Early Riders Media

Early Riders

A weekly podcast covering the underlying mechanics of the bitcoin protocol, its ongoing development, project funding, and real-world applications of the technology

  1. Inside the SpaceX IPO And Why Bitcoin Is the Value Trade

    Jun 9

    Inside the SpaceX IPO And Why Bitcoin Is the Value Trade

    Connect with Early Riders — https://www.earlyriders.com/contact Connect with Onramp — https://onrampbitcoin.com/contact-us/ Presented collaboratively by Early Riders & Onramp Media… Final Settlement is a weekly podcast covering capital markets, dealmaking, early-stage venture, bitcoin applications and protocol development. This week Brian, Michael, and Liam cover the SpaceX IPO and the capital-rotation narrative around Bitcoin, the Bernie Sanders / David Sachs debate over government equity stakes in AI companies, the Zcash inflation bug that allowed unlimited mint for four years before Claude caught it, JPMorgan's tokenized-deposit consortium with Citi, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Chase, the Stripe / Visa / MasterCard stablecoin consortium, Morgan Stanley's Galaxy partnership letting high-net-worth clients lend Bitcoin for in-kind ETF conversions, Tether's first gold-backed Visa card, the US sanctioning Iran's largest crypto exchange Nobitex, and the Polymarket MicroStrategy resolution controversy. Chapters 00:00 - The State of Digital Assets 01:13 - Upcoming IPOs and Market Dynamics 05:54 - Contrasting Views on Investment Strategies 08:19 - Long-Term Perspectives on Bitcoin 14:11 - Speculation vs. Saving in Investments 18:32 - Government Involvement and Market Bubbles 25:22 - Zcash Inflation Bug and Crypto Vulnerabilities 31:12 - Tokenization of Deposits and Future of Banking 34:12 - Understanding the Future of Investment and Money 35:56 - The Role of Traditional Finance in Digital Assets 37:11 - Morgan Stanley's Bitcoin Lending and ETF Strategy 40:54 - Market Timing and ETF Launches 42:48 - The Evolution of Wealth Management and Asset Preservation 44:40 - Stablecoins and 24/7 Trading in Crypto Markets 49:05 - US Sanctions and the Impact on Crypto Markets 52:59 - Tether's Gold-Backed Innovations 55:19 - The Future of Agentic Payments and Prediction Markets If you found this valuable, please subscribe to Early Riders Insights for access to the best content in the ecosystem weekly: https://www.earlyriders.com/research Keep up with Michael: https://x.com/MTanguma https://www.linkedin.com/in/mtanguma/ Keep up with Liam: https://x.com/Lnelson_21 https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-nelson1/ Keep up with Brian: https://x.com/BackslashBTC https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-cubellis-00b1a660/

    1h 5m
  2. Inside Saylor's Bitcoin Sale & Jamie Dimon's War On Coinbase

    Jun 2

    Inside Saylor's Bitcoin Sale & Jamie Dimon's War On Coinbase

    Connect with Early Riders — https://www.earlyriders.com/contact Connect with Onramp — https://onrampbitcoin.com/contact-us/ Presented collaboratively by Early Riders & Onramp Media… Final Settlement is a weekly podcast covering capital markets, dealmaking, early-stage venture, bitcoin applications and protocol development. This week Brian, Michael, and Liam cover MicroStrategy's first Bitcoin sale and the broader DAT unwind, Jamie Dimon's Clarity Act outburst against Coinbase, the AI IPO wave that Michael Burry compares to the 2000 dot-com peak, the CFTC approving Coinbase's first onshore BTC perpetuals, Falcon X's confidential IPO filing, Cash App and SoFi rolling out stablecoins to retail, MasterCard's NY BitLicense, and Binance launching tokenized shares. Chapters 00:00 - Welcome Back and Market Overview 00:46 - MicroStrategy's Bitcoin Sale and Market Sentiment 08:06 - The State of Digital Asset Firms 11:32 - Jamie Dimon's Stance on Stablecoins and Financial Rails 22:53 - AI's Impact on Markets and Upcoming IPOs 39:03 - CFTC Approval and Coinbase's Expansion 40:41 - Falcon X IPO and Market Dynamics 45:58 - Market Sentiment and Investment Strategies 49:22 - Stablecoin Integration and Cash App's Innovations 53:32 - SoFi's Stablecoin Launch and Regulatory Landscape 56:01 - MasterCard's Bit License and Market Implications 58:07 - Tokenized Stocks and the Future of Digital Assets If you found this valuable, please subscribe to Early Riders Insights for access to the best content in the ecosystem weekly: https://www.earlyriders.com/research Keep up with Michael: https://x.com/MTanguma https://www.linkedin.com/in/mtanguma/ Keep up with Liam: https://x.com/Lnelson_21 https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-nelson1/ Keep up with Brian: https://x.com/BackslashBTC https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-cubellis-00b1a660/

