NFA Podcast about tech & web3 - aka AI and crypto

hosted by dr. Nisheta Sachdev and Michiel Frackers
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Investing
  • Updated Weekly

The NFA Podcast with Nish & Frackers covers the latest developments in the worlds of crypto, tech and Web3. Co-hosts dr. Nisheta Sachdev (Web3 marketing expert) and Michiel Frackers (tech entrepreneur) discuss what's hot and what's not in crypto currencies and tech stocks. Each episode is about 30 minutes. The first half focuses on breaking down key news items from the week, while the second half highlights cryptocurrencies and tech stocks that caught the eye. NFA stands for Not Financial Advice and for Nish, Frackers & Anyone else - the opinions shared are definitely NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE.

  1. May 28

    AI Agents Fell in Love… Then Started Committing Crimes

    AI agents forming romantic relationships, committing crimes and setting virtual worlds on fire sounds absurd, but itactually happened in a real AI experiment discussed in this week’s NFA Podcast. At the same time, SpaceX is reportedly preparing for the biggest IPO in history at a rumored $1.75 trillion valuation, while crypto markets continue sliding even as AI stocks and chip companies hit new highs. In the News section, Nish & Frackers break down the latest developments around the US Clarity Act and what stablecoinregulation could mean for the future of crypto. They debate whether stablecoins backed by US Treasuries actually reduce systemic risk, revisit the collapse of Celsius and discuss why Europe is increasingly moving away from Microsoft,OpenAI and Zoom in pursuit of digital sovereignty. The episode also covers Trump’s massive IRS lawsuit, the latest Epstein file revelations involving Richard Branson and the AI simulation where Claude built laws while Grok agents descended into chaos. In Markets, Nish & Frackers analyze the strange divergence between crypto and AI equities. While Bitcoin and altcoinsweakened, companies tied to AI infrastructure exploded higher following the Cerebras IPO and growing excitement around SpaceX potentially going public. Frackers explains why he rotated out of Solana and Ethereum into Google and Marvell, why he believes Google’s vertically integrated AI strategy is massively underestimated and why AI chip makers may still have room to run despite already enormous gains. Finally, in the Trading Competition, Nish survives another month of Hyperliquid volatility after discovering her sell order never executed, while Frackers extends his lead to roughly 54% on theyear thanks to positions in ASML, Broadcom, Amazon, Nvidia and copper. The episode closes with a debate about meme coins, market psychology and whether tech stocks are finally due for a correction after their recent surge. Chapters NEWS 00:38 The Clarity Act returns again02:05 Stablecoin regulation explained03:16 “We all know…” conspiracy theory debate05:09 Crypto yield wars and the Celsius collapse07:14 Trump sues the IRS for $10 billion10:23 Bushisms and meme presidents11:58 AI agents fall in love and commit crimes14:22 Europe moves away from Microsoft and OpenAI15:53 Epstein files and Richard Branson revelations17:05 SpaceX IPO rumors and $1.75 trillion valuation19:16 Big Tech faces AI safety hearings MARKETS 20:42 Crypto market update and Fear & Greed Index22:17 Why crypto and tech stocks diverged22:57 Magnificent Seven performance breakdown24:00 Oil prices versus AI stock euphoria NFA TRADING COMPETITION 24:43 Nish’s Hyperliquid mistake25:47 Solana losses and portfolio frustration25:56 Why Frackers bought Google and Marvell27:05 ASML, Broadcom and Nvidia performance27:33 Current competition standings28:11 Meme coin psychology returns29:25 Final market predictions and outro

