The Starting Block

The Block
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The Starting Block is The Block's new flagship daily live show — the breaking news, the context behind it, and the people shaping where crypto goes next. Each episode is a 45-minute live broadcast hosted by award-winning journalist and broadcaster Gareth Jenkinson and powered by The Block's newsroom and research desk.

  1. Aug 21

    Breaking Down AI’s Threat to Cryptography /w Kostas Chalkias

    Episode 35 of The Starting Block, hosted by The Block's Gareth Jenkinson, was broadcasted live with Mysten Labs Co-Founder Kostas Chalkias. Mysten Labs Co-Founder Kostas Chalkias joins Gareth Jenkinson on The Starting Block to discuss AI as a growing threat to cryptographic security, the case for continuous automated auditing of blockchain code, and how Walrus Memory enables decentralized AI data portability across LLMs. OUTLINE00:11 - Show Open & Markets02:43 - The Block Briefing08:00 - Hot Seat: AI vs. Cryptography12:54 - Cold Card & Continuous Auditing17:24 - Hardware Wallets & Multi-Sig24:37 - Sam Blackshear & Anthropic29:29 - Walrus Memory & LLM Portability37:57 - Decentralized AI: Can It Scale? Guest links:Kostas Chalkias - https://x.com/kostascryptoMysten Labs - https://x.com/Mysten_Labs Host links:Gareth Jenkinson - https://x.com/gazza_jenksThe Block - https://x.com/TheBlockCo--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters! 🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market Insights Subscribe now 👉 https://www.theblock.co/newsletters -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teams Start your free trial today 👉 https://theblock.co/campus

  2. Aug 20

    1-on-1 with Aptos co-founder Avery Ching

    Episode 34 of The Starting Block, hosted by The Block's Gareth Jenkinson, was broadcasted live with Aptos Co-Founder & CEO Avery Ching. Aptos Co-Founder & CEO Avery Ching joins Gareth Jenkinson on The Starting Block to discuss the intersection of AI and blockchain technology, Aptos's Decibel DEX and how it compares to Hyperliquid, the Open USD stablecoin consortium, and overall quantum readiness in the crypto industry. OUTLINE00:08 - Intro01:57 - The Block Briefing: Markets Rally07:09 - Avery Ching Hot Seat Begins08:53 - AI & Blockchain Convergence12:25 - Aptos's $50M AI Investment16:53 - Decibel vs. Hyperliquid20:16 - OUSD & Stablecoin Competition25:15 - AI-Powered Security at Aptos28:58 - Quantum Readiness & Privacy Guest links:Avery Ching - https://x.com/AveryChingAptos - https://x.com/AptosLabs Host links:Gareth Jenkinson - https://x.com/gazza_jenksThe Block - https://x.com/TheBlockCo--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters! 🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market Insights Subscribe now 👉 https://www.theblock.co/newsletters -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teams Start your free trial today 👉 https://theblock.co/campus

  3. Aug 19

    Exploring the origins of DeFi protocols with Andre Cronje

    Episode 33 of The Starting Block, hosted by The Block's Gareth Jenkinson, was broadcasted live with Flying Tulip Founder Andre Cronje. Flying Tulip Founder Andre Cronje joins Gareth Jenkinson on The Starting Block to discuss the origins of his DeFi career in crypto code reviews, the capital efficiency innovations behind Flying Tulip and its total return swap differentiator, and how AI coding tools have transformed his development process. OUTLINE00:08 - Show Intro & Wyoming01:23 - Block Briefing Headlines05:14 - Meet Andre Cronje06:48 - Cronje's Crypto Origin Story11:09 - From Yearn to Velodrome14:40 - Flying Tulip Explained21:19 - Total Return Swaps & Liquidations26:35 - DeFi's Future Outlook30:36 - FTUSD & Regulatory Clarity35:14 - Why Build in the US41:03 - Growing Slowly & Safely46:48 - AI Tools in Development Guest links:Andre Cronje - https://x.com/AndreCronjeTechFlying Tulip - https://x.com/flyingtulip_ Host links:Gareth Jenkinson - https://x.com/gazza_jenksThe Block - https://x.com/TheBlockCo--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters! 🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market Insights Subscribe now 👉 https://www.theblock.co/newsletters -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teams Start your free trial today 👉 https://theblock.co/campus

  4. Aug 18

    Inside OranjeBTC’s New Bitcoin Equity ETF

    Sam Callahan, OranjeBTC's Director of Bitcoin Strategy & Research, joins Gareth Jenkinson on The Starting Block where the duo discussed the launch of Digi11 – Brazil's first Bitcoin preferred equity ETF Digi11. They also touched on Strategy's STRC capital structure and Bitcoin accumulation goals, and the investor appetite for Bitcoin-backed income products in Brazil. OUTLINE00:06 - Show Open & Recap01:31 - Block Briefing Headlines02:06 - Bitmine's ETH Treasury03:08 - Iren & Microsoft AI Deal03:47 - Harmony Network Rollback04:25 - Genius Act Rulemaking05:36 - Ripple Expands in Asia06:31 - Introducing Sam Callahan06:49 - Digi11 ETF Explained09:51 - Building the Index11:56 - Strategy's STRC & MSTR17:21 - Brazilian Market Appetite Guest links:Sam Callahan - https://x.com/samcallahOranjeBTC - https://x.com/ORANJEBTC Host links:Gareth Jenkinson - https://x.com/gazza_jenksThe Block - https://x.com/TheBlockCo--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters! 🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market Insights Subscribe now 👉 https://www.theblock.co/newsletters -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teams Start your free trial today 👉 https://theblock.co/campus

