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Unchained

657 EpisodesProduced by Laura ShinWebsite

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 cry… read more

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Farewell

February 22nd, 2024

0:39

An important message from RadioPublic

The Chopping Block: Institutional Memecoin Craze, BASE vs. Ethereum, and Legal Clamps on Rogue Exchanges! - Ep. 625

March 28th, 2024

56:19

Welcome to The Chopping Block, where Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner dive into the crypto universe's hottest topics. In this episode, we're tackling pressing questions: "Are Memecoins a …

The Chopping Block: Memecoin Presales, MakerDAO’s Endgame, and BlackRock's Blockchain Bet! - Ep. 622

March 21st, 2024

44:23

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. In this week's episode, the squad dives into the riveting dynamics of …

The Chopping Block: The Ups-and Downs of Crypto since 2020 and where we are now! - Ep. 619

March 14th, 2024

59:09

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. In this week's episode the squad asks: Is MakerDAO setting a new …

The Chopping Block: Meme Coin Frenzy, Decentralized AI, & Uniswap's Fee Strategy - Ep. 617

March 9th, 2024

1:16:49

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner dive into the hot topics stirring …

The Chopping Block: Starknet's Airdrop, Founder Challenges, and Ethena's Mainnet - Ep. 611

February 22nd, 2024

1:05:02

Welcome to The Chopping Block, where crypto experts Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner bring you inside perspectives on critical topics in the crypto world. This week the boys dive deep into …

The Chopping Block: Navigating the New Era of Crypto Social Media with Farcaster's Insights! - Ep. 608

February 15th, 2024

1:11:32

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and special guest Dan Romero, co-founder of Farcaster, engage in a riveting discussion on decentralized social media and …

The Chopping Block: Is Farcaster the Web3 Social Layer? - Ep. 605

February 8th, 2024

1:06:11

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news and with special guest, and Farcaster aficionado Ted! This episode zooms in on …

The Chopping Block: Points or Airdrops, Which Is the Better Engagement Model for Crypto Projects? - Ep. 603

February 3rd, 2024

1:02:24

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news …

Jupiter Founder Meow to Critics of JUP Airdrop: ‘Give Me a Break’ - Ep. 602

February 2nd, 2024

49:15

While Solana DeFi protocol Jupiter staged what was by most measures a very successful airdrop launch on Wednesday, achieving a market cap of close to …

The Chopping Block: Data Availability & Why It’s Important - Ep. 599

January 25th, 2024

1:00:35

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. This week kicks off with a crucial question: Are the latest trends in …

Why the SEC’s Case Against Coinbase Is So Significant for Crypto - Ep. 597

January 19th, 2024

55:38

On Wednesday, a federal court in New York heard oral arguments in Coinbase’s motion to dismiss the SEC’s case against it for, among other things, …

The Chopping Block: When Will the ETF Hype End? - Ep. 596

January 18th, 2024

1:00:51

Welcome to The Chopping Block, where crypto experts Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner bring you inside perspectives on critical topics in the crypto world. This episode delves into the …

How Small Bitcoin ETF Issuers Will Compete With the Likes of BlackRock - Ep. 595

January 16th, 2024

1:11:44

Thursday was a momentous day in crypto as the first SEC-approved spot Bitcoin ETFs finally began trading after more than a decade of waiting, and by almost all accounts, it was a huge success, with more than $625 …

Why Spot Bitcoin ETFs Are Likely to Finally Start Trading on Thursday - Ep. 592

January 9th, 2024

1:06:54

It’s set to be a historic week in crypto, with the SEC widely expected to finally approve a spot Bitcoin ETF, although it’s not a 100% certainty. Two …

Three Crypto Pioneers on Crypto’s Monolithic vs. Modular Debate - Ep. 589

January 2nd, 2024

1:14:09

In this episode of Unchained, Anatoly Yakovenko, co-founder of Solana Labs, Nick White, COO at Celestia, and Chris Burniske, partner at VC firm …

The Chopping Block: How Jito Helped Put Solana on the Map Again - Ep. 588

December 29th, 2023

1:07:02

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news. This week, they are joined by Lucas Bruder, co-founder and CEO of Jito Labs, an …

Crypto Points Systems Are a 100x Opportunity, But Founders, Be Wary - Ep. 585

December 22nd, 2023

42:43
Take the Unchained 2023 survey!

Over the past year, the crypto industry has seen the rise of a new trend: the adoption of points systems. 

Li Jin, cofounder of Variant Fund, says that while points systems have long been a …

Why Swan CEO Cory Klippsten Is Still Convinced That Bitcoin Is Headed to $1 Million - Ep. 584

December 19th, 2023

1:22:36
Take the Unchained 2023 survey!

Swan founder and CEO Cory Klippsten is all-in on Bitcoin. Not only does he believe that Bitcoin is poised to reach $1 million by 2030, he also thinks most alt-coins add little to no value …

The Chopping Block: Crypto’s Best and Worst in 2023 - Ep. 583

December 15th, 2023

1:20:29

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. …

Why the SEC May Want Cash Creation of Spot Bitcoin ETFs - Ep. 582

December 15th, 2023

44:24
Take the Unchained 2023 survey!

Unchained is doing its annual survey. Let us know what we’re doing well, how we can improve, what you’d like to see more of, and generally, how we can serve you better. The survey also …

How Binance Will Open All Its Activity to the U.S. Government - Ep. 581

December 12th, 2023

1:11:01

Unchained is running its annual survey to better serve you.

Please answer our annual survey here.


The record $4.3 billion settlement reached between Binance and the U.S. government over charges of money laundering and …

Market Forecaster Raoul Pal Says There’s a Good Chance Bitcoin Will Hit $100K-$200K in 2024 - Ep. 580

December 8th, 2023

40:34

Unchained is running its annual survey to better serve you.

Please answer our annual survey here.

The likely impending approval of spot bitcoin ETFs has already sparked a major rally in the price of bitcoin and other …

The Chopping Block: Top White Hat Hacker Samczsun Discusses the State of Crypto Security - Ep. 579

December 7th, 2023

59:00

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. This week, they are joined by Samczsun, an anonymous security …

Anatoly Yakovenko on Solana’s Astounding Recovery and Its Future Plans - Ep. 578

December 5th, 2023

59:48

Unchained is running its annual survey to better serve you.

Please answer our annual survey here.

Solana’s native token SOL has been one of the …

The Chopping Block: How This DeFi Hack Negotiator Gets Hackers to Return Stolen Money Ep. 577

December 1st, 2023

58:42

Welcome to The Chopping Block — where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. This week, the gang sits down with Ogle Crypto, a veteran negotiator …

Why Presidential Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy Is So Pro-Crypto - Ep. 576

December 1st, 2023

1:01:39

Unchained is running its annual survey to better serve you.

Please answer our annual survey here.

Vivek Ramaswamy is likely the biggest supporter of crypto among the current crop of presidential candidates. But his …

Why the Crypto Industry Is So Upset About the IRS’ Proposed New Tax Reporting Rules - Ep. 575

November 28th, 2023

56:57

The IRS sparked a storm of controversy when it released proposed new rules for crypto transaction reporting earlier this year. The new rules seek to …

Sam Bankman-Fried Whisperer Tiffany Fong Spills Some Tea - Ep. 574

November 24th, 2023

47:28

Tiffany Fong has had an unusual route to crypto fame. After losing most of her life savings in the Celsius bankruptcy, she began posting on YouTube about her experiences and eventually received some leaked documents, …

The Chopping Block: What Does Binance’s Record $4.3 Billion Settlement Mean for Crypto? - Ep. 573

November 23rd, 2023

1:02:13

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. This week, the gang breaks down the record $4.3 billion settlement …

Why Financial Advisors Are So Excited About a Spot Bitcoin ETF - Ep. 572

November 21st, 2023

1:03:43

According to surveys of financial advisors, only 12% are currently recommending that clients invest in Bitcoin, while 47% of advisors personally own Bitcoin and a whopping 77% say they are waiting for a spot Bitcoin ETF …

Could the Bank Secrecy Act Harm Crypto? Coin Center Thinks So - Ep. 571

November 17th, 2023

39:54

In this episode of Unchained, Peter Van Valkenburgh, director of research at Coin Center, explains why the IRS's proposed broker rule for tax …

How Much Money Are Terrorists Actually Raising in Crypto? - Ep. 570

November 14th, 2023

1:10:58

The recent Wall Street Journal article that claimed Hamas raised $130 million via cryptocurrency has sparked considerable debate, especially after …

The Chopping Block: Why Vivek Ramaswamy Wants Less Crypto Regulation - Ep. 569

November 13th, 2023

47:32

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. This week, the gang welcomes Republican presidential candidate Vivek …

How Can OpenSea Regain Dominance After Layoffs and the NFT Market Decline? - Ep. 568

November 10th, 2023

42:41

Last week, OpenSea, the former frontrunner in the NFT marketplace, confirmed the layoff of half its workforce as the NFT markets seemed to bottom …

The Chopping Block: Did Blur Cause a Decline in the NFT Market? - Ep. 567

November 9th, 2023

1:06:08

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. This week, they explore the enigmatic 'unhinged scale' metric, …

A 20+ Year Sentence? Why the Evidence Against SBF Was Too Hard to Overcome - Ep. 566

November 7th, 2023

1:22:31

In this episode of Unchained, Laura does a detailed unpacking of the historic Sam Bankman-Fried trial and verdict with defense lawyer Sam Enzer and former Southern District of New York prosecutor Rich Cooper. They …

Two Genesis Creditors Describe Their Frustrations With the Bankrupt Crypto Lender - Ep. 565

November 4th, 2023

1:28:06

Two Genesis creditors, BJ and Branden, who prefer to use pseudonyms for security reasons, spoke with Unchained about the alleged fraud by the crypto lender and its parent company, Digital Currency Group (DCG). The …

SBF Trial, Day 18: Sam Bankman-Fried Found Guilty on All 7 Counts in Swift Verdict

November 3rd, 2023

4:52

The downfall of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried from king of the crypto world to crypto scammer is complete.


A Manhattan jury of nine women and three men took less than five hours Thursday afternoon, day 18 of the …

SBF Trial, Day 17: Closing Arguments Ask: ‘Villain or Good-Faith Actor?’

November 2nd, 2023

17:06

Prosecutors and defense attorneys in the trial of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried closed their arguments with similar stories to their opening statements more than three weeks ago: a tale of two Sams.


On Wednesday …

The Chopping Block: Nic Carter on Hamas’ Crypto Funding, SBF’s Courtroom Collapse, and Dramas Involving Lido and dYdX - Ep. 564

November 2nd, 2023

58:43

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. This week, the gang sits down with guest Nic Carter of Castle Island Ventures, whose …

SBF Trial, Day 16: In Final Cross Examination, SBF Gets Caught Again by His Own Words

November 1st, 2023

10:44

For a second, consecutive day, prosecutors pounded away at Sam Bankman-Fried’s credibility, asking the former FTX CEO to explain his obliviousness about how Alameda had spent $8 billion of FTX customer funds.


Prosecutors …

SBF Trial, Day 15: Prosecutors Hammer Bankman-Fried’s Contradictions With Reams of Evidence

October 31st, 2023

9:17

In a trial during which he has suffered many low points, former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried may have reached a nadir on day 15 as prosecutor Danielle Sassoon used his own words to show stark contradictions from his …

Why SBF's Testimony So Far Has Likely Already Doomed Him - Ep. 563

October 30th, 2023

51:57

Sam Enzer, a partner at the law firm Cahill Gordon & Reindel, told Laura that former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried did about as well as he could in …

SBF Trial, Day 14: Sam Bankman-Fried Casts Blame on Others for Key Decisions at FTX

October 28th, 2023

11:56

Sam Bankman-Fried took the stand before a jury for the first time in his criminal trial for allegedly defrauding FTX customers. The exchange’s co-founder and former CEO tried to recast the image that prosecutors spent …

How Much Money Will Flow Into Bitcoin ETFs? Here’s One Projection - Ep. 562

October 27th, 2023

41:42

In a recent report, Alex Thorn, head of research at Galaxy, predicted that inflows to spot bitcoin ETFs would rise above $14 billion in the first …

SBF Trial, Day 13: Before Judge, Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried Gives Few Straight Answers

October 27th, 2023

8:09

In a courtroom drama minus the jury, Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) took the stand for what can be best described as a “test run.” The hearing aimed to help the judge decide what evidence will be admissible in the actual …

The Chopping Block: Are We Back? The 'Low IQ' Response to the Potential Spot Bitcoin ETF - Ep. 561

October 26th, 2023

35:17

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. This week, the four discuss Bitcoin’s price surge over the past week …

Why a Spot Bitcoin ETF Will Probably Launch No Later Than January 10 - Ep. 560

October 24th, 2023

1:15:44

James Seyffart, market analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, and Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise Asset Management, feel quite certain a spot Bitcoin ETF will launch in the next few months. 

First, the SEC …

The Chopping Block: A Rough Week 3 for SBF, DCG Troubles, Fees at Uniswap - Ep. 559

October 21st, 2023

51:49

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. This week, the four discuss – and disagree about – Uniswap’s new …

Another Bad Week for Sam Bankman-Fried in His Criminal Trial - Ep. 558

October 20th, 2023

49:03

Sam Enzer, a partner at the law firm Cahill Gordon & Reindel, told Laura that compelling evidence from Sam Bankman-Fried’s inner circle had …

SBF Trial, Day 12: Former FTX General Counsel Speaks Out Against SBF

October 20th, 2023

8:14

On the 12th day of the SBF Trial, former FTX General Counsel Can Sun testified about a $7 billion deficit in customer funds. Sun, who was responsible for crafting FTX's terms of service, expressed shock at the deficit …

SBF Trial, Day 11: How Alameda Got FTX Into a $9 Billion Hole

October 19th, 2023

9:40

The courtroom was abuzz on Wednesday as financial and technical experts took the stand in the ongoing criminal trial against Sam Bankman-Fried. Accounting professor Peter Easton, a standout witness, presented a detailed …

SBF Trial, Day 10: Defense Tries But Fails to Undercut Nishad Singh's Credibility

October 18th, 2023

8:54

On day 10 of the Sam Bankman-Fried trial, SBF’s defense team tried to discredit Nishad Singh, a key witness for the prosecution. Despite their efforts, Singh's testimony about FTX's financial mismanagement and …

SBF Trial, Day 9: Nishad Singh Describes Former FTX CEO as a Bully and Big Spender

October 17th, 2023

12:27

The third week of the criminal trial against Sam Bankman-Fried began Monday. Nishad Singh, one of three key witnesses for the prosecution, testified about the alleged misuse of customer funds and a toxic work …

Why These Lawyers Say It's Over for SBF--But His Only Hail Mary Is to Testify - Ep. 557

October 16th, 2023

1:14:57

Samson Enzer, partner at Cahill Gordon & Reindel, and Greg Strong, partner at DLX Law, dissect the second week of the criminal trial of Sam Bankman-Fried. At this point, the prosecution’s star witness, former …

SBF Trial, Day 8: Former BlockFi CEO Adds Credibility to Fraud Charges

October 13th, 2023

6:06

On the eighth day of the SBF trial, former BlockFi CEO Zac Prince took the stand, serving as a strong witness for the defense, while offering a detailed look into how Alameda Research's borrowing from FTX differed from …

How Heated Sidebars During the SBF Trial Could Impact the Jury’s Decision - Ep. 556

October 13th, 2023

44:46

The second week of Sam Bankman-Fried’s criminal trial is underway, bringing emotional testimony from SBF’s ex-girlfriend and former Alameda CEO …

SBF Trial, Day 7: In SBF Trial, Did the Defense Lose Its Opportunity With the Star Witness?

October 13th, 2023

13:49

Day seven of Sam Bankman-Fried’s criminal trial saw the defense team unable to discredit Caroline Ellison, despite multiple attempts. The defense's …

The Chopping Block: Gabriel Shapiro on Why Sam Bankman-Fried May Be a ‘Sociopath’ - Ep. 555

October 12th, 2023

59:01

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and chop it up about the latest news. This week, the crew is joined by Gabriel Shapiro, general counsel at Delphi Labs, to …

SBF Trial, Day 6: Caroline Ellison Recalls 'The Worst Week of My Life

October 12th, 2023

24:38

Day 6 of the SBF trial was marked by emotional testimony from Caroline Ellison, who shed tears as she detailed the financial chaos within Alameda and …

SBF Trial, Day 5: SBF's Defense Finally Found Its Legs, But Can It Counter Caroline Ellison?

October 11th, 2023

17:32

Caroline Ellison, former CEO of Alameda Research and SBF's ex-partner, took the stand to reveal the alleged financial mismanagement at Alameda and …

SBF’s Lawyers Could Be Annoying the Judge. How Might That Impact the Trial? - Ep. 554

October 9th, 2023

1:26:46

The first week of the criminal trial of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried has come to a close, with his former friends and FTX colleagues Adam Yedidia …

SBF Trial, Day 4: SBF's Lawyers Annoy Judge Kaplan, While Wang Reveals Alameda’s Special Privileges

October 7th, 2023

9:02

Laura reports on the testimony of Gary Wang on Thursday, who described Alameda’s special privileges that were programmed into FTX’s code as early as …

Did Sam Bankman-Fried Have Intent to Defraud FTX Investors? - Ep. 553

October 6th, 2023

50:49

The blockbuster trial of Sam Bankman-Fried wrapped up its third day, with multiple witnesses, including former FTX software developer Adam Yedidia, …

SBF Trial, Day 3: Why a True Believer in FTX Flipped Once He Learned One Fact

October 6th, 2023

6:04

Laura reports on the testimony of three witnesses on Thursday, including one who declared that “FTX defrauded all of its customers” and another stating that he had committed financial crimes at the direction of Sam …

SBF Trial, Day 2: DOJ: Sam Bankman-Fried ‘Lied’ His Way to ‘Wealth, Power, and Influence’

October 5th, 2023

4:21

Laura reports on the opening statements of the prosecution and defense, which painted a portrait of Sam Bankman-Fried as power-hungry and discussed how he allegedly managed to fumble customer funds. 

