Unchained

Laura Shin
  • 4.6 (1.2K)
  • BUSINESS NEWS
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY
Unchained

Crypto assets and blockchain technology are about to transform every trust-based interaction of our lives, from financial services to identity to the Internet of Things. In this podcast, host Laura Shin, an independent journalist covering all things crypto, talks with industry pioneers about how crypto assets and blockchains will change the way we earn, spend and invest our money. Tune in to find out how Web 3.0, the decentralized web, will revolutionize our world. Disclosure: I'm a nocoiner.

  1. 20 HR. AGO

    Bits + Bips: Will Rate Cuts and Trump's Policies Spark a Bitcoin Supercycle?

    Bitcoin and SOL are flirting with all time highs, Ethereum is lagging behind, and the next six months could define the trajectory of crypto markets.  In this episode of Bits + Bips, James Seyffart, Alex Kruger, and guest David Grider unravel the key stories driving the space: What could a meeting between Trump and Coinbase’s Brian Armstrong mean for crypto policy? Could a new Treasury Secretary pick become the industry’s biggest ally? And is Ethereum’s underperformance hiding a major comeback? Plus, what crypto categories might be winners in the near future. Show highlights: What the potential meeting of Trump with Brian Armstrong shows Which pick for the Treasury Secretary position would be most positive for crypto Whether Michael Saylor has been driving the bitcoin market Whether rate cuts are coming in December and what impact it’s having on the markets How tariffs are not as bad as people think, but massive deportation is, according to Alex Why a potential Treasury General Account (TGA) rundown would be bullish for the markets Whether traders will be taking profits at the $90,000 bitcoin level How ETH has been underperforming and why David sees a silver lining How the lack of institutional interest in ETH has changed dramatically since the election Why David is so optimistic about restaking across different ecosystems What the outlook for crypto regulation looks like in the near future and what will benefit the industry Why James believes that we’ll have in-kind creations and redemptions for bitcoin ETFs under new SEC leadership What the future trajectory of bitcoin’s price is and the role of a strategic bitcoin reserve How different categories within crypto will perform in the markets Hosts: James Seyffart, Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence Alex Kruger, Founder of Asgard Guest: David Grider, Partner at Finality Capital Links Trump and politics: Unchained:  Donald Trump to Meet Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong: Report Truth Social in Talks to Acquire Crypto Platform Bakkt Who Might Trump Pick for S.E.C. Chair? This Is Who Jay Clayton Hopes to See The Trump-Connected Brad Bondi Is a New SEC Chair Contender and Pro-Crypto A Degen Administration? Why the Crypto Czar May Be Allowed to Own Tokens Markets: Unchained:  Spot Ether ETFs See Record $515 Million Weekly Inflows Solana dApps See Massive Fees Amid Memecoin Frenzy Bitcoin ETF options: Unchained:  Bitcoin Hits New All Time High as IBIT’s First-Day Volume Nears $1.9 Billion  Why Bitcoin ETF Options Could Unlock Massive Amounts of Capital for Crypto Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:31 What a Trump-Brian Armstrong meeting means for crypto 07:36 Who could be crypto’s biggest ally as Treasury Secretary 12:43 Is Michael Saylor driving bitcoin’s rally? 14:46 Whether December rate cuts will shake the markets 19:33 Tariffs vs. deportation: What’s worse for crypto? 26:03 Whether a Treasury General Account rundown would be bullish for markets 30:19 Whether traders will take profits at $90K Bitcoin 35:50 Why ether’s underperformance might hide a comeback 47:15 Whether institutional interest in ETH has turned around 51:49 Why David is bullish on restaking across ecosystems 54:09 What’s next for crypto regulation and industry growth 1:06:55 Whether new SEC leadership would greenlight better bitcoin ETF structures 1:09:10 Whether strategic Bitcoin reserves could drive its price higher 1:17:25 Which crypto categories could lead the next rally Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 26m