    1h 10m
  3. May 19

    Iran Just Turned the World's Most Important Waterway Into a Bitcoin Market

    Show Notes: Connect with Early Riders - https://www.earlyriders.com/contact Connect with Onramp — https://onrampbitcoin.com/contact-us/ Presented collaboratively by Early Riders & Onramp Media…Final Settlement is a weekly podcast covering capital markets, dealmaking, early-stage venture, bitcoin applications and protocol development. This week Liam, Brian, and Michael cover OnRamp's $12.5M Series A, Iran's Bitcoin-denominated Hormuz Safe insurance platform, the Clarity Act's passage through the Senate Banking Committee, Hyperliquid's USDC pivot and partnership with Coinbase, Standard Chartered's acquisition of Zodia Custody, Gemini's mounting losses, and Prime Trust's $970M lawsuit against Swan Bitcoin. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Overview of Current Events 01:58 - On-Ramp's Series A and Market Positioning 05:54 - Bitcoin's Role in Global Transactions 10:21 - Iran's Adoption of Bitcoin for Payments 15:14 - The Clarity Act and Its Implications 20:23 - Stablecoins and Their Future 31:36 - Hyperliquid's Partnership with Coinbase 34:37 - The Future of Stablecoins and Bitcoin Adoption 39:50 - Standard Chartered's Strategic Moves in Crypto Custody 44:22 - Building vs. Buying: The Path of Traditional Finance 47:18 - Gemini's Financial Struggles and Market Positioning 50:58 - Pre-IPO Trading and Market Speculation 54:03 - Prime Trust's Legal Challenges and Custody Concerns If you found this valuable, please subscribe to Early Riders Insights for access to the best content in the ecosystem weekly: https://www.earlyriders.com/research Keep up with Michael: https://x.com/MTanguma https://www.linkedin.com/in/mtanguma/ Keep up with Liam: https://x.com/Lnelson_21 https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-nelson1/ Keep up with Brian: https://x.com/BackslashBTC https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-cubellis-00b1a660/

    1h 6m
  4. May 12

    The Clarity Act Isn't Priced In: BNY, Morgan Stanley, & the End of Coinbase's Moat

    Show Notes: Connect with Early Riders — https://www.earlyriders.com/contact Connect with Onramp — https://onrampbitcoin.com/contact-us/Presented collaboratively by Early Riders & Onramp Media…Final Settlement is a weekly podcast covering capital markets, dealmaking, early-stage venture, bitcoin applications and protocol development.This week Liam, Brian, and Michael cover Coinbase's recent earnings report, the degradation of their competitive moat, the American Banking Association's panic due to the Clarity act, the implications of Circle's new token, and the significant moves made by institutions like BNY Mellon and Kraken.Chapters 00:00 - Coinbase's Earnings and Layoffs 02:59 - Market Position and Competition 06:11 - The Future of Coinbase and Leadership Challenges 09:03 - Circle's New Token and Relationship with Coinbase 12:10 - The Clarity Act and Stablecoin Regulations 14:53 - The Role of Traditional Banks in Crypto 18:11 - Tokenized Securities and Market Innovations 33:17 - Tokenization and Financial Evolution 36:02 - The Risks of Over-Collateralization 39:35 - Institutional Moves in Crypto Custody 42:50 - Kraken's Strategic Acquisition 47:54 - The Future of Crypto Funds 51:09 - Emerging Financial Products and AI IntegrationIf you found this valuable, please subscribe to Early Riders Insights for access to the best content in the ecosystem weekly: https://www.earlyriders.com/researchKeep up with Michael: https://x.com/MTanguma https://www.linkedin.com/in/mtanguma/Keep up with Liam: https://x.com/Lnelson_21 https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-nelson1/Keep up with Brian: https://x.com/BackslashBTC https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-cubellis-00b1a660/