Next witnesses are …

The Chopping Block: Michael Lewis Swindled, SBF’s Effective Altruism Ruse, Ethereum Protocol Enshrinement - Ep. 552

October 4th, 2023

55:31

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. This week, they discuss the wildest claims in Michael Lewis’ new book …

SBF Trial, Day 1: Possible Witnesses Include FTX Insiders, Big Names in Crypto, and SBF’s Family

October 4th, 2023

4:52

Laura reports on a noticeably composed Bankman-Fried and delves into the jury de-selection process, revealing potential jurors with surprising crypto ties. The government's stance on a plea deal is finally clarified, …

SBF Trial: How Sam Bankman-Fried’s Lawyers Might Try and Win His Case - Ep. 551

October 3rd, 2023

1:14:03

The high-stakes trial of Sam Bankman-Fried is set to begin on October 3, and the FTX founder and former CEO will have to answer for his role in the …

The Chopping Block: Which DeFi Metrics Are Still Useful in a Bear Market? - Ep. 550

September 30th, 2023

42:59

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. This week, the group sits down to discuss why U.S. crypto conferences …

Here’s How Sam Bankman-Fried’s High-Stakes Trial Could Play Out - Ep 549

September 29th, 2023

37:31

The trial of Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder and former CEO of bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX, is set to begin on October 3. The 31-year-old is …

Why All 10,000 OnChainMonkey NFTs Will Move From Ethereum to Bitcoin - Ep. 548

September 26th, 2023

1:05:57

Bitcoin Ordinals have exploded in popularity since their launch by developer Casey Rodarmor in January, changing the NFT game with millions of …

Why FTX Might Try to Claw Back Funds From Retail Customers- Ep. 547

September 22nd, 2023

46:25

As lawsuits continue to pile up in the FTX saga, FTX chief John Ray III is focused on clawing back funds from former affiliates to pay back creditors. But how might that play out in court? Founder of 117 Partners Thomas …

The Chopping Block: Will Warren of 0x on Its Settlement With the CFTC - Ep. 546

September 21st, 2023

56:58

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders chop it up about the latest news. This week, Haseeb Qureshi and Tom Schmidt speak to Will Warren, cofounder of 0x Labs, to discuss why the CFTC issued them a Wells …

Zeke Faux's Crypto Adventures and His Relationship With Former FTX CEO SBF - Ep. 545

September 19th, 2023

1:13:55

Zeke Faux, author of 'Number Go Up,' shares his findings after making a deep dive into the world of crypto. From skepticism to a full-blown …

With Execs Leaving and Market Share Declining, Can Binance Survive? - Ep. 544

September 15th, 2023

44:03

In the wake of FTX’s collapse, Binance – already the biggest exchange in the world by a large margin – has continued to grow. But a series of …

Jeremy Allaire on Circle's ‘Multi-Decade’ Strategy and Where Stablecoin Regulation Is Headed - Ep. 543

September 12th, 2023

1:17:14

It’s been a busy year for USDC issuer Circle, with several new product launches and partnerships, a crypto banking crisis to contend with, the entry of PayPal into the stablecoin business, and plenty of new global …

Could This Vitalik-Backed Protocol Bring Privacy to a Regulated Crypto World? - Ep. 542

September 8th, 2023

37:52

Earlier this week, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and four co-authors published a paper describing a smart contract protocol called privacy …

The Chopping Block: Why Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire Is So Optimistic About Stablecoins' Future - Ep. 541

September 7th, 2023

52:07

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. This week, the group sits down with Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire to discuss how the …

Friend.tech: The Legal and Tax Ins and Outs of This Year’s Hottest Crypto App - Ep. 540

September 5th, 2023

57:37

Friend.tech, a decentralized social media platform in which you can buy and sell “keys” in your friends on X (formerly known as Twitter) whose value can go up and down, has become a viral sensation, racking up as many …

Does Grayscale’s Win Against the SEC Mean a Spot Bitcoin ETF Will Be Approved? - Ep. 539

September 1st, 2023

47:15

This week’s emphatic ruling in favor of Grayscale in its suit against the SEC to convert its massive bitcoin trust into an ETF generated plenty of …

The Chopping Block: Coinbase’s Paul Grewal on Why the SEC Is Going After Crypto So Aggressively - Ep. 538

August 31st, 2023

1:04:28

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra, chop it up about the latest news. This week, the …

Oracles: Does the Backbone of DeFi Need Fixing? - Ep. 537

August 29th, 2023

43:30

Oracles are all about bringing important data (mostly asset prices) onto the blockchain. As such, they’re a key part of decentralized finance. But oracle provider Pyth sees room for improvement as it relates to being …

Is This the End of DeFi? Why the US Government Is Going After Tornado Cash - Ep. 536

August 25th, 2023

33:20

On Wednesday, the U.S. Government indicted Tornado Cash developers Roman Storm and Roman Semenov for three counts of conspiracy involving a …

The Chopping Block: All About That Base With Jesse Pollak - Ep. 535

August 24th, 2023

59:15

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. …

Can Maker’s Rune Christensen Fix the Sad State of DAO Governance? - Ep. 534

August 22nd, 2023

1:24:13

The height of the last bull run was when MakerDAO cofounder Rune Christensen felt most disillusioned by DeFi and DAOs. “I didn’t even see how Maker …

SBF Behind Bars: Why Revoked Bail Is a Big Deal for Crypto’s Biggest Trial - Ep. 533

August 18th, 2023

43:06

Lawyer Brian Klein joins the show to explain why Sam Bankman-Fried being locked up makes it “much tougher” for his legal team. This week, the judge presiding over the case said SBF went too far in attempting to …

The Chopping Block: How Wintermute Avoids ‘Zombie’ Exchanges, Base’s Early Success, Bank Fraud in the AI Era - Ep. 532

August 17th, 2023

56:28

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. This week, Wintermute CEO Evgeny Gaevoy joins the show to discuss market making …

Anita Posch on Why ‘Bitcoin Is a Tool for Freedom’ – Especially in Africa - Ep. 531

August 15th, 2023

1:03:11

Educator Anita Posch has spent months on the ground in Africa onboarding new users into the world of Bitcoin. In the West, bitcoin may seem extraneous; but in her telling, bitcoin in Zimbabwe, Zambia, and other African …

Will PayPal's PYUSD Steal Market Share From Tether and Circle? - Ep. 530

August 11th, 2023

40:00

A major player has entered the stablecoin wars. PayPal went deeper down the crypto rabbithole this week with the launch of its Ethereum-based PYUSD. …

The Chopping Block: Curve Crisis Concludes With a Whimper, PayPal’s PYUSD Raises New Questions - Ep. 529

August 10th, 2023

54:39

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. This week, a quiet conclusion to that Curve thing everyone was …

Orb Outrage: Worldcoin Cofounder Defends Project Amid Backlash - Ep. 528

August 8th, 2023

54:36

Worldcoin is getting hit from all sides. Following a popular launch in late July, critics from the crypto community and public sector alike are …

What Does the Curve Crisis Say About DeFi? - Ep. 527

August 4th, 2023

37:58

While it’s now mostly contained, the Curve crisis has exposed some of the systemic risks in the world of DeFi. Sam Kazemian, founder of Frax Finance, joins the show to discuss what DeFi needs to do to get better – and …

The Chopping Block: Who’s to Blame for the Curve Hack? - Ep. 526

August 3rd, 2023

59:01

Welcome to “The Chopping Block” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news. This week, Laurence Day, smart-contract sleuth and co-founder of Wildcat Finance, …

Why CoinFund Believes Worldcoin Could Become More Popular Than Bitcoin - Ep. 525

August 1st, 2023

1:06:06

CoinFund’s Jake Brukhman and Chris Perkins join Unchained to dissect their recent $158 million seed round and the transformation of the investment …

Rep. Ritchie Torres on Why Congress Should Make Clear Crypto Laws - Ep. 524

July 28th, 2023

39:28

Crypto markets are under the gun from SEC Chairman Gary Gensler’s ‘regulation by enforcement’ policy. Meanwhile, a divided political landscape …

The Chopping Block: NFA for Founders, Worldcoin and UniswapX Launch, Hamster Racing - Ep. 523

July 27th, 2023

53:22

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. This week, they debate whether infrastructure is being over-invested …

Two VCs on Why This Is the Perfect Time to Invest in Crypto - Ep. 522

July 25th, 2023

1:46:25

Despite the doom and gloom, Placeholder VC partners Chris Burniske and Joel Monegro are highly bullish on the present moment. “We’re all going to …

Why the SEC Doesn’t Want the Ripple Case to Go to the Supreme Court - Ep. 521

July 21st, 2023

42:49

If the SEC wants to appeal last week’s judgment in the Ripple case, it better act fast. So says Bill Hughes, regulatory chief at Ethereum booster …

Why the SEC vs. Ripple Order Is Now About 2 Things: Coinbase and Congress - Ep. 520

July 18th, 2023

1:11:09

XRP isn’t itself a security; it depends on how it’s sold. So said a federal judge last Thursday in the SEC vs. Ripple case and the implications are …

The Chopping Block: Should XRP Holders Really Be Rejoicing? - Ep. 519

July 15th, 2023

47:04

Welcome to “The Chopping Block” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. This week, crypto lawyer Stephen Palley joins an emergency live …

New Order in SEC vs. Ripple Over XRP Is a Win for Crypto: What Happens Now? - Ep. 518

July 14th, 2023

47:41

The SEC and Ripple have been locked in a legal tug of war for years, stirring up waves of controversy and debate in the crypto community. Finally, Judge Analisa Torres has given an order establishing that XRP buyers …

The Chopping Block: Will Tokenizing RWAs Finally Click This Time? - Ep. 517

July 13th, 2023

56:07

Welcome to “The Chopping Block” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest …

When AI and Blockchain Meet, How Can Each Technology Benefit? - Ep 516

July 11th, 2023

1:12:40

In recent months, ChatGPT, Bard and other new artificial intelligence (AI) products have revolutionized numerous industries. But how this nascent …

Circuit Breakers: Is ERC-7265 the Solution dApps Were Waiting For? - Ep. 515

July 7th, 2023

40:20

In 2022, crypto crime hit an all-time high. A staggering $3.8 billion in crypto was stolen, with DeFi protocols bearing the brunt of these thefts, …

ERC-6551: Is This the Next Big Leap in NFT Innovation? - Ep. 514

July 4th, 2023

1:00:49

The ERC-721 token standard on Ethereum ignited the frenzied world of NFTs. Yet, as the dust settled, their limitations became apparent. Enter ERC-6551, a new standard designed to overcome these challenges.

Benny Giang …

Will FTX Reboot? Here’s John Ray’s Internal Deadline for Making a Decision - Ep. 513

June 30th, 2023

43:44

From “hush money” allegations to a prospective FTX relaunch, it’s been a crazy week for those following the legal saga of Sam Bankman-Fried’s …

The Chopping Block: Why the Azuki Elementals Drop Was a Big Flop - Ep. 512

June 29th, 2023

1:10:30

Welcome to “The Chopping Block” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest crypto news. 

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast,

Prometheum and Paradigm in Debate: Can the Status Quo Work for Crypto? - Ep. 511

June 27th, 2023

1:10:15

Aaron Kaplan, co-CEO of Prometheum, the trading platform that recently acquired a special-purpose broker dealer license for digital asset securities, has become a major lightning rod in the crypto community. Does the …

The Chopping Block: Is BlackRock’s ETF Proposal Breathing Life Into Bitcoin? - Ep. 510

June 24th, 2023

1:00:59

Welcome to “The Chopping Block” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest crypto news. With BTC topping $30,000, the gang tackles the apparent …

Why It Looks Like BlackRock Could Win America’s First Spot Bitcoin ETF - Ep. 509

June 23rd, 2023

49:41

The SEC has swatted down so many spot bitcoin ETF applications that crypto diehards simply gave up caring. Then comes TradFi giant BlackRock – at the height of the SEC’s crypto crackdown, no less – with an ETF …

Uniswap Founder Hayden Adams on How ‘Hooks’ Make v4 Different - Ep. 508

June 20th, 2023

1:20:29

The announcement of the upcoming launch of Uniswap v4 sparked fresh versions of old debates. Is it OK for DeFi’s leading DEX to not be fully open …

SEC’s Hester Peirce Tackles ‘Frustrating’ Crypto Regulation – And Why It’s So Slow - Ep. 507

June 16th, 2023

43:28

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce has a reputation in the industry for being more supportive of crypto than her peers. After a rough year for the industry, Peirce weighs in on whether the agency was right in recently …

The Chopping Block: Why Uniswap V4 Creates a Bigger Attack Surface Area - Ep. 506

June 15th, 2023

56:39

Welcome to “The Chopping Block” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner, chop it up about the latest news. In this episode, Robert stirs the debate over Hinman's 2018 speech …

Hong Kong's New Crypto Regulation: Will It Attract the Industry? - Ep. 505

June 13th, 2023

1:14:55

On June 1, Hong Kong implemented new crypto regulations to license exchanges. Two experts – Angelina Kwan, CEO of Stratford Finance (and former COO …

SEC Sues Binance, Coinbase: ‘This Is Not the End of Crypto in the United States’- Ep. 504

June 9th, 2023

46:38

On Monday, it was Binance. On Tuesday, Coinbase. Electric Capital General Counsel Emily Meyers joins the show to read between the lines of an action-packed week for Gary Gensler’s SEC. Meyers lends her lawyerly eye to …

The Chopping Block: Jake Chervinsky on How the SEC Has Lost Credibility - Ep. 503

June 8th, 2023

1:07:48

Welcome to “The Chopping Block” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner, chop it up about the latest news. In this episode, the Blockchain Association’s Jake Chervinsky …

What’s Next for Wallets After Ledger Recover Outrage? - Ep. 502

June 6th, 2023

1:07:14

Wallet security was in the spotlight after the announcement of Ledger Recover, but the crypto community doesn’t need to “freak out,” according to Itai Turbahn, co-founder and CEO of Dynamic Labs, and Ouriel Ohayon, CEO …

The Chopping Block: Will Modular Blockchains Win? - Ep. 501

June 3rd, 2023

1:02:31

Welcome to “The Chopping Block” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner, chop it up about the latest news. In this episode, the gang answers audience questions, digs into …

Laura Shin Reflects on 500 Episodes of ‘Unchained’ - Ep.500

June 2nd, 2023

1:18:01

If a year in crypto is like a decade in other industries, then Laura Shin has seen a lot. To commemorate the 500th episode of “Unchained” (actually, there’s about 150 more under a different brand name), Laura hops on …

These 2 Crypto Trading Platforms Agree With SEC Chair Gary Gensler - Ep. 499

May 30th, 2023

1:17:30

“Lack of regulatory clarity” is the catchall complaint levied against U.S. regulators by most major players in the crypto industry. But the founders …

Ethereum L2s Are About to Be the Hot New Thing in NFTs - Ep.498

May 26th, 2023

42:00

It’s in the name: mint.fun. Co-founder Luke Miles joins the show to talk about his platform’s efforts to make NFTs more discoverable, accessible and fun. He also shares his on-the-ground perspectives on emerging trends …

The Chopping Block: Why Everyone Is Talking About EigenLayer - Ep. 497

May 25th, 2023

57:54

Welcome to “The Chopping Block” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner, chop it up about the latest news. In this episode, EigenLayer founder Sreeram Kannan explains his …

Ex-CFTC Commissioner Berkovitz Says ‘DeFi Should Be Regulated’ – But How? - Ep. 496

May 23rd, 2023

1:22:17

In the SEC’s push to rein in the crypto sector, one question looms large: Is ETH a security? Dan Berkovitz, a former CFTC commissioner and SEC …

The Chopping Block: Wizards vs. Laser Eyes for the Future of Bitcoin - Ep. 495

May 20th, 2023

1:16:40

Welcome to “The Chopping Block” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Robert Leshner, chop it up about the latest news. In this episode, Taproot Wizards instigator Eric Wall joins the show to discuss …

The Ugly Tradeoffs of Ledger’s New Recovery Service - Ep. 494

May 19th, 2023

40:04

Ledger, the crypto industry’s leading hardware wallet manufacturer, rolled out a new recovery feature this month that caused an uproar. The recovery …

Bitcoin’s BRC-20 Mania: Is It Sustainable? - Ep. 493

May 16th, 2023

1:06:41

Ordinal theory has unleashed a new wave of NFTs, memecoins and innovation on Bitcoin — but not without controversy. Bitcoin educator Dan Held and Bitcoin Frontier Fund Managing Partner Trevor Owens join the show to …

The Chopping Block: Do Aragon Association Members Get 'Fat Salaries' With 'Zero Accountability'? - Ep. 492

May 14th, 2023

54:42

Welcome to “The Chopping Block” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Robert Leshner, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news. In this episode, they talk about the recent issues surrounding the …

The IRS Wants $44B From Bankrupt FTX. How Is That Possible? - Ep. 491

May 12th, 2023

41:04

News emerged this week that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) placed $44 billion in claims on the FTX bankruptcy estate. Now creditors of the defunct crypto exchange are worried that the taxman is going to gobble …

Writing the Book on FTX’s Downfall: ‘It Was All Just Sam’ - Ep. 490

May 9th, 2023

1:00:33

Longtime crypto reporter Brady Dale has beat Michael Lewis to market with the first book on the dramatic collapse of FTX. In stores today, “SBF: How …

$630M Due Next Week: Is DCG at Default Risk? - Ep. 489

May 5th, 2023

45:01

The Genesis bankruptcy is about to take a high-stakes turn with a $630 million payment from Digital Currency Group (DCG) due by May 11. Barry Silbert’s DCG, the parent company of Genesis, is on the hook for the massive …

Do You Need to Think Twice Before Restaking Your Assets? - Ep. 488

May 2nd, 2023

1:09:15

In this episode, Sreeram Kannan, founder of EigenLayer, and Konstantin Lomashuk, cofounder of Lido Finance, discuss the complex world of staking in Ethereum's post-Shanghai ecosystem.

 

Listen to the episode on Apple …

The Chopping Block: Why Are We Still Building Layer 1s? - Ep. 487

April 29th, 2023

45:06

Welcome to “The Chopping Block” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news in digital assets. In this live episode from Consensus 2023, they are joined by …

Coinbase's Legal Action Against the SEC: How It Will Likely Unfold - Ep. 486

April 28th, 2023

38:04

Major crypto exchange Coinbase has decided to take action to get an answer from the Securities and Exchange Commission: this week, they filed a court action seeking to compel Gary Gensler’s agency to give specific …

Gary Gensler vs. Crypto: What Will the SEC Attack Next? - Ep. 485

April 25th, 2023

1:13:42

Two lawyers, Josh Klayman, head of digital assets at Linklaters, and Marc Boiron, chief legal officer at Polygon Labs, offer their takes on the SEC’s …

The Chopping Block: Are Layer 2s Stealing Ethereum’s Thunder? - Ep. 484

April 22nd, 2023

59:07

Welcome to “The Chopping Block” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Robert Leshner, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news. In this episode, the gang plays “guess the chart” and takes a deep …

‘Is ETH a Security?’ Why Gary Gensler Couldn’t Give Congress a Straight Answer - Ep. 483

April 21st, 2023

39:41

It got heated this week on Capitol Hill with SEC Chair Gary Gensler testifying before the House Financial Services Committee on his agency’s efforts …

Why MEV Will Always Be Controversial - Ep. 482

April 18th, 2023

1:09:45

Maximal extractable value, or MEV, is a mainstay of the Ethereum landscape. But the process of validators reaping profits from handling new blocks is not without controversy. Ethereum Foundation researcher Justin Drake …

The Chopping Block: Are VCs Bad for Crypto? - Ep. 481

April 15th, 2023

1:05:42

Welcome to “The Chopping Block” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. In this episode, they’re joined by Unchained’s Laura Shin to debate FTX revival …

Laura’s 10-Year Anniversary of Self-Employment: A Personal Message

April 15th, 2023

14:52

Laura’s 10-Year Anniversary of Self-Employment: A Personal Message 


Laura Shin, the host of Unchained, celebrated her 10-year anniversary of self-employment on Wednesday, April 12. She tells her story and has a message …

Shapella in the Rearview: After Major Upgrade, What’s Next for Ethereum? - Ep. 480

April 14th, 2023

42:06

This week’s major Ethereum upgrade, Shapella (it was really two upgrades, Shanghai and Capella, in one), brings the network’s multi-year journey to …

Are DAOs Strong Enough to Survive the Regulators? - Ep. 479

April 11th, 2023

1:17:04

How can decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) be more resilient? Gabriel Shapiro, general counsel at Delphi Labs, and Fatemeh Fannizadeh, lawyer and researcher at Geneva-legal.ch, survey the landscape and offer …

Rep. Emmer on Why He Believes Gary Gensler Is a ‘Bad-Faith Regulator’ - Ep. 478

April 7th, 2023

39:45

Amidst a wide-ranging crackdown on all kinds of crypto players, Representative Tom Emmer talks about recent enforcement actions, the classification of cryptocurrencies as securities or commodities, the potential impact …

The Chopping Block: Is Ether the Only ‘Organic Yield’ in Crypto? - Ep. 477

April 6th, 2023

55:36

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news. In this episode, they are joined by Laura Shin, author, journalist, and host of …

Is the Government Trying to Kill Off Crypto in the US? - Ep. 476

April 4th, 2023

1:13:50

Brian Quintenz, head of policy for a16z crypto, and Nic Carter, general partner at Castle Island Ventures, talk about Operation Choke Point 2.0, the …

Why the CFTC Case Against Binance Will Have Very Important Consequences for Crypto - Ep. 475

March 31st, 2023

44:13

In this episode, Austin Campbell, a professor at Columbia Business School, discusses the recent allegations made by the CFTC against Binance, and …

The Chopping Block: Is This the Beginning of the End for Binance? - Ep. 474

March 30th, 2023

1:05:02

Welcome to “The Chopping Block” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Robert Leshner, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest …

Why Zero-Knowledge Proofs Are Critical to Ethereum’s Future - Ep. 473

March 28th, 2023

1:10:25

In this episode, Stanford cryptography professor Dan Boneh and a16z General Partner Ali Yahya elevate our knowledge of zero-knowledge proofs and their applications in the blockchain world. Listen as they dive into the …

Coinbase’s Top Lawyer Calls SEC Wells Notice a ‘Massive Overreach’ - Ep. 472

March 24th, 2023

39:19

Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s chief legal officer, shares his concerns about the SEC’s recent warning that it would pursue legal action against the crypto …

The Chopping Block: Why AI Will Change the Course of History in Crypto - Ep. 471

March 22nd, 2023

1:20:06

Welcome to “The Chopping Block” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news. This week, …

Why Caitlin Long and Meltem Demirors Are Worried About Crypto’s Future in the US - Ep. 470

March 21st, 2023

1:16:55

Caitlin Long, founder and CEO of Custodia Bank, and Meltem Demirors, chief strategy officer of CoinShares, share their concerns about crypto in the …

Jim Bianco on Why the Banking System Has Always Been Broken - Ep. 469

March 17th, 2023

45:18

Jim Bianco, president and macro strategist at Bianco Research, explains what’s causing the recent cascade of bank failures. Yield seekers taking their money elsewhere are putting banks under strain. However, the …

The Chopping Block: Was Crypto Just Debanked? - Ep. 468

March 16th, 2023

1:05:49

Welcome to “The Chopping Block” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Robert Leshner, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news. This week: Silicon Valley Bank went belly up and knocked USDC off …

How Will ETH React to Ethereum’s Shanghai Upgrade? - Ep. 467

March 14th, 2023

1:01:59

ETH staking began in December 2020. With Ethereum’s Shanghai upgrade, which could happen as early as mid-April, withdrawals of staked ETH will …

The Chopping Block: Arthur Hayes on Why Crypto Needs to Ditch the Banks - Ep. 466

March 11th, 2023

58:51

BitMEX founder Arthur Hayes, fresh out of home confinement after settling charges with the U.S. government, joins “The Chopping Block” with Haseeb Qureshi, Robert Leshner, and Tarun Chitra. The early crypto pioneer …

Grayscale v. SEC: Who Won This Week’s Hearing? - Ep. 465

March 10th, 2023

36:39

Elliott Stein, senior litigation analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, shares his insights from a court hearing this week on the SEC’s rejection of Grayscale’s bid to convert GBTC into a spot bitcoin ETF. Stein says …

ETH Denver Debate: Should Testnet ETH Be Free or Have a Price? - Ep. 464

March 7th, 2023

46:24

LayerZero launched a testnet bridge that allows users to swap mainnet ETH for Goerli ETH (GoETH), which led to a sudden emergence of a liquid market for GoETH tokens.