  2. 1 DAY AGO

    Are Layer 2s Failing Ethereum? A New Proposal Advocates for Native L2s

    Martin Köppelmann, co-founder of Gnosis, has proposed that Ethereum should have native rollups—a vision aimed at addressing scalability and decentralization. Köppelmann critiques the current state of layer 2 solutions, highlighting their limitations in fully inheriting Ethereum’s security and composability.  He proposes a bold alternative: 128 Ethereum-native rollups designed to expand block space, strengthen alignment with Ethereum’s core principles, and ensure long-term viability for developers and users. Plus, Martin tackles the controversies: Are L2s parasitic? Could native rollups spell the end for existing solutions? And why should they rely on zero-knowledge proofs instead of Optimism? Show highlights: Whether the Ethereum scaling roadmap is accomplishing its goals Why based rollups are not a full solution, according to Martin What Martin proposes instead Why Martin is proposing these rollups to be ZK-rollups instead of optimistic Whether the proposed solution would focus on privacy What it is about chain abstraction that Martin doesn’t like How he envisions that these native rollups will solve many composability issues across L2s Whether the community has embraced this proposal and how likely it is to be implemented What would happen to current L2s if native rollups get implemented Why despite being against the current state of L2s, Martin says that they are not parasitic to Ethereum Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com Thank you to our sponsors! Polkadot Robinhood & Arbitrum iYield Guest: Martin Köppelmann, Co-founder and CEO of Gnosis Links Previous coverage of Unchained on Ethereum layer 2s: ETH Is Down Bad, While Layer 2s Are Ripping. Are L2s Parasitic to Ethereum? Are L2s ‘Parasitic’? Analysis Shows Ethereum Only Gets a Tiny Percentage of Fees Are Solana’s ‘Network Extensions’ Just Like Ethereum’s Layer 2s But by a Different Name? Ethereum Has Had a Banner Year in Most Areas. Except Price. Should Ethereum Layer 2s Urgently Decentralize Their Sequencers? Blockworks: Gnosis founder argues Ethereum needs native L2s Martin’s tweet on USDC yields Timestamps:  00:00 Intro 01:47 Is Ethereum’s scaling roadmap meeting its goals? 04:07 Why Martin believes based rollups aren’t the full solution 08:11 Martin’s bold proposal for native rollups 12:07 Why ZK-rollups over optimistic rollups 15:56 Whether these rollups should also preserve privacy 17:11 Martin’s issue with chain abstraction 22:35 How native rollups could solve L2 composability problems 26:49 Has the community embraced Martin’s vision? 30:52 What happens to existing L2s if native rollups win 36:06 Whether Martin thinks L2s are parasitic to Ethereum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    39 min