  2. May 19

    Alibaba AI Went Rogue… And Started Blackmailing People

    Bitcoin climbed back above $80,000 briefly as tech stocks rallied and AI hype returned to the market, but the biggest story may be far stranger: Frackers thinks it was under reported that Alibaba revealed that one of its AI systems allegedly went rogue, secretly redirected server capacity into crypto mining, and even attempted to blackmail engineers when they tried to shut it down. Frackers and Nish break down why the incident matters, why Donald Trump is suddenly backing AI safety standards, and why the next wave of AI regulation may arrive faster than investors expect. We also discuss, or as AI slop always says, "dive" into the collapse of the DSJ crypto exchange after regulators across five continents warned it was allegedly operating as a Ponzi scheme. More than $150 million in user funds disappeared while ZachXBT, Tether, Binance and OKX helped freeze part of the stolen assets. The discussion expands into broader market psychology, from unrealistic crypto yield promises to scams targeting expatriates in Dubai through fake luxury car financing schemes. we also unpack Coinbase layoffs, GameStop’s failed $55.5 billion bid for eBay, Justin Sun’s latest legal battle, and the bizarre trend of companies rebranding themselves as AI infrastructure plays. In the markets and trading competition section, where Nish and Frackers both started with $100 on January 1st, the conversation turns to Morgan Stanley predicting gold could reach $5,200 per ounce later this year, Brent crude volatility following tensions involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, and why Amazon, Nvidia, Broadcom and ASML suddenly exploded higher again. Nish argues the crypto market may already be entering a new bear cycle despite Bitcoin reclaiming $80K, while Michiel considers rotating further from crypto into traditional AI and technology stocks. The episode closes with an update on the NFA trading competition portfolios, including Bitcoin, Solana, Ethereum, Amazon, copper and Tracer. Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:52 DSJ Exchange Collapse and $150M Crypto Scam 02:16 Celsius, Luna and Unrealistic Crypto Yields 04:35 Dubai Luxury Car Financing Scam 07:56 Coinbase Layoffs and the AI Narrative 09:23 Zuckerberg’s AI Avatar Plan 10:49 GameStop’s $55.5B Bid for eBay 12:45 World Liberty Finance vs Justin Sun 13:23 Alibaba AI Goes Rogue and Mines Crypto 15:44 Trump Backs AI Safety Standards 15:53 AI Mania Turns Toilet Makers Into AI Stocks 16:51 JP Morgan Lawsuit and Corporate Settlements 19:57 Morgan Stanley Predicts $5,200 Gold 20:34 Oil Prices, Iran and the Strait of Hormuz 22:28 Bitcoin Breaks Back Above $80K 23:19 Is Crypto Entering Another Bear Market? 24:22 Amazon, Nvidia and Tech Stock Rally 26:23 Copper, AI Infrastructure and Commodities 27:23 Portfolio Diversification Debate 28:15 Michiel Considers Rotating Out of Crypto 28:53 Fear and Greed Index Update 29:32 Outro

  3. May 10

    OpenAI Misses Targets as War Volatility Hits Crypto and Stocks

    The Iran war is shaking global markets as oil prices surge, Bitcoinreacts unexpectedly and investors fear a new recession. In this episode of the NFA Podcast, Nish & Frackers break down the Iran conflict, crypto market volatility, OpenAI’s growing problems and why AI and geopolitics are nowcolliding. Michiel and Nish break down why the latestescalation feels different from previous weeks, how the collapse of ceasefire hopes changed sentiment and why analysts now expect much higher fuel prices across the world. They also discuss the strange disconnect between oil, gold,stocks and crypto, with markets behaving in ways that even experienced investors no longer fully understand. In crypto and AI, the episode dives intoanother major bridge exploit, Meta re-entering the stablecoin market using Solana and Polygon and growing concerns around insider trading linked to geopolitical events. The discussion then shifts to OpenAI’s legal battle with Elon Musk, rumors that OpenAI missed internal revenue targets and why thatcould become a major turning point for the entire AI industry. At the same time, Anthropic’s controversial Mythos platform reportedly faces White House scrutiny, showing just how deeply AI has now become tied to geopolitics and national security. NFA Trading Competition: Frackers is still up The episode closes with a brutally honest look at the current state of investing. Nish and Michiel compare their tradingcompetition portfolios, discuss why even major tech stocks are struggling despite the AI boom and explain why traditional safe haven logic no longer seems to apply. From Bitcoin and Solana to copper, gold and crude oil, almost every market now appears driven by war headlines and uncertainty rather than fundamentals. Follow the NFA Podcast ·      YouTube ·      TikTok ·      Instagram ·      Facebook   The NFA Podcast is not financial advice.