This was a hugely controversial decision, as many in …

The Chopping Block: Is Coinbase’s Base ‘the Binance Smart Chain for White People’? - Ep. 463

March 4th, 2023

47:21

In-person at ETH Denver, crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest crypto news. This week, Kyle …

Bitcoin Ordinal NFTs Are Hot and Getting Hotter. What's the Hype About? - Ep. 462

March 3rd, 2023

39:20

Muneeb Ali, co-creator of Stacks, discusses the Bitcoin trend that has everyone – or at least, many Bitcoiners – buzzing: Bitcoin ordinals. Ali explains why it is that they’ve taken up block space, pushed Bitcoin fees …

Have Crypto Detectives Killed the Cypherpunk Dream? - Ep. 461

February 28th, 2023

1:10:34

Andy Greenberg, senior writer for WIRED and author of “Tracers in the Dark,” takes us inside the world of crypto-tracing crimebusters and voices the ambivalence of Bitcoin – a cypherpunk creation – eroding financial …

Is Asia Going to Lead the Next Bull Run? - Ep. 460

February 24th, 2023

36:09

Emily Parker, CoinDesk’s executive director of global content, joins the show to discuss the Asian crypto markets. From Hong Kong to Tokyo, Parker …

The Chopping Block: The Inside Story of How Blur Toppled NFT Giant OpenSea - Ep. 459

February 22nd, 2023

1:09:30

Welcome to “The Chopping Block” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Robert Leshner, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news. This week, it’s time for a case study: Special guest Pacman, …

Just a Coincidence? Coinbase and Polygon Lawyers See Bad Omens in SEC Crackdown - Ep. 458

February 21st, 2023

1:09:03

A settlement with Kraken, a proposed custody rule, and lawsuits against Paxos and Terraform Labs. “This week has been a very long year,” said Polygon …

Is Gary Gensler on a Mission to Put Crypto Down for Good? - Ep. 457

February 17th, 2023

48:56

Mike Selig, counsel at Willkie Farr, has plenty to talk about this week, with a slew of actions from Gary Gensler’s SEC putting the future of crypto in the U.S. in question. From Kraken’s custodial staking settlement to …

The Chopping Block: The SEC Is Attacking Crypto – Will Gary Gensler Succeed? - Ep. 456

February 15th, 2023

1:16:31

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Robert Leshner, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news. …

How This Prosecutor Is Spearheading the Fight Against Crypto ‘Pig Butchering’ Scams - Ep. 455

February 14th, 2023

1:00:12

Erin West, Deputy District Attorney of California’s Santa Clara County, has heard firsthand tales of scammers preying on victims for hundreds of …

Chris Blec on Why He Believes a16z’s Uniswap Vote Exposes DeFi as a Farce - Ep. 454

February 10th, 2023

38:08

Chris Blec, DeFi researcher and founder of the Blec Report, explains why he believes the involvement of Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) in a contentious …

Everything You Need to Know About Filing Your 2022 Crypto Taxes - Ep. 453

February 7th, 2023

1:12:18

Lawrence Zlatkin, VP of Tax at Coinbase, and Shehan Chandrasekera, Head of Tax Strategy at CoinTracker, give a full accounting of everything U.S. …

The Chopping Block: Why Canto, Up Nearly 500% This Month, Has Its Haters - Ep. 452

February 4th, 2023

59:17

Welcome to “The Chopping Block!” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Robert Leshner, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest …

Why the Celsius Examiner Report Shows 'a Complete Disaster in Almost Every Way' - Ep. 451

February 3rd, 2023

37:08

Following the release of Celsius' examiner report, Kadhim Shubber, an investigative reporter at The Financial Times, dives into the controversial …

Did FTX Ruin Crypto’s Image on Capitol Hill? Two DC Insiders Discuss - Ep. 450

January 31st, 2023

1:13:44

Sheila Warren, CEO of the Crypto Council for Innovation, and Miller Whitehouse-Levine, Policy Director of the DeFi Education Fund, offer insider …

The Chopping Block: Why the Once-Taboo MEV Is Now a Core Part of Ethereum - Ep. 449

January 28th, 2023

1:32:13

Welcome to “The Chopping Block!” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news. This week, Flashbots co-founder Phil Daian joins the show to go deep on what …

Why Grayscale Is Suing the SEC Over Its Denial of a Bitcoin ETF - Ep. 448

January 27th, 2023

38:08

Michael Sonnenshein, CEO of Grayscale Investments, gives an overview of his firm’s case against the SEC, which has denied requests to turn Grayscale’s bitcoin trust into an exchange-traded fund (ETF). With oral …

The Chopping Block: Will Genesis Creditors Be Made Whole? - Ep. 447

January 25th, 2023

56:34

Welcome to “The Chopping Block!” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Robert Leshner, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest …

Not Just FTX: One Skeptic’s Take on Why Crypto Is a Scam - Ep. 446

January 24th, 2023

1:05:58

James Block, crypto skeptic and author of the Dirty Bubble Media newsletter, rose to prominence with a timely post predicting FTX’s insolvency. The …

Why Crypto Developer Activity Continues to Grow Despite the Bear Market - Ep. 445

January 20th, 2023

38:58

Maria Shen, partner at Electric Capital, unpacks the venture firm’s latest Developer Report. Hotly anticipated among crypto observers, the annual report captures which chains developers are building on. Despite 2022’s …

How Crypto Bankruptcy Claims Buyers Will Profit From the Collapse of FTX - Ep. 444

January 17th, 2023

1:19:50

From 3AC to FTX (and possibly more to come), it’s boom times for those trading crypto bankruptcy claims. Thomas Braziel, founder and CEO of 507 Capital, gives a crash course on bankruptcy law, offering the latest …

The Chopping Block: Why Gemini Users Are Mad at Genesis and DCG - Ep. 443

January 14th, 2023

1:00:33

Welcome to “The Chopping Block!” – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Robert Leshner, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest …

DCG's Dilemma: Should It Sell Its GBTC Holdings to Repay Gemini? - Ep. 442

January 13th, 2023

42:32

Gemini has accused Digital Currency Group CEO Barry Silbert of fraud after allegedly misrepresenting the financials of his company. The accusations …

What Does Mango Markets Exploiter Avi Eisenberg's Arrest in Puerto Rico Mean for DeFi? - Ep. 441

January 10th, 2023

58:10

Gabriel Shapiro, general counsel at Delphi Labs, and Collins Belton, managing partner at Brookwood P.C., dive into the controversial case of Avi …

Gemini vs. DCG Is Heating Up. Could Gemini Force Genesis Into Bankruptcy? - Ep. 440

January 6th, 2023

41:24

Ram Ahluwalia, CEO and cofounder at Lumida, talks about the ongoing dispute between Gemini and Digital Currency Group (DCG), specifically focusing on the actions and statements of DCG CEO Barry Silbert and Gemini’s …

Could the Crypto Markets Revive in 2023? Two Researchers Discuss - Ep. 439

January 3rd, 2023

1:17:47

Lucas Nuzzi, head of R&D at CoinMetrics, and Larry Cermak, VP of research at The Block, discuss the current state of the crypto market, including the potential for contagion effects and the challenges faced by VC …

Why Martin Shkreli Thinks SBF's New Judge Could Still Be Lenient - Ep. 438

December 30th, 2022

1:18:58

Martin Shkreli, entrepreneur, investor and convicted white-collar criminal, talks about the new judge assigned to the case against Sam Bankman-Fried, …

The Chopping Block Recaps 2022: Crypto's Biggest Winners and Losers and Best Memes - Ep. 437

December 28th, 2022

1:30:28

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Robert Leshner, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the year 2022 in the crypto industry and share their biggest winners and losers of the year, …

Collapses, Bankruptcies, and Fraud: How 2022 Became the Year of Crypto Carnage - Ep.436

December 27th, 2022

49:53

This episode of Unchained looks back on a tumultuous year for the cryptocurrency industry in 2022. Significant events such as the bankruptcies of …

Martin Shkreli Explains Why Sam Bankman-Fried Got Lucky With His Judge - Ep. 435

December 23rd, 2022

1:23:01

Martin Shkreli, entrepreneur and investor, talks about what Sam Bankman-Fried’s potential life in prison could look like. As a former white-collar …

2022 in Review + How Cobie and Chris Burniske Are Playing the New Year - Ep. 434

December 20th, 2022

1:21:09

What a year. Cobie, crypto investor and host of UpOnly, and Chris Burniske, partner at Placeholder Ventures, sift through 2022’s rubble for clues as …

The Chopping Block: Was FTX a Scam From the Very Beginning? - Ep. 433

December 17th, 2022

1:09:20

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Robert Leshner, and Tarun Chitra were joined by Laura Shin to chop it up about the …

How Much Prison Time Is FTX's Sam Bankman-Fried Facing? - Ep. 432

December 16th, 2022

42:04

Ari Redbord, head of legal and government affairs at TRM Labs, discusses all the charges that Sam Bankman-Fried is facing and their potential …

How Will the FTX Collapse Affect Silvergate? A Bear and a Bull Debate - Ep. 431

December 13th, 2022

1:14:24

Ram Ahluwalia, CEO and cofounder of crypto-native investment advisor Lumida, and Marc Cohodes, individual investor and former hedge fund manager, have a heated debate about Silvergate, a crypto-friendly bank that plays …

Why the Legal Process for FTX and Sam Bankman-Fried Could Take Years - Ep. 430

December 9th, 2022

46:18

TuongVy Le, partner and head of regulatory & policy at Bain Capital Crypto, discusses how the legal process for Sam Bankman-Fried in the wake of …

​​Genesis May Be Facing Bankruptcy. Could It Take DCG Down With It? - Ep. 429

December 6th, 2022

1:17:32

Ram Ahluwalia, CEO and co-founder of crypto-native investment advisor Lumida, and Samuel Andrew, crypto author and analyst, talk about the financial situation at Genesis and parent company Digital Currency Group (DCG). …

The Chopping Block: SBF Wants to Win in the Court of Public Opinion. Will He? - Ep. 428

December 3rd, 2022

51:03

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Robert Leshner, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news. 


Show …

Adam Cochran on Why Crypto Prices Will Be Down Bad for the Next Six Months - Ep. 427

December 2nd, 2022

37:58

Adam Cochran, partner at Cinneamhain Ventures, talks about the collapses suffered during this year, their impacts on big traditional finance players, …

'The Last Big Whale': Why the Crypto Contagion of 2022 Eventually Hit Genesis - Ep. 426

November 29th, 2022

1:11:47

Michael Jordan, founder at DBA and former co-head of investments at Galaxy Digital, and Alex Pack, managing partner at Hack VC, talk about the …

Gabriel Haines on How He Came to Make His Hilarious, Yelling Crypto Videos - Ep. 425

November 25th, 2022

23:27

Gabriel Haines, a crypto content creator, comes on this 2022 Thanksgiving edition of Unchained to talk about his videos and leave a positive message …

The Chopping Block on FTX/Alameda: Is Sam Bankman-Fried 'Crypto Kanye'? - Ep. 424

November 22nd, 2022

1:01:01

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Robert Leshner, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news …

Jesse Powell and Kevin Zhou on How FTX and Alameda Lost $10 Billion - Ep. 423

November 21st, 2022

1:20:40

Kevin Zhou, cofounder of Galois Capital, and Jesse Powell, cofounder of Kraken, talk about why FTX collapsed, the warning signs, and whether it’s a …

Did the Bahamian Government Direct SBF and Gary Wang to Hack FTX? - Ep. 422

November 18th, 2022

40:50

Wassielawyer, a lawyer specializing in restructuring and insolvency, explains the first declaration from new FTX CEO John Ray in the company’s …

The Chopping Block: Why Lenders Didn't Liquidate Alameda When It Was Underwater - Ep. 421

November 16th, 2022

1:51:32

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra were joined by Laura Shin, CEO of the show, to chop it …

Will FTX Customers Ever Recover Their Assets? Two Insolvency Experts Weigh In - Ep. 420

November 15th, 2022

1:42:47

Wassielawyer, a lawyer specializing in restructuring and insolvency, and Thomas Braziel, founder and CEO of 507 Capital, talk about the bankruptcy of …

Erik Voorhees and Cobie on Why FTX Loaned Out Customers’ Assets - Ep. 419

November 11th, 2022

1:06:20

 Erik Voorhees, founder of ShapeShift, and Jordan Fish, aka Cobie, crypto investor and host of UpOnly, talk about the collapse of FTX. 


Show …

The Chopping Block: FTX: The Biggest Collapse in the History of Crypto? - Ep. 418

November 9th, 2022

1:03:55

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi and Tom Schmidt were joined by Nic Carter, reformed Bitcoin Maxi, and Laura Shin, CEO …

Does Maximalism Help or Hurt Bitcoin? Lyn Alden and Udi Wertheimer Debate - Ep. 417

November 8th, 2022

1:30:00

Lyn Alden, founder of Lyn Alden Investment Strategy, and Udi Wertheimer, a recovering Bitcoin maxi, talk about Bitcoin Maximalism, how Bitcoin is developing, and what’s the future of Bitcoin’s security model. 

 

Show …

The Chopping Block: Can Exchange CEOs Like SBF Be Crypto True Believers? - Ep. 416

November 5th, 2022

58:19

 Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Robert Leshner, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news in the …

Bitcoin Miners Going Bankrupt? Here's How Crypto Winter Is Impacting the Industry - Ep. 415

November 4th, 2022

35:44

Nick Hansen, cofounder and CEO of Luxor Technologies, talks about the Bitcoin mining industry, why some miners are struggling while others are …

Are NFT Royalties the Way? How to Build a Sustainable Creator Economy - Ep. 414

November 1st, 2022

1:09:34

Sterling Crispin, artist and software developer and Holly Herndon, host of the Interdependence podcast, talk about the problems that creators face, …

The Mango Markets Attacker on Whether His 'Trade' Was Ethical or Not - Ep. 413

October 28th, 2022

34:43

Avraham Eisenberg, blogger at DeepFi Value – more commonly known as the Mango Markets attacker – shared his insights about the exploitation of code, his personal story, and why there’s hatred directed towards profitable …

Eric Wall and Udi Wertheimer on Why Bitcoin Maximalism Is 'Like a Shitcoin Community' - Ep. 412

October 25th, 2022

1:23:42

Eric Wall, crypto blogger and investor, and Udi Wertheimer, a recovering Bitcoin maxi, discuss everything about Bitcoin Maximalism, whether BTC can survive, and whether Ethereum constitutes a threat for Bitcoin. 

 

Show …

The Chopping Block: 'Code Is Law' Is 'Obviously Not How Anything Works Ever' - Ep. 411

October 22nd, 2022

55:30

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Robert Leshner, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news in the …

Fat Man Terra Speaks: Do Kwon Is a ‘Sociopath’ and a ‘Charismatic Manipulator’ - Ep. 410

October 21st, 2022

39:50

Fat Man Terra, the anonymous Twitter account dedicated to bringing Do Kwon to justice, reacts to my recent interview with Do Kwon and says what he …

The Chopping Block: Two on Two Debate: NFT Royalty Throwdown! - Ep. 409

October 19th, 2022

1:23:24

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Host Haseeb Qureshi partnered with Zhuoxun Yin, cofounder of Magic Eden, to debate Unchained host Laura Shin and Li Jin, cofounder at Variant Fund, on the topic of NFT Royalties. 


Show …

Do Kwon of Terra: 'It Was Never Really About Money or Fame or Success' - Ep. 408

October 18th, 2022

1:27:53
Do Kwon, cofounder of Terraform Labs, discusses the charges against him, gives a message to Terra victims, answers allegations about potential fraud …

Why the SEC Is Probing Yuga Labs and Coin Center �Is Suing Treasury - Ep. 407

October 14th, 2022

40:26

Peter Van Valkenburgh, director of research at Coin Center, comes to talk about the SEC probe into Yuga Labs, how to determine whether something is a security, and Coin Center’s lawsuit against the US Treasury over the …

Zaki Manian and Jack Zampolin on Why ATOM Is 'Dogecoin for Academics' - Ep. 406

October 11th, 2022

58:47

Zaki Manian, cofounder of Sommelier Protocol and cofounder of Iqlusion and Jack Zampolin, founder of Strangelove Ventures, discuss everything about …

The Chopping Block: Was This Gary Gensler's Most Liked Tweet? - Ep. 405

October 8th, 2022

1:15:19

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra were joined by Laura Shin to chop it up about the latest …

Kristin Smith on Why Crypto Legislation Could Be Passed by Year's End - Ep. 404

October 7th, 2022

37:30

Kristin Smith, Executive Director of the Blockchain Association, comes to talk about Tornado Cash, the lawsuit against Ooki DAO, the SEC charges …

Sam Bankman-Fried on How to Prevent the Next Terra and 3AC - Ep. 403

October 4th, 2022

1:00:43

Sam Bankman-Fried, founder and CEO of FTX, discusses his views on crypto regulation, macroeconomics, and the role of FTX in a decentralized industry. 

