Empire

Blockworks
Empire

Empire features interviews with top crypto founders to get the real stories that aren’t shared elsewhere. Empire is your look behind the curtain of the crypto industry. We release two episodes per week: guest interviews on Tuesday and a weekly roundup on Friday.

  1. Coinbase’s Listing Frenzy, Massive ETF Flows, and Bull Market Phases | Roundup

    1 DAY AGO

    Coinbase’s Listing Frenzy, Massive ETF Flows, and Bull Market Phases | Roundup

    In this episode, Santi and Jason discuss the launch of Inversion Capital, the recent multichain expansion of BlackRock’s BUIDL, and Coinbase’s flurry of memecoin listings. They also dove into the recent ETF flows, and Ethereum 3.0. Finally, they closed out the episode with their thoughts on a Bitcoin strategic reserve, Blur’s fee switch proposal, and the phases of a crypto bull market Resources Ben Horowitz Clip: https://x.com/solana/status/1856523333090820378 RWA Dashboard: https://app.rwa.xyz/treasuries Pickle Crypto on Coinbase Listings: https://x.com/Pickle_cRypto/status/1856777061668622718 Coinbase Wallet Implements Free US Bank Accounts: https://x.com/zcabrams/status/1856731679651758144 Eric Balchunas on ETFs: https://x.com/EricBalchunas/status/1856081711706030300 BIP-1 - Blur Fee Switch & veBLUR: https://gov.blur.foundation/t/blur-improvement-proposal-1-bip-1-blur-fee-switch-veblur-tokenomics/1040 - - Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts Follow Inversion Capital: https://x.com/inversion_cap Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7ww Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ Join the Empire Telegram group: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh - - Explore the SKALE Ecosystem at skale.space/ecosystem and stay up to date with the gas-free blockchain on X at @skalenetwork — Cronos zkEVM has launched its Pioneer Program,offering early users loyalty points for engaging with Cronos zkEVM & its dapps. Join the first quest by depositing CRO in the Cronos zkEVM bridge to receive zkCRO & loyalty points at mainnet launch, as well as a chance to win a part of a $30,000 zkCRO giveaway by depositing in the bridge. Visit https://zkevm.cronos.org/bridge for more info -- Toku simplifies every part of global token compensation — everything from paying full time employees in stablecoins, issuing token grants to your team and investors, all in 100 countries on one platform. Talk to Toku today at: https://www.toku.com/ - - Supra Containers are secured by Supra’s L1 nodes and get access to Supra’s 500k TPS throughput, sub-second consensus latency, and all their built-in services like oracle price feeds and onchain randomness without any overhead. Supra is also MultiVM compatible so you can easily deploy your EVM, Move, and SVM smart contracts here. Get all the freedom, control, and tools you need to build super dApps and bring the world onchain. To learn more, visit www.supra.com/blockworks - - Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors Empire podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER™ device and secure your crypto today. Buy now at Ledger.com - - Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (03:51) Inversion Capital (10:31) Crypto's Big Week (22:54) BlackRock's BUIDL Goes Multichain (28:27) Coinbase Memecoin Listings & Bank Accounts (33:09) Skale Ad (33:47) Ledger Ad (34:28) Supra Ad (35:24) Toku Ad (36:35) Cronos Ad (37:33) What Do You Do If You're Sidelined? (48:14) Crypto ETF Inflows & Ethereum 3.0 (1:02:31) Merger & Acquisition Activity in Crypto (1:09:29) Blur Fee Switch Proposal (1:18:25) Bull Market Phases - - Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guest

    1h 32m
  2. 2 DAYS AGO

    Inside Baseball of Building a Crypto Brand | Austin Federa & Ekram Ahmed

    In today's episode Austin Federa (Head of Strategy at Solana Foundation) and Ekram Ahmed (CMO of Celestia) - break down what actually works in crypto marketing. They discuss why Web2 marketing principles fail in crypto, reveal how Solana and Celestia developed their distinct narrative positions, and explain what most projects get wrong about crisis communications and community building. The conversation covers everything from the "modular vs monolithic" narrative war to why marketing agencies rarely work in crypto. Thanks for listening! - - Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts Follow Ekram: https://x.com/ekrahm Follow Austin: https://x.com/austin_federa Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7ww Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ - - Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 04:54 Crypto vs Web2 Marketing 10:29 Creating a Brand in Crypto 36:44 Building Narratives 43:56 Genius of Modular 52:07 When to Pivot? 58:09 Hiring Marketers 01:09:58 Crisis Management 01:19:21 Value of KOLs - - Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