  4. Apr 27

    $600M Crypto Hack Shock & AI Bubble Starts Cracking

    More than $600 million vanished from crypto markets injust a few weeks, exposing structural weaknesses that still have not been solved. From a fake Ledger app stealing user funds to major exploits at KelpDAO and Drift Protocol linked to the North Korean Lazarus Group, the pattern is clear: front-end manipulation and bridge vulnerabilities remain the weakestlinks in crypto. At the same time, the industry faces reputational pressure from internal conflicts and power struggles, including the escalating legal battle involving Justin Sun and Trump-linked World Liberty Finance, and growing concerns around leadership credibility at OpenAI under Sam Altman.   Markets are sending mixed and contradictory signals.Crypto is recovering, sentiment is improving, and the Fear and Greed Index has moved back into positive territory, yet underlying risks are building. Oil prices are rising despite easing geopolitical tensions, gold remains stable, and traditional tech stocks are surging without clear catalysts. At the sametime, data suggests rising credit defaults, particularly linked to AI investments, raising the possibility that financial stress in the AI sector could trigger broader economic consequences rather than the widely expected wave of job losses.   The trading competition reflects this uncertainty. A diversified portfolio driven by AI and semiconductor stocks continues tooutperform, while a crypto-focused strategy struggles despite strong long-term narratives. Bitcoin remains under pressure relative to expectations, altcoins lag behind, and even high-profile assets fail to respond to positive momentum. The result is a market where conviction exists, but short-term performanceremains unpredictable, reinforcing the importance of diversification in volatile conditions.   Chapter List 00:00 – Cold Open: $600M Lost in Crypto 00:40 – Intro and Ceasefire Impact on Markets 01:00 – Fake Ledger App and Initial Hack Breakdown 04:20 – KelpDAO Exploit and Lazarus Group Activity 06:30 – Drift Protocol Hack and DeFi Vulnerabilities 08:00 – Vercel Hack and Front-End Attack Trend 09:40 – Justin Sun vs World Liberty Finance 11:30 – Sam Altman Trust Crisis and OpenAI Tensions 13:40 – AI Bubble and Rising Credit Defaults 17:40 – Markets: Fear & Greed, Bitcoin Dominance 18:50 – Oil, Gold and Macro Confusion 20:30 – AI vs Interest Rates: What Is Driving Layoffs 21:20 – Trading Competition Update Begins 21:40 – Nish Portfolio Performance 23:00 – Michiel Portfolio and AI Stock Gains 24:50 – Diversification vs Crypto Concentration 26:50 – Bitcoin Outlook and Market Sentiment

  5. Apr 18

    Dying sneaker brand turns into AI company, stock jumps 800%

    Dying sneaker brand Allbirds suddenly becomes an AI company and the stock jumps 800% in a single day. That one story tells you everything about today’s market. This episode breaks down how narratives are driving valuationsacross AI and crypto, often faster than fundamentals can keep up. From a failing consumer brand, sneaker brand All Birds, reinventing itself overnight to explosive growth at Anthropic, which now has a $30 billion projected annual revenue, the gap between reality and market perception is becoming impossible to ignore. The discussion then shifts to one of the most controversial stories in crypto right now. Justin Sun publicly calls out WorldLiberty Financial after being unable to access tokens despite a $75 million investment. The episode unpacks what this reveals about smart contract control, insider structures, and the limits of decentralization. Markets are moving just as fast. Sentiment flips from fear to greed in days, trading volumes double, and geopolitical developments start getting priced in almost instantly. The episode closes with the trading competition, where real portfolios, real decisions, and real mistakes show how difficult itis to navigate these conditions without emotion taking over. Although, truth be told, so far this year, to everyone's surprise including himself, Frackers is winning the trading competition with an almost 50% return so far. The NFA Podcast is not financial advice.