Why the Ooki DAO Case Could Hurt Participation in DAOs - Ep. 402

September 30th, 2022

37:08

Nikhilesh De, CoinDesk's managing editor for global policy and regulation, comes to talk about the CFTC lawsuit against Ooki DAO and the potential …

How Will the Legal Case Against Do Kwon Play Out in South Korea? - Ep. 401

September 27th, 2022

1:04:15

Zack Guzman, journalist and Coinage host, and Jongbaek Park, partner specializing in blockchain and crypto assets at Bae, Kim & Lee, discuss how the case in South Korea against Do Kwon and TerraForm Labs will likely …

The Chopping Block: Why ETH Dumped So Hard After the Merge - Ep. 400

September 24th, 2022

59:50

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Robert Leshner, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news in the …

Why Senator Pat Toomey Thinks SEC Chair Gary Gensler Is Wrong About Crypto - Ep. 399

September 23rd, 2022

41:12

Pat Toomey, U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania, talks about legislation in the crypto industry, how to determine if something is a security, the future of …

Is Bitcoin Doomed to Fail? Eric Wall and Justin Bons Face Off - Ep. 398

September 21st, 2022

1:28:37

In a heated debate, Eric Wall, crypto blogger and investor, and Justin Bons, founder and chief investment officer of Cyber Capital, discuss Bitcoin’s security model, whether there are fundamental flaws in its design, …

Did the Merge Make Ethereum 'the Most Secure Blockchain in the World'? - Ep. 397

September 16th, 2022

40:59

Justin Drake, researcher at the Ethereum Foundation, talks about the Merge, how this transition affects Bitcoin, where Ethereum’s road map is going, …

The Chopping Block: ETHPoW Is 'a Terrible Way to Fork the Blockchain' - Ep. 396

September 14th, 2022

56:49

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Robert Leshner and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news in the digital asset industry. In this episode, Emin Gün Sirer, the emperor of Avalanche, …

How Traders Are Thinking About the Merge -- and a Potential ETHPoW Chain - Ep. 395

September 13th, 2022

1:11:18

Kevin Zhou, co-founder of Galois Capital, and Evgeny Gaevoy, founder and CEO of Wintermute, discuss how to trade the Ethereum Proof of Work fork, what the market is telling about the Merge, and whether the Merge affects …

Preston Van Loon on Ethereum's Merge and His Lawsuit Against Treasury- Ep.394

September 9th, 2022

39:01

 

Preston Van Loon, cofounder and Ethereum core developer at Prysmatic Labs, talks about the Merge, its impact on an environmental level, and why he is a plaintiff in the lawsuit against the Treasury Department over …

Arthur Hayes, Former Ethereum Skeptic, on Why the Merge Makes Him Bullish on ETH - Ep. 393

September 6th, 2022

1:05:27

Arthur Hayes, cofounder of BitMex, discusses how he’s trading the Merge, the impact of macroeconomic policy in the markets, his career as a writer, …

The Chopping Block: Why DeFi May Be Over-Complying With Tornado Cash Sanctions - Ep. 392

September 3rd, 2022

59:14

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi and Tom Schmidt chop it up about the latest news in the digital asset industry. In this episode, Jill Gunter, the empress of Espresso, also joined the …

How a16z’s New NFT Licenses Hope to Solve Rights Problems for Creators and Buyers - Ep. 391

September 2nd, 2022

36:24

Miles Jennings, general counsel at a16z crypto, talks about its new “can’t be evil” NFT licenses and how they help to solve many problems within the …

Given the Sanctions on Tornado Cash, Is Ethereum Censorship Resistant? - Ep. 390

August 30th, 2022

1:25:08

Show highlights:

  • the legal meaning of the OFAC sanctions on Tornado Cash and why it is causing complications
  • how legislation is built for the fiat …

With the Merge, Will Ethereum Take Over Bitcoin’s Title as Digital Gold? - Ep. 389

August 26th, 2022

37:56

Travis Kling, Chief Investment Officer at Ikigai Asset Management, talks about how ETH changes after the Merge, what factors are going to affect its price action, and whether it can decouple from traditional assets. 

 

Why Is Ethereum Trying to Maximize Value From Users? Two Sides Debate - Ep. 388

August 23rd, 2022

1:15:57

Stephane Gosselin, cofounder and chief architect of Flashbots, and Uri Klarman, CEO of bloXrouteLabs, joined Unchained to discuss everything about MEV, an especially important topic now with the Merge coming. 

Show …

Is TRM Labs Blocking Addresses From DeFi Protocols? Ari Redbord Says No - Ep.387

August 19th, 2022

38:56

Ari Redbord, Head of Legal and Government Affairs at TRM Labs, talks about the sanctions on Tornado Cash, and the role of blockchain analytics tools …

The Chopping Block: Did OFAC Overstep by Sanctioning Tornado Cash? - Ep. 386

August 18th, 2022

1:17:33

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news in the digital asset industry. In this episode, Laura Shin, host of Unchained and author of …

Coinbase CPO Surojit Chatterjee Explains Why He Believes the Exchange Will Win- Ep. 385

August 16th, 2022

1:11:03

Surojit Chatterjee, chief product officer at Coinbase, comes to talk about what products Coinbase is building, how it can thrive in such a competitive landscape, how to onboard billions of users into crypto, and much …

Tornado Cash Sanctioned. Did the Government Overstep Its Bounds? - Ep. 384

August 12th, 2022

38:09

Jerry Brito, executive director of Coin Center, talks about Tornado Cash, why it was sanctioned, and what this means for privacy in crypto. 

 

Show …

The Chopping Block: How to Manage MakerDAO, With Hasu and Rune - Ep. 383

August 11th, 2022

1:11:52

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news in the digital asset industry. In this episode, Hasu, the gourmand of governance and Rune …

Will the Nomad Mass Looting Change How Law Enforcement Treats DeFi Hacks? - Ep. 382

August 9th, 2022

30:23

Layne Haber, Co-founder of Connext Network, discusses the Nomad bridge hack, how it happened, and what can be done to prevent these exploits. 

 

Show …

Why Kevin Zhou Believes Ethereum Will Have 3 Forks After the Merge - Ep. 381

August 5th, 2022

1:19:09

Kevin Zhou, co-founder of Galois Capital, comes to talk about the possibility of a Proof of Work chain on Ethereum after the Merge, the LUNA death spiral, how he plans to play the Merge, and much more... 

 

Show …

How Will Inflation Impact Crypto? Lyn Alden and Mauricio Di Bartolomeo Explain - Ep.380

August 2nd, 2022

1:19:14

Lyn Alden, founder of Lyn Alden Investment Strategy, and Mauricio di Bartolomeo, cofounder of Ledn, discuss how inflation could affect the digital …

The Chopping Block: A Network State in 10 Years? Balaji Srinivasan Says Yes - Ep. 379

July 31st, 2022

1:05:20

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news in the digital asset industry. In this episode, Balaji Srinivasan discusses his latest book, “

Why the Crypto Industry Believes SEC Regulation by Enforcement Hurts US Consumers - Ep. 378

July 29th, 2022

31:43

Marisa Tashman, policy counsel at Blockchain Association, analyzes the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) decision to name nine tokens as …

Why the Messy 3AC, Celsius, and Voyager Bankruptcies Will Drag on for Years - Ep.377

July 26th, 2022

1:28:34

Two crypto law experts, WassieLawyer and Adam Levitin, analyze the bankruptcies of 3AC, Celsius, and Voyager. Show highlights:

  • the difference …

Why 3AC's Collapse Could Spell the Start of a Crypto Credit Crunch - Ep. 376

July 22nd, 2022

37:52

Adam Cochran, partner at Cinneamhain Ventures, discusses the impact of 3AC’s impending liquidation. Show topics:

  • why 3AC founders (and family …

Bitcoin in El Salvador: Why Would Cypherpunks Support Government-Mandated Bitcoin Adoption? - Ep. 375

July 19th, 2022

1:06:29

Nelson Rauda, Salvadoran journalist for El Faro, comes to talk about the impact of Bitcoin in El Salvador, the needs of Salvadoran people, Bitcoin …

Three Crypto Bankruptcies: 3AC, Celsius and Voyager. What Happens Now?- Ep. 374

July 15th, 2022

40:42

In a highly educational conversation, Wassielawyer, a lawyer specializing in restructuring and insolvency, discusses the bankruptcy and liquidation …

The Chopping Block: Anatoly Yakovenko on Why Solana Is Building the SAGA Phone - Ep. 373

July 14th, 2022

1:02:28

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news in the digital asset …

Post-Merge, If Lido Becomes Dominant, What Does That Mean for Ethereum? - Ep. 372

July 12th, 2022

1:03:38

Ryan Berckmans, Ethereum investor and community member, and Alexandre Bergeron, Bitcoin investor, discuss Lido’s dominance as a liquid staking …

How Helium Uses Crypto to Grow Decentralized Wifi and Mobile Networks - Ep. 371

July 8th, 2022

43:28

Amir Haleem, CEO of Nova Labs and founder of Helium, talks about the use cases for Internet of Things (IoT), how blockchain and crypto help to construct a decentralized internet infrastructure, and what is the future of …

In the Recent Crypto Market Meltdown, What Role Did Lido's stETH Play? - Ep. 370

July 5th, 2022

1:10:51

Hasu, strategic advisor to Lido, and Tarun Chitra, founder of Gauntlet, explain everything about staked ETH, aka stETH, how it should be priced, …

Oslo Freedom Forum: How NFTs Helped Chinese Dissident Artist Badiucao Evade Censorship - Ep. 369

July 1st, 2022

40:08

Badiucao, Chinese artist and activist, talks about the importance of NFTs for political activism, the role of China in his career as an artist, the …

The Chopping Block: Here’s What Was So Bad About Three Arrows Capital - Ep. 368

June 30th, 2022

1:00:44

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news in the digital asset industry. In this episode, Taylor Monahan, matriarch of Metamask, joins …

Does Venture Capital Investment Violate the Ethos of Crypto? Sequoia Says No - Ep. 367

June 28th, 2022

1:12:16

Shaun Maguire and Michelle Bailhe, partners at Sequoia, discuss their long term view and thesis about crypto, what do they look for to invest in a …

Solend and Bancor Drama: Did These DAOs Violate the Ethos of Crypto? - Ep. 366

June 24th, 2022

36:48

Derek Hsue, cofounder at Reverie, discusses the recent controversial decisions by Solend DAO and Bancor, the importance of establishing processes for …

CFTC Commissioner Caroline Pham on Why US Crypto Regulators Get a B- Ep. 365

June 21st, 2022

57:26

Caroline Pham, commissioner at the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, discusses how we should build a regulatory framework for crypto assets, …

Why Possible Insolvencies by Celsius and 3AC Could Spell Disaster for Crypto - Ep. 364

June 17th, 2022

39:09

Mika Honkasalo, independent crypto researcher, discusses what is happening with Celsius and Three Arrows Capital, the importance of having proper risk management, and the contagion effects on the industry.

 

Show …

The Legal and Regulatory Fallout From Terra's Collapse: Who Will Pay? - Ep. 363

June 14th, 2022

1:04:21

Olta Andoni, deputy general counsel at Ava Labs, and Ari Redbord, head of legal and government affairs at TRM Labs, discuss the Terra stablecoin …

The Chopping Block: Why Solana’s Frequent Downtime Doesn't Bother Kyle Samani- Ep. 362

June 13th, 2022

1:05:29

Welcome to The Chopping Block – in person at Consensus in Austin! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Robert Leshner, and Tarun Chitra are joined by …

The Lummis/Gillibrand Crypto Bill: Is the 'Ancillary Token' Approach the Best Way? - Ep. 361

June 10th, 2022

40:19

Lewis Cohen, lead attorney at DLx Law LLC, joins to discuss the recently proposed Lummis-Gillibrand bill, the Responsible Financial Innovation Act, …

How Soulbound Tokens Could Reduce Speculation and Improve DAO Voting - Ep. 360

June 7th, 2022

58:17

Glen Weyl, RadicalxChange Foundation founder and political economist & social technologist at Microsoft Special Projects, and Puja Ohlhaver, …

The Department of Justice Goes After Its First NFT Insider Trading Case - Ep 359

June 3rd, 2022

41:36

Jason Gottlieb, a crypto attorney and partner at Morrison Cohen, discusses the insider trading case being built by the US Department of Justice …

The Chopping Block: Does the New Terra Have Any Chance? - Ep. 358

June 2nd, 2022

1:00:57

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news in the digital asset …

How Osmosis Is Trying to Improve the Crypto User Experience - Ep.357

May 31st, 2022

1:11:18

Sunny Aggarwal, co-founder of Osmosis Labs, talks about how Osmosis is being built, the innovations that are coming, the reasons to use app chains, …

Hester Peirce's Former Counsel on Terra 2.0, XRP and a Bitcoin Spot ETF - Ep.356

May 27th, 2022

36:39

Coy Garrison, former counsel to SEC Commissioner Hester Pierce and partner at Steptoe & Johnson, discusses the role of regulation in the crypto …

Cobie and Chris Burniske on How to Navigate a Crypto Bear Market - Ep.355

May 24th, 2022

1:26:34

Cobie, co-founder of Lido and UpOnlyTv, and Chris Burniske, partner at Placeholder Ventures, talk about surviving a crypto bear market, the Terra …

The 5 Biggest Lessons From Terra/Luna's Collapse, According to Tascha Che - Ep.354

May 20th, 2022

40:10

Tascha Che, founder of Tascha Labs, unpacks the Terra/Luna debacle and reveals what she believes are the five main takeaways from its collapse. Here …

The Chopping Block: Kevin Zhou on Why He Knew Terra Would Crash - Ep.353

May 19th, 2022

1:08:59

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news in the digital asset industry. On this episode, Kevin Zhou, the CEO of Galois Capital and …

Why Terra Collapsed and Whether an Algo Stablecoin Can Ever Succeed - Ep.352

May 17th, 2022

1:21:08

Nic Carter, general partner at Castle Island Venture, Eric Wall, former Chief Investment Officer of Arcane Assets, and Erik Voorhees, founder of ShapeShift, discuss what happened with the TerraUSD (UST) and LUNA fiasco, …

Did Someone Deliberately Attack Terra/Luna to Kick off a Death Spiral? - Ep.351

May 13th, 2022

50:19

Jon Wu, head of growth at Aztec Network, recaps a historically chaotic week in the Terra ecosystem that saw $UST depeg, Anchor depositors flee, and …

Will Optimism's OP Token Draw People Back to Layer 2s on Ethereum? - Ep.350

May 10th, 2022

1:11:15

Kain Warwick, founder of Synthetix, and Ben Jones, cofounder and chief scientist at Optimism Foundation, discuss the current state of Ethereum Layer 2s, Optimism’s new governance structure, why Synthetix chose to build …

Should Yuga Labs Have Charged More For Its Otherside NFTs? - Ep.349

May 6th, 2022

40:12

Eric Golden, the owner of BAYC #7560 and host of Web3 Breakdowns, discusses the Otherdeed NFT drop that stalled Ethereum and burned over $150 million …

The Chopping Block: Did Andre Cronje Pull an Epic Crypto Rug Pull? - Ep.348

May 5th, 2022

1:01:34

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Robert Leshner, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news in the digital asset industry. On this episode, Andre Cronje, the recently …

RAC and David Greenstein on Why Music NFTs Are Better Than Spotify - Ep.347

May 3rd, 2022

1:13:27

André Allen Anjos, who is better known as the crypto-friendly artist RAC, and David Greenstein, co-founder of Sound.xyz, a web3 music platform, analyze the current state of the web3 music scene and discuss how artists …

FTX Wants to Compete With CME -- Here's Why It's a Big Deal - Ep.346

April 29th, 2022

38:48

Chris Perkins, president of CoinFund, a web3 investment firm, discusses his experience at the Crypto Bahamas conference before diving into an FTX.US

Amy Wu on Why FTX Is So Excited About Web3 Gaming - Ep.345

April 26th, 2022

1:10:32

Amy Wu, head of FTX ventures and gaming initiatives, discusses her role at FTX, what problems need to be addressed in the web3 gaming world, and her …

Why the SEC's Proposed Rules Affecting DeFi Could Violate the First Amendment - Ep.344

April 22nd, 2022

42:18

Peter Van Valkenburgh, director of research at Coin Center, discusses a proposed rule by the US Securities and Exchange Commission that has massive …

The Chopping Block: How to Improve DeFi and Cross-Chain Bridge Security - Ep.343

April 21st, 2022

1:17:04

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news in the digital asset industry. On this episode, Laura Shin, the host of Unchained and author …

Why Crypto Twitter’s Disrespect Toward Regulators Is a ‘Really Bad Business Decision’ - Ep.342

April 19th, 2022

1:12:54

Two policy experts, Chris Lehane, chief strategy officer at Haun Ventures, and Niki Christoff, the founder of Christoff and Co., discuss how the …

Why Ethereum's Merge Was Delayed and Why It Won't Reduce Gas Fees Much - Ep.341

April 15th, 2022

35:34

Tim Beiko, the Ethereum Foundation coordinator for core developers, discusses his recent estimation that Ethereum’s merge, where the network transitions from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake, will be delayed until the …

Excited About Your Bored Ape or CryptoPunk? Make Sure You Understand Your IP Rights - Ep.340

April 12th, 2022

1:07:32

Stuart Levi, co-head of the Technology Transaction and Intellectual Property Group at Skadden Arps, and Marta Belcher, general counsel and Head of …

Here’s Why USDN De-Pegged From the Dollar – And Why UST Might Too - Ep.339

April 8th, 2022

44:30

Kevin Zhou, co-founder of Galois Capital, discusses a crazy week in the world of algorithmic stablecoins that saw USDN de-peg from the dollar and …

The Chopping Block: Why ‘One Man’s Bug Is Another Man’s Bounty’ - Ep.338

April 7th, 2022

55:47

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news in the …

Why TBD's Mike Brock Is Skeptical That Decentralized Applications Will Become Popular - Ep.337

April 5th, 2022

1:14:46

Mike Brock, general manager of TBD at Block, discusses how TBD’s yet-to-be-released DEX is structured, explains why he thinks decentralized solutions …

Bridge Hacks Have Caused ~$1 Billion in Losses. Here’s Why Bridge Security Is Tricky - Ep.336

April 1st, 2022

43:57

Arjun Bhuptani, founder of Connext and bridging expert, breaks down the Ronin bridge exploit that led to a hacker stealing $600 million+ and …

Do Kwon Is Backing UST With Bitcoin – And Here’s What Else He Is Building - Ep.335

March 29th, 2022

1:05:22

Do Kwon is the CEO of Terraform Labs and a director at Luna Foundation Guard. On Unchained, he explains why LFG is spearheading a plan to partially back Terra’s $15 billion stablecoin UST with Bitcoin. He also dives …

Juno Holders Want to Confiscate a Whale’s Tokens. Here’s Why. - Ep.334

March 25th, 2022

37:09

Andy Beal, head of ecosystem development at Forta and author of the 30,000 Feet newsletter, discusses the dramatic governance proposal on Juno …

The Chopping Block: Do Kwon Pitches a Decentralized NFT Publishing Service - Ep.333

March 24th, 2022

54:04

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news in the digital asset industry. On this week’s episode, Do Kwon, founder of Terraform Labs, …

Ukraine Has Received $150 Million in Crypto. Here’s How It Is Being Used - Ep.332

March 22nd, 2022

1:05:24

Illia Polosukhin, co-founder NEAR Protocol, and George Kikvadze, executive vice chairman at BitFury Group, both of whom have called Ukraine “home” at …

Punk6529 on the Significance of Bored Ape Yacht Club and CryptoPunks - Ep.331

March 18th, 2022

1:07:30

In his first podcast appearance ever, Punk6529, known for writing massive threads on Crypto Twitter, discusses the cultural and historical …

What Is It Like to Only Work for DAOs? Chase Chapman Tells All - Ep.330

March 15th, 2022

1:05:24

Jack of all metaverse-trades Chase Chapman discusses her experience working for DAOs, how DAO tooling and governance can improve, and drops a hot …

How Justin Sun Has Allegedly Tried to Manipulate Markets and Escape Regulation - Ep.329

March 11th, 2022

42:01

Chris Harland-Dunaway, a freelance reporter for The Verge, talks about his most recent investigative story on Tron founder Justin Sun, which details a long string of questionable decisions and actions by Sun. Show …

Why Chatroulette Founder Andrey Ternovskiy Fell in Love With Crypto - Ep.327

March 8th, 2022

49:36

While researching for The Cryptopians, I discovered that Andrey Ternovskiy, the founder of internet sensation Chatroulette, was heavily involved in …

How Ukraine Is Leveraging Crypto in Its Fight Against Russia - Ep.326

March 4th, 2022

45:13

Tomicah Tillemann, the global chief policy officer of Katie Haun's new firm, analyzes Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and explains how crypto is being …

Is Code Law? Should the Hacker Be Punished? The DAO Creators Disagree - Ep.325

March 1st, 2022

1:22:09

During my research for The Cryptopians, I found information that I believe identifies the perpetrator behind The DAO hack on Ethereum. Three founding members of The DAO and Slock.it (Christoph Jentzsch, Lefteris …

How Writing 'The Cryptopians' Shaped My Views on Ethereum - Ep.324

February 25th, 2022

43:47

In a fun change of pace, Steven Ehrlich, editor of Forbes Cryptoasset and Blockchain Advisor, joins Unchained to interview me about my book, The Cryptopians: Idealism, Greed, Lies, and the Making of the First Big …

The Chopping Block: Why Hacking The DAO Is ‘Something to Be Proud Of’? - Ep.323

February 24th, 2022

58:10

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news in the digital asset …

Exclusive: Crypto’s Biggest Whodunnit: Who Was Behind the 2016 DAO Attack on Ethereum? - Ep.322

February 22nd, 2022

1:09:06

While researching for my book, The Cryptopians: Idealism, Greed, Lies, and the Making of the First Big Cryptocurrency Craze, I found evidence that I …

