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/
1276
Is Russia Trying to Ban Bitcoin?
This episode is sponsored by , and . NLW covers stories that show the full breadth of the crypto industry in 2022. In the first, he looks at a new report from the Russian central bank advocating a near-total ban on bitcoin and crypto in...
14 min
1277
A $4.2T Asset Manager Just Said Governments Wil...
On today’s episode, NLW looks at the latest from governments and crypto, including: India’s prime minister calling for global cooperation to “fight” crypto Pakistan’s security agency blocking crypto sites The U.K., Singapore and Spain...
17 min
1278
Microsoft Bets on Metaverse With $69B Acquisiti...
This episode is sponsored by , and . Microsoft today announced it is acquiring game publisher Activision Blizzard in a nearly $69 billion all-cash deal. The acquisition is being widely seen as a big bet to keep Microsoft competitive in the...
16 min
1279
A Former US Senator and Ambassador to China on ...
This episode is sponsored by , and . This week’s “Long Reads Sunday” reading is Max Baucus’ “.” Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple: Spotify: Google: Join the discussion: Follow on...
12 min
1280
‘Every Company Will Be a Crypto Company’; A Ven...
This episode is sponsored by , and . In today’s “Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at a slew of funding rounds announced this week, including: Near Protocol, $150 million ZeroHash, $105 million Checkout.com, $1 billion SEBA, $119 million DeFi...
13 min
1281
Rio de Janeiro is the Newest Bitcoin City
This episode is sponsored by , and . This was, NLW argues, a very good week for crypto. He covers: The mayor of Rio announcing big bitcoin/crypto support this week Strike launching in Argentina Northwest Arkansas offering tech workers $10,000...
15 min
1282
Meet the Bitcoin Legal Defense Fund
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW covers: The new Bitcoin Legal Defense Fund from Jack Dorsey and others Crypto nuggets from 250 pages of former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s emails The latest out of the...
15 min
1283
What the Highest Inflation in 4 Decades Means f...
This episode is sponsored by , and . Markets have been nervous since last week’s FOMC meeting minutes revealed the Fed was considering early “balance sheet normalization” or quantitative tightening. At yesterday’s confirmation hearings, Fed...
16 min
1284
A Web 3 Company Just Bought a Stake in a TradFi...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode of “The Breakdown,” NLW covers the latest news from macro and the crypto space, including: Value investing legend Bill Miller holds 50% of his net worth in bitcoin Paradigm...
15 min
1285
The Macro Battle That Will Shape Crypto Markets...
This episode is sponsored by , and . Last week, the December FOMC meeting minutes revealed that not only was the Fed expecting at least 3 rate hikes in 2022, they were actively considering “balance sheet normalization” (read: quantitative...
20 min
1286
Breaking Down the Fight Between Bitcoin and Web 3
This episode is sponsored by , and . This week’s Long Reads Sunday features a reading of David Z. Morris’ Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple: Spotify: Google: Join the discussion: Follow on...
16 min
1287
Welcome to 2022 - The Year of Absolutely Everyt...
This episode is sponsored by , and . In the first 2022 edition of the Weekly Recap, NLW looks at: The Fed’s impact on crypto markets. The situation in Kazakhstan and how it impacts bitcoin mining. NFTs finding their way into U.S. politics. ...
14 min
1288
Internet Shut Down, Bitcoin Mining Offline as K...
On today’s episode of “The Breakdown,” NLW provides a basic primer on the escalating political crisis in Kazakhstan. He covers: The country’s basic economic overview and modern political history. The fuel price increase that started protests...
17 min
1289
Why Bitcoin and Crypto Are Crashing
This episode is sponsored by , and . Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at one of the most important relationships in economics: the relationship between Fed statements and market actions. With bitcoin cratering under $43,000 NLW explores: The...
18 min
1290
We’ve Come a Long Way Since ‘What the Hell’s an...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode of “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at the latest news out of NFTs, including: Samsung’s NFT TV announcement OpenSea’s fundraise at a $13.3 billion valuation Bored Apes flippen CryptoPunks...
14 min
1291
A Massive $879.6M Bitcoin Mining Machine Buy Ki...
This episode is sponsored by , and . On today’s episode, NLW rounds up news from the last few weeks of 2021, including updates on the global bitcoin mining landscape as well as central bank digital currency (CBDC) and regulatory updates from the...
16 min
1292
13 Years On, The Significance of ‘Chancellor on...
This episode is sponsored by , and . Thirteen years ago today, Satoshi released the Bitcoin Genesis Block - block 0. Embedded in it was a quote, “The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks." In today’s episode, NLW...
18 min
1293
12 Big-Picture Power Shifts to Watch in 2022
This episode is sponsored by , and . On “The Breakdown’s” first episode of the new year, NLW looks at the most important power shifts that he’s watching this year, including: Fed vs. stock market U.S. midterm elections Stablecoins vs....
19 min
1294
Jason Yanowitz and Michael Ippolito on the Most...
This episode is sponsored by . On the final episode of “The Breakdown’s” “End of Year Extravaganza,” NLW is joined by Jason Yanowitz and Michael Ippolito, the founders of Blockworks, a growing media company focused on the stories shaping the...
26 min
1295
Tom Shaughnessy on the Big Metaverse Bet
This episode is sponsored by . On this episode of “The Breakdown’s” “End of Year Extravaganza,” NLW is joined by Tom Shaughnessy. Tom is a co-founder at Delphi Digital, where he invests in early-stage innovation in the crypto space. ...
24 min
1296
Katherine Wu on What Gets Built Next in Crypto
This episode is sponsored by . On this episode of “The Breakdown’s” “End of Year Extravaganza,” NLW is joined by Katherine Wu. Katherine invests in early-stage crypto companies with Coinbase Ventures. Find our guest on Twitter: ...
22 min
1297
Travis Kling on Why Elon’s BTC Buy Was the Bigg...
This episode is sponsored by . On this episode of “The Breakdown’s” “End of Year Extravaganza”, NLW is joined by Travis Kling. Travis is the co-founder and chief investment officer of Ikigai Asset Management, and discusses the shift in...
23 min
1298
The Programmable Future of Bitcoin, Feat. Munee...
This episode is sponsored by . On this episode of “The Breakdown’s” “End of Year Extravaganza,” NLW is joined by Muneeb Ali. Muneeb is the co-founder of Stacks and CEO of Hiro. In this conversation, he discusses the programmable...
21 min
1299
The Emergence of DAOs With Santiago Santos
This episode is sponsored by . On this episode of “The Breakdown’s” “End of Year Extravaganza,” NLW is joined by Santaigo Santos. Santiago is a crypto investor, thinker and podcast. He built one of the first funds in DeFi, was early into...
24 min
1300
Deeze on Why 2021 Was the Year of NFTs
This episode is sponsored by . On this episode of “The Breakdown’s” “End of Year Extravaganza,” NLW is joined by Deeze. Deeze is known throughout NFT circles as a true community member. As host of one of the most popular regular...
28 min