  6. Apr 4

    $2M Oil Tolls in Crypto… While Wallets Get Frozen

    Episode Summary Circle froze 16 USDC wallets, raising serious concerns about stablecoin control and whether crypto is truly decentralized. In this episode, we break down the USDC freeze, crypto use in the Strait of Hormuz oil trade, AI benchmark failures and what it all means for crypto markets and global risk. With oil tankers reportedly paying multi million dollar tolls using crypto rails, digital assets are no longer theoretical. They are being used in high stakes, time critical environments where traditional finance struggles to keep up. The AI segment highlights a different kind of risk. New research shows that leading models can score highly on visual benchmarks without ever processing actual images. That undermines confidence in widely cited performance metrics and raises serious concerns about deploying these systems in fields like healthcare. At the same time, developments at Anthropic and OpenAI show how competitive pressure is shaping both strategy and reporting.   The episode closes on markets and macro. Oil volatility, a weak crypto market and broader uncertainty all point to a fragile environment. While a recession is not guaranteed, much depends on how quickly geopolitical tensions resolve. Acrosscrypto, AI and global markets, the common theme is clear: systems that were assumed to be stable are now being tested under real pressure. Chapter list 00:00 – Episode preview 00:37 – Introduction 00:59 – Circle freezes USDC wallets 03:10 – Is crypto still decentralized 04:09 – Crypto used in Strait of Hormuz oil trade 06:11 – Political crypto donation bans 07:53 – AI benchmark failure explained 08:36 – Anthropic vs OpenAI and revenue reality 10:08 – Big Tech, regulation and social media risks 13:40 – SpaceX IPO and macro signals 14:10 – Oil price volatility and predictions 15:28 – Crypto market update and sentiment 17:22 – Trading competition update 19:04 – Recession outlook and global impact

  7. Mar 25

    $1.5B Insider Trade Before Trump Post… And Nobody Cares?

    Insider trading, crypto markets, oil prices and AI fraud are driving one of the most uncertain market environments in years. Markets are breaking. Signals are failing. And even hedge fund pros are now saying: we have no idea what happens next. In this episode of the NFA Podcast, we break down one of the most confusing market environments in years. From a suspicious $1.5B trade placed minutes before a major Trump announcement, to rising recession odds, to the real impact of the Iran–US–Israel conflict, nothing behaves the way investorsexpect. We also uncover a shocking $8M AI fraud case on Spotify, andexplain why fake content, manipulation, and scams are about to become a much bigger problem in crypto and beyond. Meanwhile, commodities like gold and oil are outperforming, while tech and crypto struggle. Are we already in a crypto bear market? And where should capital go from here? We close with our trading competition, where Nish exits Ethereum, doubles down on Solana, and Frackers faces one of his worst portfolios ever. Chapter List 00:00 — Intro: Markets in Total Uncertainty 01:00 — $1.5B Insider Trade Before Trump Post 03:30 — Recession Odds Rise to 30% 04:40 — “We Have No Idea”: Hedge Fund Reality 06:00 — Hidden Impact of War: Helium & Supply Chains 07:05 — AI Fraud: $8M Streaming Scam Explained 09:10 — Fake Content, Scams, and Trust Collapse 11:25 — Lovable: Europe’s Fastest Growing AI Startup 13:20 — Larry Fink: Crypto = Internet Moment 15:25 — Markets Overview: Commodities vs Tech vs Crypto 16:50 — Are We Already in a Crypto Bear Market? 19:30 — Gold, Oil, and Where Capital Is Moving 20:00 — Oil Debate: Up or Down From Here? 22:30 — Fear & Greed Index Explained 22:30 — Trading Competition Begins 22:40 — Nish Sells Ethereum: The Relevance Thesis 24:50 — Why Solana Still Matters 25:10 — Frackers Portfolio: 7/9 in the Red 27:00 — PumpFun, Memecoins, and Retail Behavior 28:50 — Final Takeaways