  5. Aug 18

    Will CLARITY Act pass in September? Ft. GSR

    GSR's Chief Legal and Strategy Officer Joshua Riezman joins Gareth Jenkinson on The Starting Block to discuss the Clarity Act being pushed to September, the political hurdles blocking its passage, and what crypto market volatility and TradFi convergence signal for the industry's future. OUTLINE00:06 - Welcome & Show Intro01:47 - Block Briefing: Top Headlines04:00 - Hive Digital's AI Pivot04:47 - Strategy's Bitcoin Update05:52 - Clarity Act: September Window08:31 - Political Hurdles to Passage13:55 - Ethics Compromise Debate16:50 - Is Clarity Act Good for Crypto?19:52 - Token Design & Bear Market22:53 - Market Outlook & Price Action28:28 - TradFi Meets Crypto31:09 - Prediction Markets Legal Battle Guest links:Joshua Riezman - https://x.com/JoshR_GSRGSR - https://x.com/GSR_io Host links:Gareth Jenkinson - https://x.com/gazza_jenksThe Block - https://x.com/TheBlockCo--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters! 🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market Insights Subscribe now 👉 https://www.theblock.co/newsletters -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teams Start your free trial today 👉 https://theblock.co/campus

  6. Aug 14

    DoubleZero infra to supercharge Kalshi - Ft. Austin Federa

    DoubleZero Co-Founder Austin Federa joins Gareth Jenkinson on The Starting Block to discuss the DoubleZero recently announced integration with Kalshi and how multicast fiber networks are supercharging prediction market data feeds. OUTLINE00:06 - Show Open & Headlines01:33 - Tether's KPMG Audit02:52 - Gemini Q2 Earnings03:53 - Bullish Exchange Results04:41 - Kalshi Regulatory Battles06:05 - Crypto Phishing Warning07:03 - Hot Seat: Austin Federa07:44 - DoubleZero x Kalshi Deal10:07 - Prediction Markets Maturing14:50 - What Is DoubleZero?17:43 - DoubleZero vs. Oracles19:33 - AI Agents & Trading Edge Guest links:Austin Federa - https://x.com/Austin_FederaDoubleZero - https://x.com/doublezero Host links:Gareth Jenkinson - https://x.com/gazza_jenksThe Block - https://x.com/TheBlockCo--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters! 🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market Insights Subscribe now 👉 https://www.theblock.co/newsletters -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teams Start your free trial today 👉 https://theblock.co/campus

  7. Aug 13

    Why Bitcoin BIP-110 failed - ft Giacomo Zucco

    Plan B Forum Director Giacomo Zucco joins Gareth Jenkinson on The Starting Block to discuss the BIP 110 activation and chain stall over the weekend, the Cold Card firmware exploit and Bitcoin security vulnerabilities, and the future relevance of Bitcoin Core as a reference implementation. OUTLINE00:08 - Show Introduction01:47 - Harmony Exploit02:49 - SEC Crypto Regime Proposal03:11 - 21 Capital Q2 Losses04:06 - Robinhood Chain Numbers04:44 - Cold Card Firmware Bug07:46 - Giacomo Zucco Hot Seat08:00 - BIP 110 Weekend Drama13:22 - Bitcoin Governance Debates19:45 - The Fork Attempt25:16 - Luke Removed as BIP Editor29:48 - Bitcoin Core's Future Role Guest links:Giacomo Zucco - https://x.com/giacomozuccoPlan B Network - https://x.com/planb_network Host links:Gareth Jenkinson - https://x.com/gazza_jenksThe Block - https://x.com/TheBlockCo--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters! 🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market Insights Subscribe now 👉 https://www.theblock.co/newsletters -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teams Start your free trial today 👉 https://theblock.co/campus

  8. Aug 13

    Bitcoin Uptober Loading? Live w/ Benjamin Cowen

    ITC Founder & CEO Benjamin Cowen joins Gareth Jenkinson on The Starting Block to discuss why Bitcoin's current cycle mirrors 2018, the likelihood of an October cycle bottom, and why institutional narratives like ETFs and strategic reserves have acted as headwinds rather than tailwinds for crypto. OUTLINE00:07 - Welcome & Show Intro01:06 - Block Briefing Headlines05:18 - Benjamin Cowen's Background08:16 - Bitcoin's State Right Now09:29 - Cycle Timing & October Bottom15:50 - Institutional Impact on Bitcoin19:18 - When Does Retail Return?31:05 - AI Trade vs. Crypto35:57 - Meme Coins & Industry Damage40:11 - Bitcoin & Politics43:32 - Outlook & AI Pivot45:26 - Wrap-Up & CZ Teaser Guest links:Benjamin Cowen - https://x.com/benjamincowen Host links:Gareth Jenkinson - https://x.com/gazza_jenksThe Block - https://x.com/TheBlockCo--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters! 🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market Insights Subscribe now 👉 https://www.theblock.co/newsletters -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teams Start your free trial today 👉 https://theblock.co/campus

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About

The Starting Block is The Block's new flagship daily live show — the breaking news, the context behind it, and the people shaping where crypto goes next. Each episode is a 45-minute live broadcast hosted by award-winning journalist and broadcaster Gareth Jenkinson and powered by The Block's newsroom and research desk.

Information

  • Creator
    The Block
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Block
  • Show Website
    The Starting Block