    1h 2m
  5. May 5

    Stablecoins Are The Most Bullish Thing For Bitcoin

    Connect with Early Riders — https://www.earlyriders.com/contact Connect with Onramp — https://onrampbitcoin.com/contact-us/ Presented collaboratively by Early Riders & Onramp Media… Final Settlement is a weekly podcast covering capital markets, dealmaking, early-stage venture, bitcoin applications and protocol development. This week Liam, Brian, and Michael cover the latest developments in bitcoin and stablecoins. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the evolving landscape of digital money, focusing on Bitcoin and stablecoins. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Market Overview 03:09 - The Clarity Act and Its Implications 06:05 - Stablecoins: The Future of Financial Transactions 09:10 - Stripe's Major Announcements and Acquisitions 11:50 - Agentic Commerce and Payment Innovations 14:54 - Comparing Stripe and Lightspark's Approaches 18:08 - Liquidity Solutions and the Future of Stablecoins 28:18 - The Evolution of Digital Money and Bitcoin Adoption 31:13 - Stablecoins: The Future of Bitcoin Liquidity 34:12 - Custody Challenges in the Digital Asset Space 40:33 - Innovations in Bitcoin Wallets and Payment Solutions 47:06 - The Rise of Bitcoin-Backed Financial Products 53:24 - Mergers and Acquisitions in the Bitcoin Ecosystem If you found this valuable, please subscribe to Early Riders Insights for access to the best content in the ecosystem weekly: https://www.earlyriders.com/research Keep up with Michael: https://x.com/MTanguma https://www.linkedin.com/in/mtanguma/ Keep up with Liam: https://x.com/Lnelson_21 https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-nelson1/ Keep up with Brian: https://x.com/BackslashBTC https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-cubellis-00b1a660/

    1 hr
  6. Apr 27

    Block Size Wars II: Quantum & The Battle Over Satoshi's Coins

    Connect with Early Riders — https://www.earlyriders.com/contact Connect with Onramp — https://onrampbitcoin.com/contact-us/ Presented collaboratively by Early Riders & Onramp Media… Final Settlement is a weekly podcast covering capital markets, dealmaking, early-stage venture, bitcoin applications and protocol development. This week Liam, Brian, and Michael cover the latest developments in digital assets, DeFi, and macroeconomic trends. The hosts analyze recent events like tether freezes, DeFi exploits, and India's CBDC pilots, providing insights into the evolving landscape of digital finance. Chapters 05:00 - The Role of Tether in Global Finance 08:10 - Decentralization vs Centralization in Crypto 11:01 - The Fragility of DeFi and Recent Exploits 17:20 - The Impact of AI on Employment 22:39 - Economic Conditions and Corporate Layoffs 31:28 - Digital Asset Roundup: Trends and Innovations 37:28 - The Role of Stablecoins in Transactions 43:09 - Integrating Bitcoin Payments in India 47:19 - AI Investments and the Future of Tech Funding 52:51 - Democratizing Access to Private Companies 58:43 - The Debate on Freezing Coins and Market Dynamics If you found this valuable, please subscribe to Early Riders Insights for access to the best content in the ecosystem weekly: https://www.earlyriders.com/research Keep up with Michael: https://x.com/MTanguma https://www.linkedin.com/in/mtanguma/ Keep up with Liam: https://x.com/Lnelson_21 https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-nelson1/ Keep up with Brian: https://x.com/BackslashBTC https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-cubellis-00b1a660/

    1h 3m
  7. Apr 21

    Onramp Finance, Schwab, Morgan Stanley — Who Wins?