Congressman Ro Khanna: How to Get More Democrats into Web3 - Ep.321

February 18th, 2022

40:49

Congressman Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, discusses crypto and decentralization, his new book, Dignity in a Digital Age: Making Tech Work for All …

Your 2021 Crypto Taxes: How to Handle NFTs, DAOs, Airdrops and More - Ep.320

February 15th, 2022

1:07:49

Two crypto tax experts, Shehan Chandrasekera, certified public accountant and head of strategy, Tax, at Cointracker, and John Cardone, senior director of Washington National Tax at RSM US LLP, explain everything crypto …

How Law Enforcement Tracked Down $3.6 Billion in Bitcoin - Ep.319

February 11th, 2022

36:05

On Tuesday, the US government seized $3.6 billion in bitcoin from the 2016 Bitfinex hack and arrested two individuals, Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan, on charges of money laundering. Tom Robinson, cofounder and …

The Chopping Block: SBF on a Crazy Week of Bitfinex, Wormhole and ENS Drama - Ep.318

February 9th, 2022

57:28

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news in the digital asset industry. On this week’s episode, Sam Bankman-Friend (SBF), CEO and …

Will Every Piece of Media Enter the Internet as an NFT? Variant Fund Says Yes - Ep.317

February 8th, 2022

1:10:56

Variant Fund is a venture capital firm that describes itself as “a first-check crypto fund investing in the ownership economy.” Jesse Walden and Li Jin, co-founders and general partners at Variant, join Unchained to …

Are Democrats Against Crypto? These Two Congressional Candidates Say No - Ep.316

February 4th, 2022

52:10

Shrina Kurani, a Democrat running for a House seat in California, and Morgan Harper, a Democratic candidate running to represent Ohio in the US Senate, explain why they are running pro-crypto campaigns. They discuss how …

How NFT DAOs Could Shape the Next Blockbuster, Fund Poetry and Change VC - Ep.315

February 1st, 2022

1:03:08

Dapper Collectives CEO and Friends With Benefits founder Trevor McFedries joins Unchained to discuss social tokens, NFTs, the creator economy, $FWB, …

The Chopping Block: Why the Lack of a Fee Market Created 'Bread Lines' on Solana - Ep.313

January 26th, 2022

54:24

Welcome to The Chopping Block! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news in the digital asset …

SyndicateDAO Is Launching Web3 Investment Clubs. Could They Disrupt VCs? - Ep.312

January 25th, 2022

1:07:12

Will Papper and Ian Lee, the two co-founders of Syndicate, join Unchained to announce the release of Syndicate’s new product: Web3 Investment Clubs, …

Why a Coinbase Listing May Not Be a Good Thing for a Token - Ep.311

January 21st, 2022

39:45

Fais Khan, author of the Startups and Econ newsletter, dives into his recently published research report, "You Don't Own Web3": A Coinbase Curse and …

Is Binance Smart Chain Being Run 'Like the Project of a Stoned Teenager?' Two BSC Execs Answer - Ep.310

January 18th, 2022

59:19

Binance Smart Chain is the third largest chain by TVL and its token, BNB, is the third-largest token by market capitalization. However, there are questions about hacks, centralization, lack of developer support, and …

Why Are NFTs the One Bright Spot in the Crypto Markets? - Ep.309

January 14th, 2022

40:28

Avid NFT collector Aftab Hossain (aka @iamDCinvestor on Crypto Twitter) discusses why OpenSea and NFT volumes are popping to start 2022, how …

The Chopping Block: Why the Crypto Markets Have Been Down This Week - Ep.308

January 13th, 2022

48:00

The Chopping Block is back! Crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra chop it up about the latest news in the digital asset …

Can Crypto Be a Force in the Midterms? Yes, Say Kristin Smith and Jake Chervinsky - Ep.307

January 11th, 2022

1:14:55

Kristin Smith, executive director at Blockchain Association, and Jake Chervinsky, head of Policy at Blockchain Association, discuss the current state …

65% of Active Developers Joined Web3 in 2021 - Ep.306

January 7th, 2022

39:02

Electric Capital’s Maria Shen dives into her company’s recently published research report about Web3 open-source development in 2021 and shares her thoughts and insights on how developers are flocking to Web3 in a …

Crypto 2022 Outlook: Where Will the Markets Go This Year? Plus DeFi and NFTs - Ep.305

January 4th, 2022

1:07:52

Larry Cermak, VP of research at The Block, and Igor Igamberdiev, director of research and data at The Block, recap the most significant trends of 2021 (BTC mining, L1s, NFTs, DeFi, venture funding) and discuss what …

Unconfirmed: Song a Day NFTs With Jonathan Mann + Your 2022 Crypto Predictions! - Ep.304

December 31st, 2021

46:28

Jonathan Mann has published a song a day for 13 years. On Unchained, he talks about his writing process, how he came up with the idea of publishing his songs as NFTs, his plans for a DAO he created called SongADAO, and …

The Chopping Block: 2021 in Crypto: The Biggest Winners, Biggest Losers, and Best Memes - Ep.303

December 30th, 2021

1:00:20

Welcome to the inaugural episode of The Chopping Block, a new show on Unchained hosted by Haseeb Qureshi, Robert Leshner, Tom Schmidt, and Tarun Chitra, in which they discuss the latest juicy topics in crypto. This …

Why NFT OG Mitchell Chan Has Released Just One Project This Year - Ep.302

December 28th, 2021

1:16:01

Mitchell F. Chan, who released one of the first NFT projects on Ethereum back in 2017, discusses his projects, making art on a blockchain, how NFTs …

Unconfirmed: What Could the Crypto Media Do Better? Four Journalists Discuss - Ep.301

December 24th, 2021

53:37

Merry Christmas (Eve)! For this special episode of Unchained, three other crypto journalists and I discuss their favorite stories from the past …

Unconfirmed: $12 Billion Has Been Lost in DeFi Value to Crime. Here’s How - Ep.299

December 17th, 2021

41:02

Jess Symington, research lead at Elliptic, a blockchain forensics company, discusses the massive upswing in DeFi hacks during 2021, resulting in over …

How Yield Guild Games Is Revolutionizing the Future of Work and Investment - Ep.298

December 14th, 2021

1:00:43

Gabby Dizon, cofounder of Yield Guild Games, discusses his background in gaming, why he started Yield Guild Games, the performance of Axie Infinity, …

Unconfirmed: 3 Things SushiSwap Needs to Get in Order, According to Arca - Ep.297

December 10th, 2021

41:47

Jeff Dorman, the chief investment officer at Arca, discusses the recent events surrounding SushiSwap, including CTO Joseph Delong’s departure this week, Arca’s proposal to create a hierarchical management structure for …

Crypto Philanthropy: How to Donate to Make Real-World Impact - Ep.296

December 7th, 2021

38:57

Some of the biggest names in the crypto industry discuss their personal giving philosophies, how blockchain technology could change the dynamics of …

Unconfirmed: How Ryan Zurrer Ended Up Spending the Most on a Single NFT Artwork - Ep.295

December 3rd, 2021

40:28

Ryan Zurrer, founder of Dialectic, a crypto wealth multi-family office, discusses his recent $29 million purchase of Beeple’s Human One and his …

Will Solana Be the Execution Layer and Ethereum the Settlement Layer? - Ep.294

November 30th, 2021

1:08:04

On Unchained, two co-founders of Solana Labs, Anatoly Yakovenko and Raj Gokal, dive deeply into the Solana ecosystem, discussing everything from the …

Unconfirmed: Why Astrologer Maren Altman Believes 2023 Will Bring an Innovative 'Cyber Pandemic' - Ep.293

November 26th, 2021

25:25

Maren Altman is a professional astrologer and crypto trader. On Unchained, she discusses her end-of-year price target for Bitcoin, how crypto fits …

The Tokenomics Episode: Why ‘EIP 1559 Is Like Catnip for Investors’ - Ep.292

November 23rd, 2021

1:05:31

Two tokenomics experts, Yan Liberman, co-founder of Delphi Digital, and Viktor Bunin, protocol specialist at Coinbase Cloud, discuss their …

Unconfirmed: ConstitutionDAO Did Not Win the Auction. But It Demonstrated the Power of DAOs - Ep.291

November 19th, 2021

36:28

Will Papper, SyndicateDAO co-founder and ConstitutionDAO contributor, tells the story of how a group of internet friends came together as a DAO to crowdfund a $41 million bid at a Sotheby’s auction for a physical copy …

PayPal Would Need These Two Things In Order to Issue a Stablecoin - Ep.290

November 16th, 2021

1:03:28

Jose Fernandez da Ponte, PayPal’s senior vice president and general manager of blockchain, crypto, and digital currencies, discusses PayPal’s crypto …

Unconfirmed: Alameda Research's Sam Trabucco: What Solana Does Better Than Ethereum - Ep.289

November 12th, 2021

27:02

Sam Trabucco, co-CEO of Alameda Research, discusses the different price drivers that led to BTC, ETH, SOL, and LUNA reaching new all-time highs in …

NFCastle 2021: Art Controversy – NFTS: Nothing F**king There? - Ep.288

November 9th, 2021

57:25

At Non-Fungible Castle 2021, an NFT exhibition in Prague, four NFT experts debate some of the hottest topics in the metaverse, like how to value NFTs, whether insider trading exists, what makes Ethereum-based NFTS so …

Unconfirmed: Legal Issues With NFTs: Would a Fractionalized Mona Lisa Be a Security? - Ep.287

November 5th, 2021

1:11:01

At Non-Fungible Castle 2021, an NFT exhibition in Prague, four NFT experts discuss the legal implications of NFTs. Guests include Jonathan Victor, …

Tor Bair of Secret on Why Private Smart Contracts Are Important - Ep.286

November 2nd, 2021

1:10:15

Secret Network is a privacy-first, permissionless layer 1 blockchain built for computational privacy. Tor Bair, founder of Secret Foundation, a developer of Secret Network, discusses what makes Secret Network unique, …

Unconfirmed: Why Terraform Labs Cofounder Do Kwon Is Unfazed by US Regulators - Ep.285

October 29th, 2021

37:44

Do Kwon, cofounder of Terraform Labs, was recently served subpoenas by the US Securities and Exchange Commission during Messari’s mainnet event, leading Kwon and Terraform to preemptively sue the SEC. On Unconfirmed, …

Not Reporting Info on Some Transaction Partners Could Soon Be a Felony - Ep.284

October 26th, 2021

51:23

Remember the $1 trillion infrastructure bill, which caused considerable backlash from the crypto community due to the language regarding “brokers?” …

Unconfirmed: Bitcoin Projected to Reach $135,000 in December, According to PlanB - Ep.283

October 22nd, 2021

40:13

PlanB, a former institutional investor with 25 years of experience in financial markets turned anon Bitcoin analyst, discusses Bitcoin’s price action, from the macroeconomic drivers to what his models predict for the …

Is the Metaverse Already Here? Two Experts Disagree - Ep.282

October 19th, 2021

1:07:38

Andrew Steinwold, managing partner at Sfermion, and John Egan, CEO at L'Atelier BNP Paribas, discuss NFTs and debate the characteristics of the …

Unconfirmed: What Is the Role of Investors in a Decentralized World? - Ep.281

October 15th, 2021

1:00:29

Four investors talk about the decentralized web, explain how the crypto industry is improving upon Web 2, and discuss what can be done to increase diversity and financial inclusion within Web 3. Featuring Rik Willard, …

Visa Is Building Infrastructure for NFTs, Smart Contracts, and L2s. Why? - Ep.280

October 12th, 2021

1:12:50

Cuy Sheffield, Visa’s head of crypto, discusses Visa’s crypto game plan, stablecoin regulation, NFTs, and more. Show highlights:

  • Cuy’s background …

Unconfirmed: Why It Doesn’t Make Sense to Compare Lightning to DeFi - Ep.279

October 8th, 2021

38:09

Ryan Gentry, business development lead at Lightning Labs, discusses the latest updates on the Lightning Network, the layer 2 solution for Bitcoin. …

How the Greatest Decentralizing Force for Crypto Projects Is the SEC - Ep.278

October 5th, 2021

1:16:06

How does the SEC determine if a token is a security? Why is DeFi particularly hard to regulate? What will regulators do about stablecoins? On …

Unconfirmed: People Expected a Big SEC Enforcement Action This Week. What Happened? Days - Ep.277

October 1st, 2021

35:12

Stephen Palley, partner at Anderson Kill, discusses a few hot-button crypto regulatory issues like lending products, whether DeFi protocols fall …

Crypto Actually Fixes This: How Code to Inspire Uses Crypto in Afghanistan - Ep.276

September 28th, 2021

54:01

Fereshteh Forough is the founder and CEO of Code to Inspire, a coding school for girls in Afghanistan. She discusses her background as a refugee, how …

Unconfirmed: How SEC Chair Gary Gensler's Views on Crypto Have Changed Since His MIT Days - Ep.275

September 24th, 2021

32:24

Nik De, managing editor for global policy and regulation at CoinDesk, stops by Unconfirmed to discuss the current state of crypto regulation, …

How OG Crypto Artist Rhea Myers Sold a Never-Seen Artwork at Sotheby's - Ep.274

September 21st, 2021

1:08:17

Rhea Myers, artist, hacker, writer, and senior smart contract developer at Dapper Labs, has been making crypto art before NFTs were a thing. Check out this episode to learn about Rhea’s work as an OG crypto artist, why …

Unconfirmed: Solana's Outage Lasted 17 Hours. What Does This Mean for Decentralization? - Ep.273

September 17th, 2021

36:01

Aidan Mott, research analyst at Messari, discusses Solana’s network restart that resulted in the blockchain going dark for 17 hours earlier this …

Can Bitcoin Be Secured Only by Transaction Fees? Two Researchers Sound Off - Ep.272

September 14th, 2021

1:14:52

Once the block reward diminishes greatly, can Bitcoin be secured only by transaction fees? On Unchained, Bitcoin writer Vijay Boyapati and Ethereum Foundation’s Justin Drake debate the merits of Bitcoin’s security …

Unconfirmed: Was Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong Entitled to a Meeting With the SEC? - Ep.271

September 10th, 2021

37:21

Ephrat Livni, a DealBook business and policy reporter at the New York Times, discusses Coinbase’s fight with the SEC over its Lend product and El …

How Crypto Streaming Service Audius Hit Six Million Monthly Active Users - Ep.270

September 7th, 2021

1:13:00

Audius, a blockchain native music streaming platform, hit six million monthly active users in August and announced a partnership with TikTok. Roneil Rumburg, co-founder and CEO of Audius, talks about how Audius works, …

Unconfirmed: Why the FTX.US/LedgerX Deal Indicates Crypto M&A Might Start Booming - Ep.269

September 3rd, 2021

36:59

Steven Ehrlich, director of research for digital assets at Forbes, discusses the FTX.US-LedgerX merger, what to expect from FTX going forward, DeFi …

How Pplpleasr Helped Fortune Magazine Sell More Than $1 Million in NFTs - Ep.268

August 31st, 2021

38:01

Pplpleasr, the artist behind Fortune magazine’s recent crypto cover and Uniswap’s V3 announcement animation, talks about her crypto journey and how …

Unconfirmed: How Another NFT Trend, .eth Names, Has Attracted the Likes of Budweiser - Ep.267

August 27th, 2021

35:36

Nick Johnson, lead developer at the Ethereum Name Service (ENS), talks about making Ethereum human-readable, why Budweiser purchased an NFT, how …

BitGo on Why the Travel Rule Should Not Apply to Digital Assets - Ep.266

August 24th, 2021

1:05:54

BitGo CEO Mike Belshe and COO Jeff Horowitz talk about one of the hottest topics facing the crypto industry today: regulation. They discuss...

  • what …

Unconfirmed: SOL Is Up 3,800% YTD. Could It Eventually Displace Ethereum? - Ep.265

August 20th, 2021

42:13

SOL is up 75% over the past seven days, 205% in the past month, and 3,800% YTD. On Unchained, Multicoin Capital’s Kyle Samani discusses the DeFi …

On-Chain Analytics Show ETH Accumulation Is Greater Than That of BTC - Ep.264

August 17th, 2021

1:09:11

NFTs are the talk of the metaverse, EIP 1559 just went live, and DeFi stats are rebounding. On Unchained, Fredrik Haga, cofounder and CEO at Dune Analytics, along with Richard Chen, general partner at 1confirmation, …

Unconfirmed: Why Did the Poly Network Attacker Return Half the Money They Stole? - Ep.263

August 13th, 2021

38:08

Poly Network, a cross-chain DeFi protocol, recently suffered a $600M hack -- the largest DeFi exploit in crypto history. Mudit Gupta, security …

Is ETH on Its Way to Becoming Ultra-Sound Money? Yes, Says Justin Drake - Ep.262

August 10th, 2021

1:08:44

Ethereum just went through its most complex upgrade ever. Justin Drake, researcher at the Ethereum Foundation, discusses what the upgrade, aka the …

Unconfirmed: How Congress Might Pass Laws Bad for Proof-of-Stake and DeFi - Ep.261

August 6th, 2021

41:08

Kristin Smith, executive director at the Blockchain Association, discusses the latest news on a provision in the infrastructure bill that seeks to …

Can a DeFi Smart Contract Be Regulated? Two CFTC Commissioners Discuss - Ep.260

August 3rd, 2021

1:13:14

CFTC Commissioners Dan Berkovitz and Brian Quintenz discuss the difficulties of regulating crypto derivatives and DeFi. Show highlights:

  • their …

Unconfirmed: Axie Infinity's July Revenue Tops $200 Million. Here's How Filipinos Drove It - Ep.259

July 30th, 2021

36:16

Leah Callon-Butler, director of Emfarsis, discusses her documentary, “Play-to-Earn: NFT Gaming in the Philippines,” and the real-world impact that …

Why ShapeShift's Erik Voorhees Thinks Toxic Bitcoin Maximalism Is Bullshit - Ep.258

July 27th, 2021

1:03:32

ShapeShift recently announced an intent to decentralize -- a move that would transition the one-time centralized exchange to a full-on DAO. Erik …

Unconfirmed: MIT's Neha Narula on Why Building DeFi on Bitcoin Is a Great Idea - Ep.257

July 23rd, 2021

35:59

Neha Narula, director of the Digital Currency Initiative at the MIT Media Lab, discusses Elon Musk’s appearance at ‘The B Word’ conference, along …

How Ransomware Evolved Into a Big Business - Ep.256

July 20th, 2021

57:09

Gurvais Grigg, Chainalysis public sector CTO, and Kim Grauer, director of research at Chainalysis, review the ransomware landscape. Show Highlights:

Unconfirmed: Why It Might Be Too Late for Binance to Avoid Regulatory Action - Ep.255

July 16th, 2021

30:10

Christine Parker, partner at Reed Smith, summarizes the slew of regulatory headlines facing Binance and how such scrutiny may affect the exchange …

Can a DAO Go to Court? According to Two DAO Legal Experts… Probably - Ep.254

July 13th, 2021

1:09:14

Aaron Wright, co-founder of OpenLaw and Professor at Cardozo Law, and Ross Campbell, SushiSwap core developer and LexDAO contributor, discuss the latest breakthroughs and legal implications in the burgeoning world of …

Unconfirmed: How Axie Infinity Boosted Revenue 400%+ in 30 Days - Ep.253

July 9th, 2021

40:51

Aleksander Larsen, co-founder and COO of Axie Infinity, discusses Axie Infinity’s recent growth, which has seen the platform do 20X the volume of NBA …

The Bitcoin Hash Rate Has Dropped. How Long Will It Take to Return? - Ep.252

July 6th, 2021

1:00:44

Kevin Zhang, vice president of business development at Foundry, breaks down the latest developments surrounding China and bitcoin mining. Show …

Unconfirmed: FTX's Sam Bankman-Fried Gives the Tom Brady/Gisele Bundchen Backstory - Ep.251

July 2nd, 2021

40:56

Sam Bankman-Fried, CEO and founder of FTX, explains FTX’s sports-centric advertising model and talks about what is on his regulatory wish list going …

Ethereum's EIP-1559 Will Solve Some Problems But Big Ones Will Remain - Ep.250

June 29th, 2021

1:13:10

Taylor Monahan, CEO of MyCrypto, and Tim Beiko, Ethereum Foundation core-dev facilitator, discuss the upcoming upgrade to the Ethereum network, EIP …

Unconfirmed: Strong Hands Aren't Selling Bitcoin. So Who Is? - Ep.249

June 25th, 2021

39:33

Will Clemente, author of the BTC by WC3 newsletter, breaks down the current state of Bitcoin’s on-chain activity and explains why he believes the …