  3. 5 DAYS AGO

    How BlackRock, the World's Largest Asset Manager, Took Crypto Mainstream

    BlackRock’s entry into crypto through its bitcoin ETF (and later on the spot ether ETF) has rewritten the record books, driving massive inflows and reshaping the narrative for institutional crypto adoption. Robbie Mitchnick, head of digital assets at BlackRock, unpacks the story behind this monumental shift. He shares the journey from skepticism to success, how BlackRock’s ETF has changed the market, and the surprises even he didn’t expect. Plus, he explains why he believes people mistake bitcoin for a risk-on asset, what the investment case is for Ethereum, and what’s next for crypto in 2025. Show highlights: 01:31 What and who is driving this massive amount of activity in bitcoin trading 05:05 Why Robbie offers some caution about the future of digital asset regulation 08:35 What about crypto captivated Robbie 13:32Whether Robbie was the one who “orange pilled” BlackRock CEO Larry Fink 14:37 Why Robbie thinks that bitcoin is not a risk-on asset 18:08 The backstory of how BlackRock ended up filing for a spot bitcoin ETF 20:15 How inflows into ETFs surprised Robbie, even considering fairly optimistic projections 24:14 Why BlackRock’s clients always ask about bitcoin’s correlation with other assets 27:22 Robbie’s take on the critique that BlackRock could centralize a decentralized ecosystem 29:34 What his thesis is on stablecoins, payments, and tokenization 31:25 The reasons why Ethereum ETFs have not been as successful as bitcoin 34:14 How Robbie pitches the ether ETF to clients 35:26 Why BUIDL is built on Ethereum, a public blockchain, rather than on a private one 36:48 Why DeFi’s potential is “immense,” according to Robbie 41:56 How bitcoin ETF options will impact the behavior of investors 43:57 What features BlackRock would love to see under a new SEC regime 45:32 What it’ll take for regulators to approve staking in ether ETFs 46:33 Why Robbie is not sure which crypto ETFs might come next 48:16 Whether BlackRock will develop proof of reserves for its ETFs 52:21 Robbie’s outlook for the markets in 2025 Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com Thank you to our sponsors! Polkadot Mantle’s FBTC Guest: Robbie Mitchnick, Head of Digital Assets for BlackRock Links Previous coverage of Unchained on Bitcoin ETFs: Why Bitcoin ETF Options Could Unlock Massive Amounts of Capital for Crypto How, in 7 Weeks, Bitcoin ETFs Reached Inflows That Took Gold ETFs 3 Years  Bitcoin’s Price Is Way Up. And $48 Trillion in Wealth Just Got Access How Small Bitcoin ETF Issuers Will Compete With the Likes of BlackRock Unchained: BlackRock’s Spot Bitcoin ETF Eclipses Firm’s Gold ETF in Net Assets CNBC: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink: I believe bitcoin is a legit financial instrument CoinDesk: BlackRock Sees Sovereign Wealth Funds, Pensions Coming to Bitcoin ETFs Forbes: A Trump U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve ‘Game-Changer’ Is Suddenly Hurtling Toward The Bitcoin Price Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 8m

  4. NOV 12

    How Crypto Played the Political Game—and Won 'Bigly'

    The 2024 elections have reshaped the future of crypto in Washington. With almost $200 million in donations, the Fairshake Super PAC not only backed pro-crypto candidates but also took bold risks by challenging entrenched incumbents. This strategic gamble appears to have paid off, leading to the most crypto-friendly Congress in U.S. history. In this episode, Coinbase’s Faryar Shirzad and Kara Calvert reveal the behind-the-scenes decisions that drove this unprecedented effort, discuss why crypto needs to transcend partisanship, and explain how this election could usher in long-awaited regulatory clarity. They also delve into the global stakes of blockchain adoption and whether the U.S. can reclaim its leadership as other nations surge ahead in Web3 innovation. Show highlights: 01:48 The journey of how crypto became so important in this election 04:16 The differences between Fairshake and Stand With Crypto 08:48 How Fairshake decided which candidates to support 12:48 How Washington reacted to the massive influx of money to support pro-crypto candidates 15:51 Why Fairshake stayed out of the Presidential race 18:23 How hard it was for Fairshake to handle its non-partisan stance with both parties 22:32 How the U.S.’s approach to crypto can be compared to how it lost on the cutting-edge technologies of 5G and semiconductors 26:41 What drove the decision to attempt to unseat Sherrod Brown, which ended up giving Sen. Warren more power on the Senate Banking Committee 32:54 Whether Sen. Warren’s anti-crypto stance has been diminished after the elections 35:28 How the industry got past the fiasco of Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX 42:07 Why Faryar believes that “anyone would be an upgrade” from Gary Gensler as Chair of the SEC 46:45 How blockchain technology allows for instant settlements, a feature so needed in capital markets 49:36 What could happen with the SEC’s legal actions against crypto companies now that Gensler will lose his position as SEC chair 53:22 What Faryar and Kara expect the new administration to do around crypto 56:47 How DeFi can be regulated in the U.S. and whether Trump will support the motto “code is free speech” 1:01:37 The perception of Washington insiders about Polymarket  1:04:28 Whether the technology sector will be on the Republican side from now on Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com Thank you to our sponsors! Polkadot Robinhood & Arbitrum iYield Guests: Faryar Shirzad, Coinbase Chief Policy Officer  Kara Calvert, Coinbase Head of US Policy Links Previous coverage of the elections on the podcast: Under Trump, the First Crypto President, Where Will Markets Go? Bits + Bips: Trump Won and the Question Is: Do You Have Enough Crypto? How Arthur Hayes Has Prepared His Portfolio for the Elections The Chopping Block: 2024 Election Debate feat. Mike Novogratz & Shaun Maguire It’s Not Just the Presidency. Congressional Races Matter a Lot for Crypto Unchained:  DeFi Tokens Jump on Hopes That Trump Will Provide Crypto Regulatory Clarity What Gary Gensler Could Still Do Against Crypto in His Remaining Days as SEC Chair Elizabeth Warren Will Be the Top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee Stand With Crypto Says These Races Are Crucial for Crypto. But Why? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 13m