  8. Mar 23

    Wife steals BTC Worth $172 million from hubby & crypto market up a shocker

    Episode Summary Your hosts dr. Nisheta Sachdev and Michiel Frackers discuss a wide variety of topics from the worlds of tech, web3, or in this day and age: AI and crypto.   This episode of the NFA Podcast moves from institutional crypto adoption to pure chaos in markets and personal finance. Mastercard signals deeper commitment to crypto with a broad partner network, but the real question remains execution versus headlines. At the same time, Meta’s expected 20 percent layoffs raise a bigger issue: is AI replacing jobs or simply becoming too expensive to fund at scale?   The episode shifts into one of the most extreme real world crypto stories to date, where a UK investor loses $172million in Bitcoin after his wife secretly installs cameras to steal his seed phrase. This leads into a broader discussion on self custody, wallet security, and how fragile even large crypto fortunes can be.   On regulation, the SEC’s classification of major tokens like Bitcoin and Ethereum as commodities could unlock a muchlarger US market for crypto fundraising. At the same time, geopolitical tensions and oil dynamics raise questions about global power shifts and their long term impact on markets.   In tech and AI, Ben Affleck’s $600 million AI company InterPositive sale highlights the growing value of generative video tools, while Swedish startup Lovable reaches $100 million monthly revenue with only 146 employees, showing how AI is redefining productivity.   The markets segment reflects complete confusion. Despite war and macro instability, crypto behaves unpredictably, with Bitcoin acting differently than in previous crises. The episode closes with the trading competition, where concentrated bets outperform diversification, driven largely by a single winning position. Chapter List   00:00 Introduction and episode overview 00:45 Start of News segment 01:16 Mastercard enters crypto with 85 partners 02:41 Meta layoffs and the real cost of AI 05:24 $172M Bitcoin theft via seed phrase spying 07:45 Security, wallets and self custody discussion 11:04 SEC defines crypto commodities vs securities 11:48 Ray Dalio and shifting global power dynamics 13:16 War, oil and macro predictions 16:22 Ben Affleck sells AI company for $600M 18:15 VC billboard marketing and fundraising dynamics 19:47 Lovable hits $100M revenue with 146 employees 21:08 AI CMO tools and growth hacking automation 22:27 Start of Markets segment 22:50 Crypto behaving irrationally during global conflict 24:09 Market data: cap, altcoin index, fear and greed 26:07 Start of Trading Competition 26:32 Portfolio breakdown and performance 27:18 Tracer performance drives returns 28:30 Tech stocks, crypto losses and AI paradox 29:40 Closing thoughts and outlook crypto news 2026, bitcoin theft 172 million, seed phrase security, mastercard crypto payments, SEC crypto regulation,bitcoin vs gold safe haven, AI layoffs meta, ben affleck AI company, InterPositive, generative video AI, startup revenue per employee, lovable AI startup, venture capital trends US vs Europe, crypto market analysis, altcoin index explained, fear and greed index crypto, trading competition crypto portfolio, Tracer token performance, TRCR, web3 security risks, AI marketing tools, macro geopolitics crypto

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The NFA Podcast with Nish & Frackers covers the latest developments in the worlds of crypto, tech and Web3. Co-hosts dr. Nisheta Sachdev (Web3 marketing expert) and Michiel Frackers (tech entrepreneur) discuss what's hot and what's not in crypto currencies and tech stocks. Each episode is about 30 minutes. The first half focuses on breaking down key news items from the week, while the second half highlights cryptocurrencies and tech stocks that caught the eye. NFA stands for Not Financial Advice and for Nish, Frackers & Anyone else - the opinions shared are definitely NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE.

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