 - 7.19 | BitMEX vs. CFTC / Bit...
The CFTC's investigation of BitMEX is the latest in string of screws tightening on global exchanges touching US customers. In an interesting twist, a lawsuit leads to a Chinese court determining that Bitcoin is a protected legal property. Ycash has...
12 min
2036
Crypto Daily 3@3 - 7.18 | Libra Aftermath - G7,...
Libra was a hotbutton issue at the G7 meetings - maybe the one thing they agreed on. Meanwhile, the project made news in China as Facebook's David Marcus revealed explicitly that it saw Alipay and Wechat as competitors. Meanwhile, the crypto community...
12 min
2037
Crypto Daily 3@3 - 7.17 | Libra Hearings Day 2 ...
On Day 2 of Libra hearings, Facebook's David Marcus testified in front of the House Financial Services Committee. And boy oh boy, it could not have been more different than yesterday. Today was massively more substantive, thoughtful, and holy crap was...
21 min
2038
Crypto Daily 3@3 - 7.16 | Libra Hearing Day 1 R...
Libra's David Marcus testified before a relatively hostile Senate Banking Committee today. In today's we go over: 1) Facebook's trust problem; 2) the most important topics and themes of the questioning; 3) what it all means for Bitcoin. ...
17 min
2039
Crypto Daily 3@3 - 7.15 | Long Reads Sunday #55...
Every Sunday, I put together a list of the top tweets, threads and essays shaping the crypto conversation. On Monday, I countdown my five favorites with BlockTV. Monday's Crypto Daily is the audio recording version. For those who want to...
21 min
2040
Crypto Daily 3@3 - 7.12 | Special Edition: Trum...
A very Trump-y special edition! On this episode, we look at 1) what happened with Trump’s Bitcoin/Libra tweet; 2) the crypto community’s response; 3) the surprisingly with it mainstream media response; and 4) what it means going forward and why we...
25 min
2041
Crypto Daily 3@3 - 7.11 | Comply or Die Token S...
On this episode, we discuss: 1) Reg A+ compliant token sales from Blockstack and YouNow and why it's becoming comply or die; 2) Turkey planning a central bank digital currency and how the crypto market is trifurcating; 3) IDEO's new crypto startup...
13 min
2042
Crypto Daily 3@3 - 7.10 | Alt Season Dreams & N...
We discuss: 1) the chatter around a potential alt season and what makes things different this time around; 2) new financing that shows where crypto investors heads are at (hint: infrastructure not apps); 3) the latest salvos between Libra and...
13 min
2043
Crypto Daily 3@3 - 7.9.19 | Deutsche Bank layof...
Deutsche Bank announces 18k layoffs & a photo instafamous memes a tailor with a Bitcoin bag as a fired banker Strong counter argument against the idea that Libra is somehow good for Bitcoin A new platform for fractionalized art and culture...
11 min