  5. NOV 8

    The Chopping Block: How Prediction Markets Outsmarted the 2024 Election feat. Laura Shin

    Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner get together and give the industry insider's perspective on crypto. This week, Laura Shin joins the squad to help break down the aftermath of the 2024 U.S. presidential election and its impact on the crypto landscape. With a new pro-crypto administration on the horizon, they explore what Trump’s stance on blockchain regulation could mean for the industry, from ETFs and stablecoin legislation to the potential of a national Bitcoin reserve. They also dig into the power of prediction markets, which outperformed mainstream media in election coverage, signaling a shift in trust and transparency. From the populist appeal of crypto to the challenges facing a divided Democratic Party, this episode uncovers the political dynamics that could drive innovation or stifle growth in the U.S. crypto market. Expect insights on the forces shaping America’s crypto future and the role of policy in crypto’s place on the global stage. Show highlights 🔹 Prediction markets outpaced mainstream media in calling the 2024 election, marking a shift in how people track election outcomes. 🔹 Trump’s pro-crypto stance signals potential changes for the industry, from new ETFs to a possible federal Bitcoin reserve. 🔹 The Democratic Party’s anti-crypto stance highlights a disconnect between progressive values and blockchain innovation. 🔹 As prediction markets gain popularity, more Americans rely on them over traditional media for real-time election insights. 🔹 One high-stakes bettor’s multi-million-dollar wager on the election paid off, thanks to a unique strategy involving the "neighbor effect." 🔹 The Democratic Party’s focus on "woke" issues may have contributed to a historic loss, raising questions about the future of these policies. 🔹 With pro-crypto Republicans in control, sweeping legislative changes are expected, from stablecoin laws to crypto tax reforms. 🔹 Crypto’s anti-elite appeal is resonating with populist movements, indicating a potential path for mass adoption. 🔹 The idea of Bitcoin on the U.S. national balance sheet is gaining traction as a pro-crypto administration takes office. 🔹 Political choices could propel or stifle America’s standing as a global leader in blockchain innovation and technology. Hosts ⭐️Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly  ⭐️Tom Schmidt, General Partner at Dragonfly  ⭐️Robert Leshner, CEO & Co-founder of Superstate ⭐️Laura Shin, journalist, author of ‘The Cryptopians,’ founder and CEO of Unchained Disclosures Links Kamala Harris Shouldn’t Just Embrace Crypto. She Must Help It Flourish by Laura Shin: https://time.com/7111315/kamala-harris-crypto-laura-shin-essay/  How the Trump Whale Correctly Called the Election by Alexander Osipovich https://www.wsj.com/finance/how-the-trump-whale-correctly-called-the-election-cb7eef1d  Timestamps  00:00 Intro 01:17 Election Night Observations 04:32 Polymarket's Role 06:19 French Whale x Neighbor Effect 14:52 Mainstream Media vs. Prediction Markets 25:54 The Future of Prediction Markets 27:26 Crypto and the Democratic Party's Missteps 30:30 Democratic Party's Superiority Complex 31:38 Crypto's Global Impact and Legislation 43:23 Predictions for Crypto's Future in the U.S. 49:47 The Return of Crypto Companies to the U.S. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    57 min

  6. NOV 8

    Under Trump, the First Crypto President, Where Will Markets Go?