Is Quadriga's Gerald Cotten Still Alive? The 'Exit Scam' Podcast Aims to Answer - Ep.248

June 22nd, 2021

1:08:06

Aaron Lammer, author and host of the Exit Scam podcast, recounts the mysterious and controversial death of QuadrigaCX’s founder Gerald Cotton. Show …

Unconfirmed: Polygon: The Layer 2 Solution Doing 8 Times as Many Transactions a Day as Ethereum - Ep.247

June 18th, 2021

35:37

Jaynti Kanani, cofounder and CEO of Polygon, discusses why the layer 2 solution has seen so much success during a down crypto market. Show highlights:

Unchained 5-Year Anniversary: AMA With Laura on Her Favorite Guests, Predictions and More - Ep.246

June 15th, 2021

1:02:30

To celebrate the 5th anniversary of Unchained, I answer some questions submitted to me by the audience. In this episode, I cover:

  • what I think about …

Unconfirmed: Want Crypto in Your 401(k)? It's Finally Possible -- With This Provider - Ep.245

June 11th, 2021

38:52

ForUsAll recently announced a new product that will allow cryptocurrency investments to be made inside 401(k) retirement accounts. Jeff Schulte, CEO …

Will Bitcoin's Price Go Up Again? Yes, According to On-Chain Analytics - Ep.244

June 8th, 2021

1:12:04

Willy Woo, on-chain Bitcoin analyst and writer of the Bitcoin Forecast, a market intelligence newsletter, and Rafael Schultze-Kraft, co-founder and …

Unconfirmed: How Taproot Could Improve Bitcoin -- If It Gets Adopted - Ep.243

June 4th, 2021

42:28

Jeremy Rubin, a Bitcoin Core contributor and founder of Judica, a Bitcoin R&D Lab, joins Unchained from the Miami Bitcoin Conference (2021) to …

Nick Tomaino on 1confirmation's $125 Million Fund and What Future NFTs Will Look Like - Ep.242

June 1st, 2021

1:00:47

Nick Tomaino, general partner of 1confirmation, discusses his firm’s recently announced third fund of $125 million and gives his perspective on many …

Unconfirmed: Rep. Tom Emmer, One of the Most Active Crypto Congress Members, on Taxes and DeFi - Ep.241

May 28th, 2021

38:07

House Representative Tom Emmer, of Minnesota, is one of the most active voice for crypto and blockchain in the US government. In this episode, he …

How Solana and Binance Smart Chain Could Take Ethereum's Lead - Ep.240

May 25th, 2021

1:10:19

Kain Warwick, founder of Synthetix, and Kyle Samani, managing partner at Multicoin Capital, debate the merits of Ethereum, Solana, and Binance Smart …

Unconfirmed: Mike Novogratz on the 5 Reasons the Crypto Markets Plummeted - Ep.239

May 21st, 2021

40:12

Mike Novogratz, founder, CEO, and chairman of Galaxy Digital, digs into the drivers behind this week’s market selloff. Show highlights:

  • the five …

Bitcoin vs. the Petrodollar: Which Is More Environmentally Friendly? - Ep.238

May 18th, 2021

1:08:29

Last week, Tesla announced they will no longer accept Bitcoin as payment for vehicles. In a timely episode, Alex Gladstein, chief strategy officer at the Human Rights Foundation, and James McGinniss, CEO and co-founder …

Unconfirmed: How Elon Musk Pushed DOGE Up and BTC Down, With Arca's Jeff Dorman - Ep.237

May 14th, 2021

38:09

Jeff Dorman, the chief investment officer at Arca, comes on the show to give a macro perspective on the crypto environment. In this episode, he …

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev and Paxos CEO Charles Cascarilla on How to Avoid Another GameStop - Ep.236

May 11th, 2021

50:10

In this discussion I moderated for Paxos, Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev and Paxos CEO Charles Cascarilla discuss GameStop, the broken traditional …

Unconfirmed: Should NYC’s Pension Funds Invest in Crypto? This Comptroller Candidate Says Yes - Ep.235

May 7th, 2021

32:33

Reshma Patel, a Democratic candidate for New York City’s Comptroller position, talks about her “future proof” plan for the city, which centers on …

Crypto's Gender Disparity: What Can Be Done About It? 4 Women Weigh In - Ep.234

May 4th, 2021

1:03:39

Crypto sits at the intersection of two male-dominated industries: tech and finance. I was asked to moderate a panel for the Amber Group with four …

Unconfirmed: How MetaMask Grew Its Monthly Active Users By 5X in the Last 6 Months - Ep.233

April 30th, 2021

38:08

Dan Finlay, co-founder of MetaMask, talks about the meteoric growth of monthly active users of the crypto wallet, which has quintupled in the past …

How NFT Platform OpenSea Plans to Maintain Its Competitive Advantage - Ep.232

April 27th, 2021

1:03:53

Devin Finzer, co-founder and CEO of NFT marketplace OpenSea, talks all things non-fungible. Check out the whole show to hear Devin answer the …

Unconfirmed: This Layer 2 Solution Processed More NFT Trades in 24 Hours Than Ethereum Did in 1 Week - Ep.231

April 23rd, 2021

38:34

Robbie Ferguson, co-founder and president of Immutable, talks about how Immutable is transforming the NFT industry through its layer 2 solution, …

Thanks, Forbes: Laura on How the Unchained Podcast Came to Be - Ep.230

April 20th, 2021

1:03:41

In a fun change of pace, I was interviewed by the On Deck Podcaster Fellowship about the origins of Unchained pod, how my background as a journalist prepared me for podcasting, and tips for aspiring creators. Episode …

Unconfirmed: Why This Analyst Puts Coinbase in the Most Exclusive Club of Stocks - Ep.229

April 16th, 2021

34:42

Gil Luria, director of research at D.A. Davidson, talks about Coinbase’s performance on its first day as a public company. In this episode, Gil …

Why Bitcoin’s December Price Target Is Now ‘Above $300,000’ - Ep.228

April 13th, 2021

50:11

In an interview I moderated at Real Vision’s “Crypto Gathering,” Peter L Brandt, veteran trader and publisher of the Factor Report, and Willy Woo, prominent on-chain Bitcoin analyst and author of the “The Bitcoin …

Unconfirmed: What $1.8 Billion in Q1 Revenue Means for Coinbase’s Direct Listing - Ep.227

April 9th, 2021

35:15

Larry Cermak, director of research at The Block, discusses the upcoming Coinbase direct listing in light of the exchange’s recently released Q1 revenue hitting an impressive $1.8 billion. In this episode, Larry talks …

Mark Cuban on Why He Thinks ETH Is a Better Store of Value Than Bitcoin - Ep.226

April 6th, 2021

1:09:44

Mark Cuban -- billionaire investor, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, and Shark Tank “shark” -- shares his thoughts on the Ethereum vs. BTC debate, …

Unconfirmed: Why Proposed FATF Rules Could Be a Shock for DeFi - Ep.225

April 2nd, 2021

37:35

Dave Jevans, CEO of Cipher Trace, talks about what the new draft guidance from the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) means for DeFi, NFTs, and …

What Exactly Do You Get When You Buy an NFT? Three Lawyers Discuss - Ep.224

March 30th, 2021

1:07:58

Olta Andoni, fintech and IP Attorney at Zlatkin Wong and adjunct professor at Chicago Kent College of Law, Tonya Evans, visiting Full Professor of …

Unconfirmed: Why Miami Mayor Francis Suarez Calls Crypto 'the Wave of the Future' - Ep.223

March 26th, 2021

31:06

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez talks about how Miami plans to be the crypto capital of the world. In this show, he discusses:

  • what Miami is doing to …

Financial Advisors Control $5 Trillion in Investor Wealth. Are They Buying Bitcoin? - Ep.222

March 23rd, 2021

1:07:09

Ric Edelman, founder of Edelman Financial Engines, and Matthew Kolesky, president at Arbor Capital, discuss the state of Bitcoin adoption amongst …

Unconfirmed: MetaKovan on Why He Spent $69 Million on a Jpeg - Ep.221

March 19th, 2021

39:58

MetaKovan, the pseudonymous buyer of Beeple’s Everydays NFT and founder of MetaPurse, talks about his recent $69 million purchase. In this episode, …

How NFTs Are Revolutionizing How Creators Make Money - Ep.220

March 16th, 2021

1:21:27

Jamie Burke, CEO of Outlier Ventures, and Mason Nystrom, a research analyst at Messari, discuss the NFT craze that has enveloped the crypto world …

Unconfirmed: Why This Environmentalist Doesn’t Blame Creators for the Carbon Footprint of NFTs - Ep.219

March 12th, 2021

41:12

Brendan McGill, co-founder of Offsetra and Carbon.fyi, a company focused on reducing carbon emissions, talks about the environmental impact of NFTs. …

Can dYdX Become a Decentralized BitMEX? How It Is Scaling With StarkWare - Ep.218

March 9th, 2021

1:11:10

Antonio Juliano, founder of the decentralized exchange dYdX, and Eli Ben-Sasson, cofounder of StarkWare, discuss the recent launch of dYdX on …

Unconfirmed: Is Coinbase Stock a Good Buy? This Analyst Says Yes - Ep.217

March 5th, 2021

35:32

Gil Luria, director of research at D.A. Davidson, talks about the upcoming Coinbase direct listing and his recent research note, “Introducing …

Caitlin Long: Why Avanti Will Be a New Kind of Crypto Bank - Ep.216

March 2nd, 2021

1:06:57

Caitlin Long, founder and CEO of Avanti Financial Group, talks about the issues plaguing the current state of technology in traditional finance and …

Unconfirmed: Coinbase's S-1: The Number That May Make the Exchange Nervous - Ep.215

February 26th, 2021

36:37

Jeff Roberts, executive editor at Decrypt and author of “King of Crypto: One Startup’s Quest to take Cryptocurrency Out of Silicon Valley and Onto Wall Street” talks about Coinbase going public. In this episode we …

Paxos's Charles Cascarilla - How Blockchain Tech Could Prevent Another GameStop/Robinhood - Ep.214

February 23rd, 2021

1:19:25

In this episode of Unchained, Charles Cascarilla, CEO and cofounder of Paxos, explains how the 2008 financial crisis led him to crypto, what financial plumbing has to do with GameStop, and how Paxos is leveraging …

Unconfirmed: Girl Gone Crypto: How These Wildly Entertaining Crypto Videos Get Made - Ep.213

February 19th, 2021

40:34

Lea Thompson, aka Girl Gone Crypto, talks about what goes into producing her popular “The Crypto Minute” vlog, what initially got her into crypto, …

Stani Kulechov on Why Aave Is So Successful - Ep.212

February 16th, 2021

1:16:55

Stani Kulechov, founder and CEO of Aave, comes onto the show to discuss the lending protocol and second-biggest DeFi project by total value locked. …

Lyn Alden and Raoul Pal: Is Ethereum a Good Investment? - Ep.211

February 9th, 2021

1:09:36

Lyn Alden, CEO and founder of Lyn Alden Investment Strategies, and Raoul Pal, CEO & cofounder  of Real Vision Group & Global Macro Investor, …

Everything You Need to Know About Your 2020 Crypto Taxes - Ep.210

February 2nd, 2021

1:18:29

In this episode, Shehan Chandrasekara, head of strategy at CoinTracker, and Dan Hannum COO at Zen Ledger, take a deep dive into the world of crypto taxes. Over an hour and fifteen minutes they tackle a bevy of topics …

Why Bitcoin Now: Michael Saylor on the Best Way for Companies to Buy Bitcoin - Ep.209

January 26th, 2021

1:41:02

Michael Saylor, CEO and founder of Microstrategy, explains how he decided the publicly traded business data firm needed to put its excess cash in …

The SEC's Lawsuit Against Ripple and 2 Execs: What You Need to Know - Ep.208

January 19th, 2021

1:10:51

Stephen Palley, partner at Anderson Kill. and Gabriel Shapiro, partner at BSV Law, discuss the SEC's lawsuit against Ripple and two executives, Chris …

Willy Woo: How Bitcoin Reaches up to $300,000 by End of Year - Ep.207

January 12th, 2021

1:13:53

Willy Woo, a prominent on-chain Bitcoin analyst and author of the “The Bitcoin Forecast,” a market intelligence newsletter, explains the parabolic …

Central Bank Digital Currencies: How Should Privacy Be Built In? - Ep.206

January 5th, 2021

58:40

This panel, from a panel for the fifth anniversary of Hyperledger, features Rob Palatnick, managing director of global head of technology research …

2020 Highlights: The Biggest News Stories of the Year in Crypto - Ep.205

December 29th, 2020

1:04:23

Host Laura Shin recaps the biggest stories of the year in crypto, with clips from shows throughout the year. In this episode, we cover how the …

Why Is the Proposed FinCEN Rule for Unhosted Wallets Being Pushed So Quickly? - Ep.204

December 22nd, 2020

1:00:48

Jeremy Allaire of Circle Pay and Kristin Smith of the Blockchain Association explain the impact of and motivation behind Treasury Secretary Steve …

All the Ways Crypto Can Make Gaming More Fun - Ep.203

December 15th, 2020

1:07:50

Marguerite deCourcelle is co-founder and CEO of Blockade Games, which is releasing the role-playing game game Neon District the day this episode …

Can Gavin Wood's Polkadot 'Make Blockchain Great Again'? - Ep.202

December 8th, 2020

1:24:24

Gavin Wood, founder of Polkadot, Kusama, and Parity, discusses what he calls the "meta-protocol," Polkadot. In this episode, he talks about:

  • his …

Ethereum 2.0: What You Need to Know - Ep.201

December 1st, 2020

1:12:53

Ryan Watkins and Wilson Withiam, senior research analysts at Messari, explain the nuts and bolts of Ethereum 2.0, including how it will transform ETH …

What Fidelity Is Doing With the Bitcoin It's Mined - Ep.200

November 24th, 2020

56:27

Christine Sandler, head of sales and marketing at Fidelity Digital Assets, talks about how 30 years in traditional finance and an early retirement led her to Coinbase, and, eventually, Fidelity Digital Assets. She …

Everything You Need to Know About the Looming Battle Over Privacy in Crypto - Ep.199

November 17th, 2020

1:13:26

Jake Chervinsky, general counsel at Compound Labs, and Kristin Smith, executive director of The Blockchain Association, talk about the storm brewing …

Why Bitcoin Now: Bitcoin Under a Biden Administration - Ep.198

November 10th, 2020

1:13:36

In this episode, Dan Tapiero, founder of 10T Holdings and Gold Bullion International, and Cathie Wood, CEO and CIO at ARK Invest, discuss the long …

Why Bitcoin Now: Meltem Demirors and Lyn Alden on the Perfect Conditions for Bitcoin - Ep.197

November 3rd, 2020

1:27:19

In this seventh installment of the Why Bitcoin Now series, Meltem Demirors, the chief strategy officer at Coinshares, and Lyn Alden, the founder of Lyn Alden Investment Strategy, discuss the state of Bitcoin since June, …

Acting Comptroller of the Currency Brian Brooks on Crypto Banks - Ep.196

October 27th, 2020

52:01

Brian Brooks got his start in traditional finance before joining Coinbase in 2018 and is currently the acting comptroller of the currency. In this …

How This DOJ Strike Force Hunts Down Cryptocurrency Criminals - Ep.195

October 20th, 2020

1:07:38

Magistrate judge Zia Faruqui, and Jessi Brooks, assistant U.S. attorney in the national security section at the United States Attorney’s Office, have prosecuted several cryptocurrency-related cases, many of them amongst …

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce on BitMEX, DeFi and a Token Safe Harbor - Ep.194

October 13th, 2020

31:53

Hester Peirce, AKA “Crypto Mom,” was just confirmed to a second term as SEC Commissioner of the Securities Exchange Commission in August. In this …

Can Solana Seize Marketshare From Ethereum With Serum? - Ep.193

October 6th, 2020

1:13:58

Sam Bankman-Fried, the CEO of FTX and Alameda Research,  and Anatoly Yakovenko,  the co-founder and CEO of Solana Labs, discuss the Project Serum …

Why Bitcoin Now: Andreas Antonopoulos and Dan Held on Bitcoin’s Monetary Policy - Ep.192

September 29th, 2020

1:46:54

Andreas M. Antonopoulos, speaker, educator, and the author of Mastering Bitcoin, Mastering Ethereum, and The Internet of Money, Volumes 1, 2, and 3, …

How Matthew Leising Confronted His Suspects in the DAO Attacks - Ep.191

September 22nd, 2020

1:09:40

Matthew Leising, a reporter at Bloomberg who began covering crypto in 2015, is out with a new book Out of the Ether: The Amazing Story of Ethereum and the $55 Million Heist that Almost Destroyed It All. In this episode, …

Andre Cronje of Yearn Finance on YFI and the Fair Launch: 'I'm Lazy' - Ep.190

September 15th, 2020

1:17:03

Andre Cronje, the developer of yearn.finance, talks about all things DeFi and the past, present, and future of yEarn. In this episode, he discusses:  

Olaf Carlson-Wee: 'If There Is a Money-Losing Exploit, the Money Is Gone' - Ep.189

September 8th, 2020

1:13:05

Olaf Carlson-Wee, the founder and CEO of Polychain Capital, goes deep into yield farming, fair launches and how decentralization will upend the …

Why Decentralized Trading Has 10Xed in a Few Months - Ep.188

September 1st, 2020

1:12:23

Haseeb Qureshi, managing partner at Dragonfly Capital, and Dan Robinson, research partner at Paradigm, discuss the explosion in decentralized exchange activity on automated market makers from $1 billion earlier this …

Why Bitcoin Now: Saifedean Ammous on Why Bitcoin is the Most Advanced Form of Money - Ep.187

August 25th, 2020

1:07:49

Saifedean Ammous is an economist and the author of The Bitcoin Standard: The Decentralized Alternative to Central Banking, which has been translated …

Why Bitcoin Now: David Chaum and Adam Back Reflect on the Crypto Wars - Ep.186

August 18th, 2020

1:25:27

David Chaum, the inventor of eCash and CEO of xx network, and Adam Back, the inventor of Hashcash and the cofounder and CEO of Blockstream, discuss …

Why Bitcoin Now: The History of Digital Currency - Ep.185

August 11th, 2020

1:21:10

Aaron van Wirdum is the technical editor at Bitcoin Magazine. Finn Brunton is the author of “Digital Cash: The Unknown History of the Anarchists, …

Why The Travel Rule Is One Of The Most Significant Regulations In Crypto - Ep.184

August 4th, 2020

1:16:59

Dave Jevans, CEO of CipherTrace, and Siân Jones, Senior Partner at XReg Consulting, give the lowdown on the Financial Action Task Force’s travel rule …

Vitalik Buterin on Ethereum's Five-Year Anniversary - Ep.183

July 28th, 2020

1:30:58

Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, shares his thoughts on the five-year anniversary of Ethereum, challenges with ETH 2.0 and criticisms about …

Camila Russo on the Most Pivotal Moments in Ethereum's History - Ep.182

July 21st, 2020

1:03:44

Camila Russo, founder of The Defiant and author of a new book on Ethereum, "The Infinite Machine," speaks about how currency controls in Argentina …

Why Bitcoin Now: Michael Casey and Niall Ferguson on How Bitcoin Fits in the History of Money - Ep.181

July 14th, 2020

1:27:52

Niall Ferguson, Milbank Family Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, and the author of numerous books including The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World and most recently, the …

DeFi Yield Farming: Why It's All the Rage But Risky - Ep.180

July 7th, 2020

1:13:14

Dan Elitzer, investor at IDEO CoLab Ventures, and Will Price, data scientist at Flipside Crypto, discuss the yield farming craze. In this episode, we …

Why Bitcoin Now: Mike Novogratz and Raoul Pal on 'the Single Greatest Brand' of the Last 10 Years - Ep.179

June 30th, 2020

1:12:14

This episode is the first in a series, Why Bitcoin Now, that takes a deeper dive into Bitcoin and the history of money in the macroeconomic environment of the coronavirus. Mike Novogratz, founder, CEO and chairman of …

Chamath Palihapitiya: Why Bitcoin Will Be 'the Category Winner' - Ep.178

June 23rd, 2020

1:11:51

Chamath Palihapitiya, the CEO of Social Capital and chairman of Virgin Galactic, talks about a wide range of issues, including Bitcoin, COVID, civil …