    Connect with Early Riders — https://www.earlyriders.com/contact Connect with Onramp — https://onrampbitcoin.com/contact-us/ Presented collaboratively by Early Riders & Onramp Media… Final Settlement is a weekly podcast covering capital markets, dealmaking, early-stage venture, bitcoin applications and protocol development. Chapters 00:00 - Big Announcement: Onramp Finance 03:55 - Bridging Bitcoin and Traditional Finance 10:14 - The Future of Financial Services 15:27 - Convergence of TradFi and Bitcoin Services 17:56 - Introducing the Genesis Program 28:05 - DeFi Hacks and Security Concerns 33:31 - The Security Landscape of AI and Blockchain 35:51 - Traditional Finance's Entry into Crypto 39:07 - Institutional Adoption and Market Sentiment 47:20 - Kraken's IPO Journey and Market Dynamics 58:24 - Innovations in Financial Services and User Experience If you found this valuable, please subscribe to Early Riders Insights for access to the best content in the ecosystem weekly: https://www.earlyriders.com/research Keep up with Michael: https://x.com/MTanguma https://www.linkedin.com/in/mtanguma/ Keep up with Liam: https://x.com/Lnelson_21 https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-nelson1/ Keep up with Brian: https://x.com/BackslashBTC https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-cubellis-00b1a660/ Links Discussed:  https://onrampbitcoin.com/finance https://x.com/Jeremybtc/status/2045588919362990431?s=20 https://x.com/waleswoosh/status/2046147450394890680?s=20 https://x.com/tatie_bree/status/2045972538606415992?s=20 https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/kraken-reportedly-confirms-ipo-filing https://blog.kraken.com/news/payward-acquires-bitnomial https://pressroom.aboutschwab.com/press-releases/press-release/2026/Charles-Schwab-Announces-Details-of-Spot-Crypto-Trading-Launch/default.aspx https://www.theblock.co/post/397764/morgan-stanley-amy-oldenburg-crypto-daily-business-operations-across-firm?utm_source=telegram1&utm_medium=social https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/crypto/articles/bitcoin-meets-income-goldman-sachs-013104679.html https://tether.io/news/tether-launches-tether-wallet-the-peoples-wallet-extending-its-global-financial-infrastructure-directly-to-billions-of-users-left-behind-by-the-traditional-financial-system/ https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/16/slash-a-ramp-competitor-founded-by-teenagers-raises-100m-at-1-4b-valuation/ https://fortune.com/2026/04/14/anthropic-mythos-reveals-security-gap-ai-finds-flaws-far-faster-than-companies-can-patch-them/?j=112229&sfmc_sub=22516093&l=1227_HTML&u=8898615&mid=546014653&jb=1178&utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NL_fortune-500-digest_2026-4-18_112229&utm_term=fortune-500-digest&sfmc_id=22516093 https://velo.xyz/news/1817

    1h 4m
  8. Apr 14

    Final Settlement: Bitcoin Is Money for Enemies

    Connect with Early Riders — https://www.earlyriders.com/contact Connect with Onramp — https://onrampbitcoin.com/contact-us/ Presented collaboratively by Early Riders & Onramp Media… Final Settlement is a weekly podcast covering capital markets, dealmaking, early-stage venture, bitcoin applications and protocol development. Chapters 00:00 - Bullish Tailwinds for Bitcoin 02:12 - Geopolitical Implications of Bitcoin 07:25 - Bitcoin's Role in Global Settlements 17:01 - Morgan Stanley's ETF Launch and Market Strategy 29:25 - The Clarity Act and Digital Assets 36:06 - Global Regulatory Trends in Crypto 41:23 - Tokenization and Market Dynamics 49:56 - Private Credit and Blockchain Innovations If you found this valuable, please subscribe to Early Riders Insights for access to the best content in the ecosystem weekly: https://www.earlyriders.com/research Keep up with Michael: https://x.com/MTanguma https://www.linkedin.com/in/mtanguma/ Keep up with Liam: https://x.com/Lnelson_21 https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-nelson1/ Keep up with Brian: https://x.com/BackslashBTC https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-cubellis-00b1a660/ Links Discussed:  https://x.com/simplybitcoin/status/2042387498752512508?s=46&t=PV2x02cG_nl7mRDNaKNUMA https://fortune.com/2026/04/10/iran-strait-of-hormuz-crypto-tolls-stablecoins-bitcoin-oil-tankers/ https://www.wsj.com/opinion/digital-assets-rules-need-clarity-6dfcab70 https://www.theblock.co/post/396692/standard-chartered-weighs-integrating-zodia-custody-corporate-bank-arm-bloomberg?utmsource=rss&utmmedium=rss https://x.com/roshanaslam21/article/2041088805634179471 https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/japan-moves-to-classify-bitcoin-and-crypto https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/gemini-stock-jumps-10-takeover-195300447.html?guccounter=1 https://www.americanbanker.com/news/securitize-appoints-former-sec-official-as-president https://fortune.com/2026/03/30/valinor-seed-round-25-million-crypto-private-credit-blackstone-staffers/ https://x.com/watcherguru/status/2041767629153550636?s=46 https://x.com/MTanguma/status/2043697065503363096

    1h 1m

About

A weekly podcast covering the underlying mechanics of the bitcoin protocol, its ongoing development, project funding, and real-world applications of the technology