    With a friendlier regulatory environment in sight, will crypto finally get its moment? Jeff Park, head of alpha strategies at Bitwise, joins Unchained to break down what a pro-crypto approach in Washington could mean for the industry, why DeFi tokens such as UNI are thriving, and whether Bitcoin has a place as a strategic national asset.  Plus, Park shares insights into how China will respond to Trump’s economic measures and explains what he means by the “radical portfolio” thesis.  Tune in to find out how this new political era could set the stage for crypto’s long-awaited breakout. Show highlights: Jeff’s main takeaways from the intersection of crypto and politics this cycle Whether crypto has become a partisan issue Why Jeff highlights the usefulness of Polymarket to track the chances of each candidate Why Uniswap’s token UNI outperformed the broader market What sectors of the industry could boom with more regulatory clarity Whether the idea of using bitcoin as a strategic reserve is feasible  How China will respond to Trump’s economic measures What is the “radical portfolio” thesis and what’s bitcoin’s role in it Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com Thank you to our sponsors! Polkadot Mantle’s FBTC Guest Jeff Park, Head of Alpha Strategies at Bitwise The Radical Portfolio Theory Links Unchained:  Ether Breaks Past $2,800 to 3-Month High Following Trump’s Victory DeFi Tokens Jump on Hopes That Trump Will Provide Crypto Regulatory Clarity Bitcoin Just Gained $100 Billion in Market Cap Overnight. Is it Time to Take Profits? Bitcoin Hits New All-Time High of $75,000 What Gary Gensler Could Still Do Against Crypto in His Remaining Days as SEC Chair Haralabos Voulgaris’s tweets on gambling: Expressing concern about gambling addiction Contrasting gambling now vs. when he started His opposition to how much gambling is promoted Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:13 Key takeaways on crypto’s role in politics 02:38 Has crypto become a partisan issue? 06:47 Why Polymarket is crucial for tracking election odds 09:29 Why UNI is outperforming the market 11:56 Which sectors could thrive with regulatory clarity? 15:07 Could Bitcoin become a national strategic reserve? 18:32 How might China respond to Trump’s economic policies? 20:17 What is the “radical portfolio” thesis? 29:57 Crypto News Recap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    42 min

  7. NOV 7

    Bits + Bips: Trump Won and the Question Is: Do You Have Enough Crypto?

    Donald Trump is headed back to the White House, and the crypto markets are surging in response.  This episode of Bits + Bips dives into what the election means for crypto, the potential crypto IPOs coming soon, why DeFi tokens are outperforming, and what changes in U.S. regulation could mean for investors. Ram Ahluwalia and Noelle Acheson join to explore this unprecedented moment in crypto and how inflation and policy changes may boost Bitcoin and the broader ecosystem. Show highlights: Everyone’s initial reactions to Trump’s win How some crypto companies could have their IPO soon Whether it’s time to take profits after the substantial run Why DeFi tokens have been the biggest winners  What the next crypto spot ETF will be and whether we’ll see staking rewards for ETH Why mainstream media didn’t see the Trump win coming Why Ram and Alex believe that Kamala Harris was not the right candidate How Trump won the appeal of the lower class in the U.S. Whether immigration was key to sustaining the GDP and avoiding a “hard landing” Crypto’s massive win in Congress How much impact Elon Musk had in the outcome of the elections How Polymarket has become a “new source of truth,” according to Ram Why the Fed doesn’t have a need to accelerate rate cuts Whether Trump’s policies will be inflationary and whether he’ll go forward with tariffs Whether the 10-year bond will reach new highs Thanks to Gemini for sponsoring this episode of Bits + Bips. Hosts: James Seyffart, Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence Alex Kruger, Founder of Asgard Guests: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Noelle Acheson, Author of the “Crypto Is Macro Now” Newsletter  Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:57 Reactions to Trump’s election win 03:13 Which crypto companies might IPO soon? 09:28 Is it time to take profits in crypto? 17:30 Why are DeFi tokens surging? 20:31 What’s next for crypto ETFs and ETH staking rewards? 28:00 Why mainstream media missed Trump’s victory 33:44 Ram’s thoughts on Kamala Harris’s candidacy 43:52 How Trump gained appeal with lower-income voters 45:41 Did immigration help sustain GDP? 53:11 Crypto’s big win in Congress 56:53 Elon Musk’s influence on the election outcome 1:04:10 Is Polymarket becoming a “new source of truth”? 1:10:30 Why the Fed may not need faster rate cuts 1:13:26 Will Trump’s policies drive inflation? 1:17:08 Will the 10-year bond hit new highs? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 21m