Christopher Giancarlo: Why the US Needs to Have a Digital Dollar - Ep.177

June 16th, 2020

54:45

At an event at the NYU Stern School of Business, Christopher Giancarlo, former CFTC Chairman and co-founder of the Digital Dollar Foundation, …

Rep. Warren Davidson: 'I Think Bitcoin Is a Great Store of Value' - Ep.176

June 9th, 2020

1:02:58

U.S. House Representative, Warren Davidson, contextualizes the state of crypto legislation in terms of widespread civil unrest, COVID-19, and global …

How to Decentralize a Crypto Project Without Harming Security - Ep.175

June 2nd, 2020

1:07:23

Jesse Walden of Variant Fund, and Robert Leshner of Compound explain all of the problems associated with the decentralizing process in terms of …

Ready Layer One: Who Competes With Ethereum? - Ep.174

May 26th, 2020

1:03:58

This week’s Unchained is my panel at Ready Layer One! We talk everything layer one with four key players and projects -- Illia Polosukhin of …

Listen to CZ Compare Binance to Bitcoin - Ep.173

May 19th, 2020

50:20

Changpeng Zhao, aka CZ, cofounder and CEO of Binance, and I kicked off the Ethereal Virtual Summit with a fun fireside chat! He talked about Binance’s current operations, its plans for the future, and the crypto …

The Third Bitcoin Halving Just Happened: What Now? - Ep.172

May 12th, 2020

1:08:45

Amanda Fabiano, director of Bitcoin mining at the Fidelity Center for Applied Technology, and Christopher Bendiksen, head of research at CoinShares, …

El Auge de MakerDAO: Un Viaje Personal - Ep.171

May 6th, 2020

36:52

Hi everyone, this is an essay by Mariano Conti of MakerDAO that was so popular, personal and relatable, especially to those living in Latin America, …

DeFi Security: With So Many Hacks, Will It Ever Be Safe? - Ep.170

May 5th, 2020

1:16:27

Dan Guido, cofounder and CEO of Trail of Bits, and Taylor Monahan, founder and CEO of MyCrypto, discuss all the recent hacks in DeFi, how it can be …

tBTC: What Happens When the Most Liquid Crypto Asset Hits DeFi? - Ep.169

April 28th, 2020

1:15:06

Matt Luongo, CEO of Thesis, the parent company of Fold and Keep, describes the just-launched tBTC, his plan for a censorship-resistant …

Why Nothing Is More Viral Than a Store of Value - Ep.168

April 21st, 2020

1:15:57

Cathie Wood, CEO and CIO of ARK Invest, and Yassine Elmandjra, ARK's thematic analyst, discuss their investment strategy with disruptive innovation, …

The Rise of MakerDAO: A Personal Journey - Ep.167

April 14th, 2020

34:48

Mariano Conti of MakerDAO, head of smart contracts at MakerDAO, reads from his essay about his personal experience with cryptocurrency, particularly …

The Most Forkable DeFi Protocols on Ethereum - Ep.166

April 7th, 2020

25:51

Kyle Samani of Multicoin Capital reads from his essay on how defensible each of the major DeFi protocols on Ethereum are, and what that says about …

Why Decentralization Isn’t as Important as You Think - Ep.165

March 31st, 2020

33:19

In this essay, Haseeb Qureshi of Dragonfly Capital explains why he thinks the focus on decentralization can be overhyped. He looks at why decentralization can be important but then makes it clear, by dissecting when it …

Teetering on the Edge: How Black Thursday Exposed the Flaws in the Crypto Markets - Ep.164

March 24th, 2020

58:42

Kyle Samani, managing partner at Multicoin Capital, dissects Black Thursday, March 12, the day the crypto markets plunged twice amid the wider …

Chris Burniske: A Blank Slate of State - Ep.163

March 17th, 2020

38:16

In this essay, Chris Burniske of Placeholder Capital talks about what kind of world crypto entrepreneurs are creating and want to be creating with …

Why Africa Is Poised to Be the Next Hub for Crypto Development - Ep.162

March 10th, 2020

30:15

Soona Amhaz, general partner at Volt Capital, and Yele Bademosi, founder of Microtransaction, explain why they believe Africa is poised to become a …

ETH Denver Fireside Chat With 2 of the Most Crypto-Friendly Governors in the Nation - Ep.161

March 3rd, 2020

37:04

In this fireside chat from ETH Denver, crypto-friendly governors Jared Polis of Colorado and Mark Gordon of Wyoming discuss how they each became …

The bZx Attacks: Unethical or Illegal? 2 Experts Weigh In - Ep.160

February 25th, 2020

1:04:05

Maya Zehavi, blockchain consultant, and Zubin Koticha, cofounder and CEO of Opyn, discuss the two recent bZx attacks, whether they were hacks or arbs …

Democracy in the Age of Cryptography - Ep.159

February 18th, 2020

32:40

Santiago Siri, the cofounder and president of Democracy Earth, reads from his essay on how governance and identity change in the age of cryptography.

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Alex Gladstein on a World Without Bitcoin - Ep.158

February 11th, 2020

30:53

Alex Gladstein, chief strategy officer at the Human Rights Foundation, reads his essay, A World Without Bitcoin. 

Thank you to our sponsors! 

CipherTrace: https://ciphertrace.com

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Kraken:

How Memes Can Help Crypto Go Mainstream - Ep.157

February 4th, 2020

24:59

Linda Xie, cofounder at Scalar Capital, reads her essay on how the crypto community can successfully use memes to help people understand the …

The Rogue 100: How Cryptocurrency Criminals Cash Out - Ep.156

January 28th, 2020

1:07:31

Jonathan Levin, co-founder and CSO of Chainalysis, and Kim Grauer, head of research, discuss the company's 2020 Crypto Crime Report, which explores how cryptocurrency criminals, who perpetrate hacks and scams and send …

Brendan Eich on How Brave Is Working to Decentralize - Ep.155

January 21st, 2020

1:09:50

Brendan Eich, CEO and president of Brave, discusses his history in tech prior to crypto, including working at Netscape, how he created Javascript in 10 days and his short stint as CEO of Mozilla, what problems with ads …

Why Catherine Coley Isn't Worried About BNB Being a Security - Ep.154

January 14th, 2020

1:11:41

Catherine Coley, the CEO of Binance US, talks about her background as a foreign exchange trader, how and why she made the leap into crypto, and how …

Dragonfly Capital on Why Ethereum Is So Far in the Lead - Ep.153

January 7th, 2020

1:10:23

Alex Pack, founding partner of Dragonfly Capital, and Haseeb Qureshi, Dragonfly managing partner, talk about why Dragonfly has a global focus, how they choose investments, and why they try to be as agnostic as possible …

Unchained Year in Review: The Best of 2019 - Ep.152

December 31st, 2019

1:07:24

In this Best of 2019 episode, I selected the clips that seemed most representative of what crypto was about this year, which I call, The Year Things …

For Your Normie Friends: Answers to the Most Basic Crypto Questions - Ep.151

December 24th, 2019

48:55

This fall, I had an idea to do a crypto show for my normie friends, and figured I’d release it over the holidays, when maybe my regular listeners …

Why North Korea Is Interested in Cryptocurrency - Ep.150

December 17th, 2019

1:03:42

Priscilla Moriuchi, director of strategic threat development at Recorded Future and non-resident fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, explains North …

Yeonmi Park on Why Doing Business With North Korea Is Like Buying a Ticket to a Concentration Camp - Ep.149

December 10th, 2019

1:15:51

In light of the questions around whether or not Virgil Griffith's talk at a blockchain conference in Pyongyang could have helped everyday North …

How Synthetix Became the Second-Largest DeFi Platform - Ep.148

December 3rd, 2019

1:01:41

Kain Warwick, founder of Synthetix, talks about synthetic asset issuance platform, which enables people to create tokens that track the price of assets in traditional and crypto finance. We discuss the various types of …

Why CoinMarketCap Launched Its Liquidity Metric - Ep.147

November 26th, 2019

1:09:31

Carylyne Chan, chief strategy officer at CoinMarketCap, and Gerald Chee, head of research, discuss the history of CoinMarketCap, why the founder …

Why China Aims to Replace Cash With the Digital Yuan - Ep.146

November 19th, 2019

1:11:37

Martin Chorzempa, research fellow the Peterson Institute, and Dovey Wan, founding partner at Primitive Ventures, discuss China's new blockchain push and the forthcoming DCEP. They cover how the blockchain initiative is …

Christopher Giancarlo on the Craziness of Becoming 'Crypto Dad' - Ep.145

November 12th, 2019

1:04:12

Former CFTC chairman Christopher Giancarlo talks about how his experience of the financial crisis piqued his interest in blockchain technology, why …

A Libra Co-Creator on How Facebook Will Make Money From Calibra - Ep.144

November 5th, 2019

1:09:08

Christian Catalini, co-creator of Libra and chief economist at Calibra, explains why Facebook made the design choices it made for Libra, reveals …

Bitwise's Latest Plans to Get a Bitcoin ETF Approved - Ep.143

October 29th, 2019

1:05:47

Hunter Horsley, cofounder and CEO of Bitwise Asset Management, and Matt Hougan, global head of research at Bitwise, describe their vision for Bitwise, its current funds and indices, as well as how it handles things like …

Congressman Patrick McHenry: 'Bitcoin Will Be of Enormous Value' - Ep.142

October 22nd, 2019

31:06

Congressman Patrick McHenry, or 'Mr. Fintech' to his peers in the House, is announcing the reintroduction of the Financial Services Innovation Act, a …

Think a DAO Will Automate Things? Think Again - Ep.141

October 15th, 2019

1:07:57

Mariano Conti, the head of smart contracts for MakerDAO and creator of SelloutDAO, and Peter Pan, the summoner for Metacartel DAO, discuss all things DAOs, including how Peter started Metacartel DAO after being rejected …

Fed Economist on the Prospect of the USD Losing Global Reserve Status: 'Who Cares?' - Ep.140

October 8th, 2019

1:02:24

David Andolfatto, senior vice president at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, gives his thoughts on Facebook's Libra, including why regulatory …

Crypto in China: What It Really Looks Like - Ep.139

October 1st, 2019

1:00:58

Emily Parker, cofounder of Longhash, describes what the company, which has an Asia-focused incubator and data media site does, how she ended up launching an Asia-focused company, why she’s seeing US crypto teams and …

Spencer Bogart on the $20 Trillion in Store-of-Value Assets - Ep.138

September 24th, 2019

1:06:49

Spencer Bogart, general partner at Blockchain Capital, the first VC firm to tokenize one of its funds, talks about how well offering tokenized shares …

Olga Feldmeier on Why Switzerland Has Welcomed Crypto - Ep.137

September 17th, 2019

1:01:35

Olga Feldmeier, CEO of SmartValor, describes how her upbringing in Ukraine when it was undergoing 10,000% and 5,000% annual inflation helped her understand the potential in Bitcoin years later, and helped her connect …

Why LocalBitcoins Stopped Cash Trades and Has a New CEO - Ep.136

September 10th, 2019

59:20

Sebastian Sonntag, the new CEO of LocalBitcoins, and Mika Impola, software developer at LocalBitcoins, explain why the peer-to-peer bitcoin trading …

How Aragon Hopes to Improve on Democracy - Ep.135

September 3rd, 2019

1:05:38

Luis Cuende, the CEO of Aragon One, describes the Aragon Network, how it aims to create new systems better for human coordination and the roles of …

After Years of Secret Work, Decred Adds a New Feature: Privacy - Ep.134

August 27th, 2019

1:06:44

Jonathan Zeppettini, international ops lead and chief evangelist for Decred, aka "Decred Jesus," announces the launch of the coin's privacy feature. He first describes how Decred came out of some developers' …

Sandra Ro: Why Crypto-Friendly Laws Are Coming in the US - Ep.133

August 20th, 2019

1:09:33

Sandra Ro, the CEO of the Global Blockchain Business Council and former head of digitization at CME, explains what the GBBC does, how it chooses …

The IMF on How to Design Central Bank Digital Currencies - Ep.132

August 13th, 2019

1:04:13

Dong He, deputy director of the monetary and capital markets department of the IMF, and Yan Liu, Assistant General Counsel at the legal department of the IMF, talk about central bank digital currencies (CBDCs): the …

All Things Crypto Regulation With Jake Chervinsky - Ep.131

August 6th, 2019

1:08:24

Jake Chervinsky, general counsel at Compound, goes over a plethora of crypto regulatory issues, such as those related to securities law such as the …

LedgerX on the Reasons to Trade Bitcoin Options - Ep.130

July 30th, 2019

1:03:25

Juthica Chou, chief operating officer of LedgerX, talks about the company's new license to offer its derivatives to retail investors and the …

Pantera Capital: How Bitcoin Could Reach $356,000 in a Few Years - Ep.129

July 23rd, 2019

1:05:48

Dan Morehead, founder and CEO of Pantera Capital, and Joey Krug, co-chief investment officer of Pantera and founder of Augur, discuss where we are in …

How to Keep Your Crypto From Being Stolen Via Your Phone - Ep.128

July 16th, 2019

1:01:28

Rich Sanders, cofounder and chief security officer of CipherBlade, and Harry Denley, director of security of MyCrypto.com, discuss the phone porting phenomenon: who's behind these thefts, how they perpetrate them, who …

How the Caribbean Got on the Road to Central Bank Digital Currencies - Ep.127

July 9th, 2019

1:13:24

Gabriel Abed, founder of Bitt.com and Vice President of the board of directors, describes how he went from mining Bitcoin to persuading governors of central banks to not quash Bitt's goal to create central bank digital …

How Asia's Trading Culture Results in a Vastly Different Crypto Scene - Ep.126

July 2nd, 2019

1:06:17

Luis Buenaventura, founder of Bloom Solutions, and Leo Weese, president of Bitcoin Association of Hong Kong, discuss the crypto scene in Asia — how …

Alex Gladstein of the Human Rights Foundation on the 3 Reasons Bitcoin Matters - Ep.125

June 25th, 2019

1:16:46

In recent years, the Human Rights Foundation and Alex Gladstein, its chief strategy officer, have become forces in the Bitcoin and cryptocurrency community. In this episode, he discusses why Bitcoin is important for …

Not Sure a Cryptoeconomic System Will Work? Gauntlet Can Help - Ep.124

June 18th, 2019

1:15:22

Tarun Chitra, cofounder and CEO of Gauntlet, describes how his company enables crypto teams to run through simulations to see how their design …

Oslo Freedom Forum 2019: Protecting Financial Freedoms in the Digital Age - Ep.123

June 11th, 2019

55:00

In this panel, recorded at the Oslo Freedom Forum 2019, I moderated what an attendee described as a "lively" discussion on the relationship between finances and freedom with Bitcoin author and educator Jimmy Song; Alena …

Peter Smith, CEO of Blockchain, on Its Dark Pool, Crypto Lending Operation and Intention to Go Public - Ep.122

June 4th, 2019

1:11:56

Peter Smith, the CEO of Blockchain, discusses how the company got started, why the company is focused on users owning their own private keys and how that is what enables all the most interesting applications of …

Kin Sets Up $5 Million DefendCrypto.org to Take on the SEC - Ep.121

May 28th, 2019

1:13:06

Ted Livingston, CEO of Kik and the founder of the Kin Foundation, and Patrick Gibbs, partner at Cooley, announce the formation of the $5 million

How to Trade on Crypto Exchanges Without Fear of Hacks - Ep.120

May 21st, 2019

1:10:46

Sharon Goldberg, CEO of Arwen and Boston University computer science professor, describes how the protocol enables people to trade on crypto …

Parity's Jutta Steiner and Gavin Wood on Polkadot, Substrate and the Frozen Funds - Ep.119

May 14th, 2019

1:13:24

Jutta Steiner, CEO of Parity, and Gavin Wood, who goes by the title "chief white space officer," describe the network Parity plans to launch later …

How Tagomi Makes Large Crypto Trades Cheaper and More Efficient - Ep.118

May 7th, 2019

54:39

Jennifer Campbell and Kevin Johnson, cofounder and COO, respectively, of Tagomi, describe how Tagomi helps institutional players make larger crypto trades more efficiently and at the best price possible, plus analyze …

Want to Connect Blockchains? Cosmos Has Tools for Coders - Ep.117

April 30th, 2019

1:04:00

Jae Kwon, founder and CEO of Tendermint and president of the Interchain Foundation, and Ethan Buchman, cofounder of Tendermint and Cosmos and technical director of the Interchain Foundation, discuss the various …

Charlie Lee on How Litecoin Can Be Truly Successful - Ep.116

April 23rd, 2019

1:08:39

Charlie Lee, the creator of Litecoin and aka SatoshiLite, discusses how he came to launch Litecoin, how the "fair" launch may have helped its success, why he didn't work on it for a stretch, and what inspired him to …

Why Beam Thinks Businesses Will Use Its Cryptocurrency - Ep.115

April 16th, 2019

1:04:28

Alexander Zaidelson, the CEO of Beam, a cryptocurrency being built on the MimbleWimble protocol, talks about how he came to start Beam, how it …

Grin: A More Private, Lighter Bitcoin - Ep.114

April 9th, 2019

1:10:00

Daniel Lehnberg and Michael Cordner, core team members of Grin, discuss the first implementation of the MimbleWimble protocol, named after a …

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce on Why You Shouldn't Have to Be Rich to Get Rich - Ep.113

April 2nd, 2019

1:06:44

In a fireside chat I moderated with SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce held by the Blockchain Digital Asset Forum, in conjunction with the NYU Stern Executive MBA program, on March 26, 2019, she explained where her …

Vitalik Buterin on Whether or Not Ethereum Is 'Blowing It' - Ep.112

March 26th, 2019

1:22:46

At the first Unchained Live, Vitalik explained why he thought it was "inevitable" Ethereum would lose some of its lead, when he would be upset if …

MolochDAO: Could This Decentralized Autonomous Organization Help Ethereum Scale Faster? - Ep.111

March 19th, 2019

1:06:37

Ameen Soleimani, CEO of Spankchain, comes on the show to discuss his latest effort to fund Ethereum development through the decentralized autonomous …

How Binance Could Become the First Decentralized Autonomous Corporation - Ep.110

March 12th, 2019

1:05:21

Tushar Jain and Kyle Samani, managing partners of Multicoin Capital, discuss Binance, Binance Chain and BNB token, and why they believe Binance will …

How Melon Could Make Asset Management Easier - Ep.109

March 5th, 2019

1:03:26

Mona El-Isa, the cofounder and CEO of Melonport, explains how Melon, the asset management protocol which recently launched on Ethereum, makes …

How Blockchains Can Help Create Little Democracies Everywhere - Ep.108

February 26th, 2019

1:13:43

Glen Weyl, a political economist and social technologist, the coauthor of Radical Markets and a principal researcher at Microsoft, and Santiago Siri, …

Unchained Live With Vitalik Buterin

February 20th, 2019

1:05

In case you haven’t heard, I’m doing a live podcast recording with Vitalik Buterin, the creator of Ethereum. What is a live podcast recording? It's a podcast performed by me and the guest on a stage, in front of an …

Why Future Perfect Ventures Did Not Invest in ICOs - Ep.107

February 19th, 2019

1:04:08

Jalak Jobanputra, founder and managing partner of Future Perfect Ventures, talks about how, in 2014, her experience as an investment bank and VC, her global background, and her observation that new streams of data were …

How Casa Makes It Harder for Someone to Steal Your Bitcoins - Ep.106

February 12th, 2019

1:08:37

Jeremy Welch of personal key security system Casa describes the company's various services and products, including its $10,000-a-year premium service for HODLers of at least $500,000 worth of cryptocurrency and the Casa …

Rune Christensen of MakerDAO Part 2: How Dai Stayed at $1 While ETH Crashed From $1,400 to $85 - Ep.105

February 5th, 2019

1:10:53

Rune Christensen, CEO and cofounder of MakerDAO, explains how multicollateral Dai will work, what happens if one type of collateral fails, and what …

Rune Christensen of MakerDAO Part 1: How to Keep a Crypto-Collateralized Stablecoin Afloat - Ep.104

January 29th, 2019

1:01:18

Rune Christensen, CEO and cofounder of MakerDAO, explains the intricacies of the MakerDAO system, which includes the stablecoin Dai, which is pegged …

Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss on Being the 'Fastest Tortoise in the Race' - Ep.103

January 22nd, 2019

1:06:41

Gemini's Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, who serve as chief executive and president, respectively, discuss their new ad campaign -- what they mean when …