    1h 26m
  3. Inside Crypto's First Breakout Game: Off The Grid | Theodore Agranat, Gunzilla

    4 DAYS AGO

    Inside Crypto's First Breakout Game: Off The Grid | Theodore Agranat, Gunzilla

    In today's episode Theo from Gunzilla Games joins us to break down how Off The Grid became web3's first successful AAA game, reaching over 8.3 million players in just weeks. We explore the 5-year, $100M journey of building the blockchain enabled battle royale game. Theo shares insights on their custom Avalanche chain, battle pass monetization strategy, and vision for building the "Nintendo of web3" through their Gunzilla gaming ecosystem. Thanks for tuning in! - - Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts Follow Theodore: https://x.com/theodoreagranat Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7ww Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ - - Explore the SKALE Ecosystem at skale.space/ecosystem and stay up to date with the gas-free blockchain on X at @skalenetwork - - It's time for an on chain Binance to emerge. Magic Eden is getting into token trading and their vision is to become on chain Binance and then much more as the entire world ends up moving on chain - - The self-custody wallet that's built for swapping. Created for a multi-chain world by the most trusted team in DeFi. Available on Chrome, iOS, and Android. https://blckwrks.co/UniswapWallet - - $cmETH, a Mantle native liquid restaking token, will launch together with Season 2: Methamorphosis, allowing users to easily participate in restaking, and earn $COOK rewards in addition to other yields. $COOK, the governance token of mETH Protocol, will allow holders to play a pivotal role in directing the strategic future of mETH Protocol. Learn more: https://x.com/mETHProtocol - - Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors Empire podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER™ device and secure your crypto today. Buy now at Ledger.com - - Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (02:31) Game Design (11:03) Blockchain Elements (21:17) Web3 Gaming Value Prop (38:59) Skale Ad (39:39) Magic Eden Ad (40:23) Uniswap Ad (40:55) Mantle Ad (41:46) Ledger Ad (42:29) Game Rentention Strategy (49:35) Development Journey (54:49) Token Dynamics - - Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

    1h 3m
  4. NOV 9

    Hivemind: Trump's Clean Sweep, the Bitcoin Reserve, and Finding the Fastest Horse

    Join the Hivemind crew for their thoughts on Trump's election victory and its implications for the crypto industry. They unpack potential regulatory shifts, from Gary Gensler's future to the possibility of a Bitcoin strategic reserve. They also dive into the evolving landscape of token launches, debating whether the return of ICOs could reshape market dynamics and liquidity. They also discuss Polymarket's election success to the future of meme coins, venture capital, and liquid crypto investments. They close out by giving their thoughts on what will outperform this cycle. Thanks for tuning in! - - Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts Follow Ceteris: https://twitter.com/ceterispar1bus Follow Jose: https://x.com/ZeMariaMacedo Follow Yan: https://x.com/YanLiberman Follow Duncan: https://x.com/FloodCapital Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7 Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ - - Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (2:02) Election Outcomes (7:55) Crypto Performance (11:07) Crypto's Regulatory Shift (21:00) Return of ICOs (34:10) Polymarket's Future (44:15) Venture vs Liquid Climate (49:22) Will Trump Continue Supporting Crypto? (57:16) Market Positioning - - Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

    1h 8m
  5. Trump's Win, Portfolio Positioning, and Crypto's Return to the US | Roundup