  8. NOV 5

    Is There a Better Way to Launch Tokens in Crypto?

    Crypto networks are meant to be decentralized, community owned systems. But they’re turned out to be dominated by whales and to have more mercenaries who are just interested in getting free tokens to dump them, rather than having long-term believers who want to build the ecosystem. How can tokens be launched in a way that gets token holders aligned with long-term success?  Today’s guests, Mike Dudas, founding partner of 6th Man Ventures, and Matt O’Connor, co-founder of Legion, believe there’s room for improvement. In this episode, they share how Legion aims to reshape the process, focusing on fair distribution, incentivizing organic user growth, and building loyal communities. They explore Legion’s approach to token sales, its compatibility with regulatory frameworks, and why it might be the key to bringing new people into crypto. Show highlights: How Legion was born and what its main goal is The problems with how token launches currently work  Why projects don’t want to return to the ICO model Whether the criteria to earn a better reputation on Legion is gameable  How Legion actually works and what the role of KYC is What type of regulatory framework Legion is leveraging How MiCA’s rules for token offerings allowed for this type of project to emerge Whether the U.S. should follow Europe in establishing a crypto framework like MiCA What the business model of Legion is What the difference is between Legion and other similar platforms such as Cobie’s Echo Whether token sales is a better distribution mechanism than airdrops Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com Thank you to our sponsors! Polkadot Mantle Robinhood & Arbitrum Guests: Mike Dudas, Founding partner of 6th Man Ventures Matt O’Connor, Co-Founder of Legion Matt’s open source publication: Tokenomics for Builders Links Unchained: Legion Launches New Tool to Identify Best Contributors in Crypto Fundraises Legion Whitepaper Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:49 How Legion was born and its main goal 05:33 What’s wrong with current token launches? 11:13 Why projects avoid the ICO model 13:37 Can Legion’s reputation system be gamed? 26:18 How Legion works and the role of KYC 35:23 The regulatory framework behind Legion 39:06 How MiCA enabled this type of project 44:09 Should the U.S. adopt a framework like MiCA? 46:32 What is Legion’s business model? 50:28 How Legion differs from Cobie’s Echo 53:18 Are token sales better than airdrops for distribution? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 1m
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Hosts & Guests

4.6
out of 5
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About

Crypto assets and blockchain technology are about to transform every trust-based interaction of our lives, from financial services to identity to the Internet of Things. In this podcast, host Laura Shin, an independent journalist covering all things crypto, talks with industry pioneers about how crypto assets and blockchains will change the way we earn, spend and invest our money. Tune in to find out how Web 3.0, the decentralized web, will revolutionize our world. Disclosure: I'm a nocoiner.

Information

  • Creator
    Laura Shin
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2024
  • Episodes
    768
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2020 Laura Shin. All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    Unchained

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