    NOV 8

    Trump's Win, Portfolio Positioning, and Crypto's Return to the US | Roundup

    Chat with us in our new telegram: https://t.co/uvyS3SSdUn In this episode, Jason and Santi unpack the implications of Trump's victory for the crypto industry. From Bitcoin's immediate price surge to the potential for a US Bitcoin reserve, they discuss how the regulatory landscape could dramatically shift in crypto's favor. They also unpack why prediction markets like Polymarket emerged as crucial information sources during the election, the return of major crypto conferences to the US, and share why they believe we're still early in crypto's journey. Thanks for tuning in! - - Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7 Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ - - Explore the SKALE Ecosystem at skale.space/ecosystem and stay up to date with the gas-free blockchain on X at @skalenetwork - - Supra Containers are secured by Supra’s L1 nodes and get access to Supra’s 500k TPS throughput, sub-second consensus latency, and all their built-in services like oracle price feeds and onchain randomness without any overhead. Supra is also MultiVM compatible so you can easily deploy your EVM, Move, and SVM smart contracts here. Get all the freedom, control, and tools you need to build super dApps and bring the world onchain. To learn more, visit www.supra.com/blockworks - - Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors Empire podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER™ device and secure your crypto today. Buy now at https://shop.ledger.com/?r=1da180a5de00 - - Toku simplifies every part of global token compensation — everything from paying full time employees in stablecoins, issuing token grants to your team and investors, all in 100 countries on one platform. Talk to Toku today at: https://www.toku.com/ - - Cronos zkEVM has launched its Pioneer Program,offering early users loyalty points for engaging with Cronos zkEVM & its dapps. Join the first quest by depositing CRO in the Cronos zkEVM bridge to receive zkCRO & loyalty points at mainnet launch, as well as a chance to win a part of a $30,000 zkCRO giveaway by depositing in the bridge. Visit https://zkevm.cronos.org/bridge for more info - - Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (02:43) What Does the Election Mean? (15:37) Impact of Prediction Markets (22:20) Portfolio Construction (29:35) Skale Ad (30:14) Cronos Ad (31:12) Toku Ad (32:03) Supra Ad (32:59) Ledger Ad (33:42) Cycle Timing (43:22) Crypto's IPO (47:27) Why We're Bullish - - Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

    1h 3m
  6. Bridge Founder on Their $1.1B Stripe Acquisition | Zach Abrams

    NOV 5

    Bridge Founder on Their $1.1B Stripe Acquisition | Zach Abrams

    In today's episode Bridge founder Zach Abrams discusses how they built a billion-dollar company in just 18 months before being acquired by Stripe. He shares the inside story of building critical stablecoin infrastructure that processes billions in transaction volume with less than 0.01% fraud. The conversation covers their rapid growth from launch during the USDC de-peg to becoming essential infrastructure for governments, fintechs, and global companies. Zach also reveals his vision for the future of stablecoins and why every major company might soon have their own digital currency. Thanks for tuning in! - - Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts Follow Zach: https://x.com/zcabrams Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7ww Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ - - Explore the SKALE Ecosystem at skale.space/ecosystem and stay up to date with the gas-free blockchain on X at @skalenetwork - - The self-custody wallet that's built for swapping. Created for a multi-chain world by the most trusted team in DeFi. Available on Chrome, iOS, and Android. https://blckwrks.co/UniswapWallet - - $cmETH, a Mantle native liquid restaking token, will launch together with Season 2: Methamorphosis, allowing users to easily participate in restaking, and earn $COOK rewards in addition to other yields. $COOK, the governance token of mETH Protocol, will allow holders to play a pivotal role in directing the strategic future of mETH Protocol. Learn more: https://x.com/mETHProtocol - - Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors Empire podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER™ device and secure your crypto today. Buy now at Ledger.com - - Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (02:08) From Partnership to Acquisition (15:49) How Does Bridge Remove Friction (30:35) Skale Ad (31:14) Uniswap Ad (31:46) Mantle Ad (32:38) Ledger Ad (33:21) Key Early Stage Decisions (49:27) Goals & Future Outlook (01:02:24) Negotiating Acquisitions - - Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

    1h 11m
4.9
out of 5
156 Ratings

About

Empire features interviews with top crypto founders to get the real stories that aren’t shared elsewhere. Empire is your look behind the curtain of the crypto industry. We release two episodes per week: guest interviews on Tuesday and a weekly roundup on Friday.

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