Asia Edition: Mining, a Crypto Yuan and the Two Main Reasons the Chinese Are Interested in Crypto - Ep.102

January 15th, 2019

1:10:09

In this wide-ranging episode, Eric Meltzer and Dovey Wan of Primitive Ventures describe how Asia is weathering the crypto downturn: how have the low prices affected miners, how has this affected Bitmain's prospects for …

Ledger on How Consumers and Institutions Should Be Safeguarding Their Private Keys - Ep.101

January 8th, 2019

1:02:59

Eric Larcheveque, cofounder and CEO of Ledger, and Demetrios Skalkotos, global head of Ledger Vault, describe the company's three main offerings: its …

100th Episode: Past Guests and Listeners Take Over the Show - Ep.100

January 1st, 2019

1:18:34

To celebrate the 100th episode of Unchained, I talk a little about what this podcast means to me and thank everyone who's helped me with it. Then I let past guests and listeners take it away with their comments and …

RERUN: Xapo's Wences Casares on How Bitcoin Makes a Fairer World - Ep.99

December 25th, 2018

55:27

Growing up in Argentina, Wences Casares saw his family lose all their money three times due to actions by the government. The so-called "patient zero" of Bitcoin in Silicon Valley explains why he believes that …

Mike Novogratz on Why Bitcoin, "a Big FU to the System," Needs Institutions - Ep.98

December 18th, 2018

1:09:55

Mike Novogratz, founder and CEO of Galaxy Digital Holdings, describes the company's services and products, why it's launching a credit offering, and …

How Crypto and Blockchain Technology Could Change Financial Services - Ep.97

December 16th, 2018

48:02

This is a special episode of Unchained from the CME Global Leadership Conference in Naples, Florida. There, I spoke with Arthur Hayes, CoFounder and CEO of Bitmex, Dan O’Prey, chief marketing officer of Digital Asset, …

Coinbase's Listing Process: Why It's Adding Many More Coins and How It Decides - Ep.96

December 11th, 2018

1:04:20

Coinbase has departed from its conservative roots and begun adding many more coins. Dan Romero, vice president of Coinbase, explains how its listing process works, how it tries to prevent insider trading, and why it's …

Ari Paul on Why Bitcoin Is a Good Value Buy Today - Ep.95

December 4th, 2018

1:07:36

Ari Paul, CIO of BlockTower Capital, explains why he likes how short-term trades concentrate risk in investment, why, "no matter what," he thinks …

How Donating Crypto Can Help You Save on Taxes - Ep.94

November 27th, 2018

1:04:51

Connie Gallippi, the founder and executive director for BitGive, and Joe Waltman, the executive director of GiveCrypto.org, discuss charitable giving …

Monero's Riccardo Spagni, aka Fluffypony, on How He Feels About Monero Being Used for Crime - Ep.93

November 20th, 2018

1:03:51

Riccardo Spagni, the lead maintainer for Monero, describes the four pillars of Monero's privacy, makes the case for why it would still be valuable …

CoinFund's Jake Brukhman and Multicoin's Tushar Jain on Generalized Mining - Ep.92

November 13th, 2018

1:09:30

Jake Brukhman of CoinFund and Tushar Jain of Multicoin Capital discuss a new trend among crypto funds: generalized mining, also called mining 2.0, in …

Down 94% Since Winter, What Has Happened to ICOs? - Ep.91

November 6th, 2018

1:08:49

After the ICO craze of 2017, such offerings have raised extremely little so far this fall, with total sales in October down 94% since February, according to Token Data. Why? And where to next? Andy Bromberg, president …

Reflections on the 10-Year Anniversary of the Bitcoin White Paper - Ep.90

October 30th, 2018

1:15:02

For this episode on the eve of the Bitcoin white paper's 10-year anniversary, Nathaniel Popper and Paul Vigna, reporters who cover Bitcoin and crypto …

Numerai's Richard Craib on How to Crowdsource Good Predictions - Ep.89

October 23rd, 2018

1:06:00

While many companies like to use buzzwords like crypto, blockchain, AI and encryption, Numerai actually combines all these technologies in a novel …

Listener Mail: Laura Answers Your Questions on the Markets, Velocity, Privacy and More! - Ep.88

October 16th, 2018

1:11:25

This week, because I was busy with my TEDx talk and my book, I decided to do an episode in which I answer your questions. Thank you to everyone who submitted one, and I'm so sorry I didn't get to all your questions. In …

Barry Silbert on What Wall Street Says Privately About Crypto Vs. What It Says Publicly - Ep.87

October 9th, 2018

1:07:27

Barry Silbert, founder and CEO of Digital Currency Group, which has invested in 130 crypto ventures worldwide, describes his company, its strategy for investing in the crypto space, and how his perspective on the …

How dYdX Allows You to Take a Short Position in One Token - Ep.86

October 2nd, 2018

1:08:33

Antonio Juliano, founder of dYdX, explains how this protocol for derivatives will enable you to take a short position in a single token, why they are …

The Oslo Freedom Forum in New York: Why Decentralization Matters - Ep.85

September 28th, 2018

58:51

In this fascinating and compelling panel on Why Decentralization Matters at the Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, I spoke with Alejandro Machado, a researcher at Zcash; Amber Baldet, founder and CEO of Clovyr, a …

How Binance Became the Most Popular Crypto Exchange in 5 Months - Ep.84

September 25th, 2018

1:13:24

In this fast-paced and exhilarating conversation, Changpeng Zhao, aka "CZ," tells the pivotal business decisions that led users to flock to the …

Singularity University Global Summit: How Do We Get Consumer Adoption? - Ep.83

September 21st, 2018

1:33:56

This is a recording of the full "blockchain block" of the Singularity University Global Summit in late August. It features a talk by me on the power …

How You'll Earn Interest on Your Crypto With Compound - Ep.82

September 18th, 2018

59:38

Robert Leshner, founder of Compound, describes how its protocol will enable people to earn interest on crypto assets, and why he thinks this will be …

Tuur Demeester on Why He's a Bitcoin Maximalist and Bearish on Ethereum - Ep.81

September 11th, 2018

1:00:59

Founder and CEO of Adamant Capital Tuur Demeester explains what factors he considers when valuing crypto assets, why this has led him to become a Bitcoin maximalist, and why he doesn't think Ethereum can scale. We also …

Nadav Hollander on How Dharma Could Create New Forms of Debt - Ep.80

September 4th, 2018

59:06

Nadav, founder of Dharma protocol, explains how it enables the borrowing and lending of crypto assets, what would happen in the case of default, and …

Joey Krug on How Augur Is Like Any Other Tool - Ep.79

August 28th, 2018

53:08

Joey Krug, cofounder of Augur and co-chief investment officer at Pantera Capital, talks about what Augur is and is not, why it’s difficult to create …

Dfinity's Dominic Williams on How Its Blockchain Nervous System Is Not an AI - Ep.78

August 21st, 2018

1:06:07

Dfinity's Dominic Williams talks about how Dfinity is an internet computer that can host our software and data, instead of it being held by …

Harbor and TrustToken on Why They Don't Mind Being Unsexy - Ep.77

August 14th, 2018

1:00:46

Josh Stein, CEO of Harbor, and Danny An, cofounder and CEO of TrustToken, talk about security tokens and tokens backed by real-world assets, often called an unsexy area of crypto. They explain the strategies their teams …

Live From Distributed: Amber Baldet, Matthew Roszak and Lily Liu on 'Innovate or Reinvent?' - Ep.76

August 8th, 2018

30:42

In July in San Francisco, I moderated a panel at "Distributed 2018: Unlocking the Global Power of Decentralized Business." The title of our …

What Makes a CryptoKitty Worth $140,000? - Ep.75

August 7th, 2018

1:05:37

Roham Gharegozlou, CEO of Dapper Labs, the company behind CryptoKitties, and Benny Giang, Dapper Labs’ head of Asia, describe how employees at venture studio AxiomZen came up with the idea for CryptoKitties, what …

Meltem Demirors and Jill Carlson on the Sh*tcoin Waterfall - Ep.74

July 31st, 2018

1:07:01

In this hilarious skeptics' episode, Meltem Demirors, chief strategy officer of CoinShares, and Jill Carlson, an independent consultant, explain why …

Kathleen Breitman and Ryan Jesperson of Tezos on Why They Wouldn't Do Its Token Sale Differently - Ep.73

July 24th, 2018

1:06:04

Kathleen Breitman, CEO of Dynamic Ledger Solutions, the company behind the Tezos protocol, and Ryan Jesperson, president of the foundation, discuss …

How Widespread Is Money Laundering in Crypto? - Ep.72

July 17th, 2018

1:02:37

Yaya Fanusie, director of analysis at the Center on Sanctions and Illicit Finance at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and Tom Robinson, chief data officer and cofounder of blockchain analytics firm Elliptic, …

Circle's Jeremy Allaire and Sean Neville on Why Crypto Will Be Bigger Than the Web - Ep.71

July 10th, 2018

1:05:12

Jeremy Allaire, cofounder and CEO of Circle, and Sean Neville, cofounder and president, discuss why they think the internet of value will be even bigger than the internet of information and how all assets will be …

Chris Dixon on How Trust Is the Best Lego Block - Ep.70

July 3rd, 2018

1:07:00

Chris Dixon, partner at Andreessen Horowitz, talks about the new $300 million crypto fund he is leading with Kathryn Haun, the new general partner of Andreessen, and how a16z came to hire its first female GP. The …

Jimmy Song on Why Bitcoin Will Be the Winning Cryptocurrency - Ep.69

June 26th, 2018

1:06:57

In an episode of strong positions, Blockchain Capital  partner and Bitcoin educator Jimmy Song explains why private blockchains will never work, why smart contracts will never work, and why Bitcoin will be the one and …

Live From the World Economic Forum Industry Strategy Meeting: Breaking the Blockchain Hype - Ep.68

June 20th, 2018

1:02:01

This is a live recording from a panel I moderated at the World Economic Forum Industry Strategy Meeting. The speakers included Shwetha Shetty Senior Director, Corporate Strategy Group, of SAP, Adam Ludwin, CEO of Chain, …

Why ASICs May Be Better Than GPUs Even if They Tend Toward Mining Centralization - Ep.67

June 19th, 2018

1:02:20

David Vorick, CEO of Nebulous, which operates Siacoin and a new subsidiary, Obelisk, describes what he's discovered in his exploration of the mining …

Live From Consensus: What the Media Really Thinks About Crypto - Ep.66

June 13th, 2018

1:02:20

This is a recording of a panel discussion I participated in with a couple other reporters and crypto PR people at Consensus. (It was at the same time as Jack's talk, so it's totally understandable if you missed it. …

Placeholder's Joel Monegro on the Fat Protocols Thesis Today - Ep.65

June 12th, 2018

1:00:08

Joel Monegro, partner at crypto VC firm Placeholder Ventures, describes how well his seminal blog post, "Fat Protocols," is holding up, why he and …

From the Oslo Freedom Forum: Blockchain vs. the Surveillance State - Ep.64

June 6th, 2018

1:26:36

This recording is of Blockchain vs. the Surveillance State, a series of talks and a panel from the Oslo Freedom Forum put on by the Human Rights Foundation. In this session, hear presentations from Ryan Shea of …

Arthur Hayes of Bitmex on Why Countries Will Turn to Digital Cash - Ep.63

June 5th, 2018

1:00:56

Arthur Hayes, CEO of Bitmex, describes how traders on his platform can make great gains but experience limited losses, how Asia's crypto markets differ from those in the U.S., and why he makes money whether or not …

How Chainalysis Helps Solve Crimes: Jonathan Levin Tells All - Ep.62

May 29th, 2018

1:02:05

Jonathan Levin, cofounder and chief operating officer for blockchain analytics company Chainalysis, describes how the company was born out of questions he had while a grad student, how they began mapping the Bitcoin …

Jesse Powell, CEO of Kraken, on Drawing a Line With Regulators - Ep.61

May 22nd, 2018

58:22

Jesse Powell, CEO of crypto asset exchange Kraken, explains why he publicly rejected then-Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's request for information from crypto exchanges, why he felt it was a publicity stunt and why …

Live From Ethereal: Eep! How Should Ethereum Be Governed? - Ep.60

May 20th, 2018

1:02:52

This recording of a panel I moderated at Ethereal with Ethereum researcher Vlad Zamfir and GovernX founder Nick Dodson covered the topic that it seems everyone in crypto is discussing these days: governance. We talk …

Aya Miyaguchi, of the Ethereum Foundation, on Who Makes the Final Call - Ep.59

May 15th, 2018

59:17

The newly appointed head of the Ethereum Foundation, Aya Miyaguchi, talks about her background as a teacher, at Kraken, helping the Mt. Gox trustee unwind that mess, and the closed process by which she was plucked for …

Ripple's XRP: Why Its Chances of Success Are Low - Ep.58

May 8th, 2018

1:06:13

In this show, recorded without the participation of Ripple (explanation included in the show), Ryan Selkis, CEO and founder of Messari and Matt Leising, Bloomberg reporter, discuss Ripple's XRP, the third-largest coin …

How Institutional Investors Can Do Due Diligence in the Crypto Space - Ep.57

May 6th, 2018

35:48

Here is the second special episode from the Time Summit, a Bridge Alternatives event, on how institutional investors can do operational due diligence. Suna Said, founder and CEO of family office Nima Capital, Eddie …

What Will Make Institutional Players Comfortable Entering Crypto? - Ep.56

May 5th, 2018

58:12

This talk is from a panel I led on infrastructure in the crypto space at the Time Summit, by Bridge Alternatives, featuring Kayvon Pirestani of director of institutional sales at GDAX, Tim McCourt, CME Group’s managing …

Multicoin on the 1 Thing Crypto Teams Miss in Their Quests for Success

May 1st, 2018

1:02:26

Kyle Samani and Tushar Jain, cofounders of Multicoin Capital, dive deeply into their sometimes controversial and unpopular opinions on how the crypto …

Paul Walsh of MetaCert on How Not to Get Scammed Out of Your Crypto

April 24th, 2018

1:06:18

Paul Walsh had long ago predicted that internet scams would migrate from email to private messaging platforms, but it wasn't until crypto mania took …

Trends in Crypto: Marco Santori, Michael Sonnenshein and Barbara Minuzzi on 2017 and What's Next

April 22nd, 2018

1:02:22

In this live recording of a panel discussion at the CoinAlts Fund Symposium, Marco Santori, president and chief legal officer of Blockchain, managing director at Grayscale Investments, and Barbara Minuzzi, cofounder and …

The Chamber of Digital Commerce's Perianne Boring and Amy Kim on Why U.S. Crypto Regulation Is Complicated and Confusing

April 17th, 2018

1:01:20

If U.S. crypto regulation seems incredibly convoluted, this is the episode for you. Perianne Boring, the founder and president of the Chamber of …

Live From Inforum at the Commonwealth Club: Blockchain and Cryptocurrency: The Basics, With Kathryn Haun

April 15th, 2018

1:12:54

Through Inforum at the Commonwealth Club, I recently moderated a sold-out discussion on the basics of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. My …

Bitfury on the Ways It Collaborates With Governments and Why It's Partnered With a Public Company

April 10th, 2018

1:04:12

Valery Vavilov and George Kikvadze of Bitcoin mining and blockchain software company Bitfury discuss why the firm has partnered with the publicly traded Hut 8, how it plans to branch out into mining other crypto assets, …

All Things Cryptoeconomics, Pt. 1, With Olaf Carlson-Wee and Ryan Zurrer of Polychain Capital

April 3rd, 2018

1:06:11

In an intermittent series on cryptoeconomics, Olaf Carlson-Wee and Ryan Zurrer of crypto hedge fund Polychain Capital describe what cryptoeconomics …

Zcash's Zooko Wilcox on Why He Believes Privacy Coins Will Be Used More for Good Than Bad

March 27th, 2018

1:02:27

Zooko Wilcox, the founder and CEO of the Zcash company, explains why he wanted to create the privacy coin Zcash, why he believes privacy is essential to decentralization, and how encryption is the way …

Unconfirmed - Ep.008 - Arianna Simpson of Autonomous Partners on Privacy, Cryptokitties and Crypto Regulation

March 23rd, 2018

22:14

Arianna Simpson, managing partner of investment firm Autonomous Partners, discusses this week's news that Cambridge Analytica had used data from …

Mike Belshe on What BitGo's Kingdom Trust Acquisition Means for Crypto and How Security Will Develop in the Future

March 20th, 2018

1:07:00

Mike Belshe, the founder and CEO of BitGo, talks about one of the biggest problems facing crypto today: security. We discuss some of the ways BitGo …

Live from SXSW: Michael Casey and Paul Vigna, Co-Authors of The Truth Machine, on Why the SEC Has Issued Subpoenas to ICOs

March 18th, 2018

56:22

At the Founders Organization's Initial Taco Offering, an unofficial SXSW event, the co-authors of the recently released Truth Machine, talked about a …

Unconfirmed: Caitlin Long on How 'Utility Tokens' Are Now Legal In Wyoming

March 16th, 2018

26:02

Wyoming now has five blockchain-specific laws. Caitlin Long, cofounder of the Wyoming Blockchain Coalition, describes what these laws are, what they …

SXSW Episode: Amber Baldet, Blockchain Program Lead at JPMorgan, on the Potential Clash Between Blockchains and the Right to Be Forgotten

March 15th, 2018

24:05

Amber Baldet, JPMorgan Chase blockchain program lead, talks about what she was discussing at SXSW with Hyperledger executive director Brian Behlendorf and what themes she heard at the Ethereum Community Conference in …

Unconfirmed: SXSW Episode: Former DOJ Prosecutor Kathryn Haun on What the SEC Subpoenas and FinCen Letter Likely Mean

March 14th, 2018

22:39

As a former government official, current board member of Coinbase and professor at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, Kathryn Haun …

The Skeptics' Episode: Preston Byrne and Angela Walch on What the Industry and Regulators Get Wrong in Crypto

March 13th, 2018

1:06:54

Preston Byrne, an independent consultant and English lawyer, and Angela Walch, an associate professor at St. Mary’s University School of Law who …

Unconfirmed: Spencer Bogart on Bitcoin's Maturation and the SEC Overhang on Crypto

March 9th, 2018

24:49

Spencer Bogart, partner at Blockchain Capital, discusses why he think Bitcoin's growing pains are a sign of success, how the SEC regulatory gloom …

Will Warren of 0x on Why Decentralized Exchanges Are the Future

March 6th, 2018

1:03:11

Will Warren, cofounder of decentralized exchange protocol 0x, was working on building tokenized derivatives for Ethereum when he and his cofounder …

Unconfirmed - Ep.003 - The Gender Imbalance in Crypto: Jalak Jobanputra on Why It's a Problem and Her Effort to Fix It

March 2nd, 2018

25:19

Future Perfect Ventures' founder and managing partner Jalak Jobanputra and I discuss the New York Times article earlier this week about how few women there are in crypto. We discuss some of the surprising comments we …

Why It's so Hard to Keep Stablecoins Stable

February 27th, 2018

1:05:24

Rune Christensen of MakerDAO and Philip Rosedale, founder of Second Life and High Fidelity, discuss why stablecoins are called crypto's holy grail, …

Introducing Unconfirmed - Brian Kelly on Token-Curated Registries, Robinhood Crypto Trading and the Petro - Ep.002

February 23rd, 2018

25:04

Subscribe to my new show, Unconfirmed! Here's a sample:

Brian Kelly of BKCM talks about token-curated registries, such as the proposal for Messari, by Ryan Selkis, formerly of Digital Currency Group and CoinDesk, and …

MyCrypto's Taylor Monahan on Why She's Not a Fan of ICOs

February 20th, 2018

1:02:22

The cofounder of MyEtherWallet and CEO of newly launched MyCrypto walks us through the nuts and bolts of how MyCrypto works, how it differs from a …

Unconfirmed's First Episode: Olaf Carlson-Wee of Polychain Capital on Governance

February 18th, 2018

24:18

Check out the first episode of Unconfirmed, in which Olaf Carlson-Wee, CEO and founder of Polychain Capital, discusses why an issue facing the …

Go Check Out My New Podcast, Unconfirmed!

February 16th, 2018

3:38

Unconfirmed: Insights and Analysis From the Top Minds in Crypto drops today! The first guest is Olaf Carlson-Wee, CEO and founder of crypto hedge …

Shapeshift's Erik Voorhees on How Crypto Will Separate Money and State

February 13th, 2018

54:26

Erik Voorhees says the greatest scam perpetrated on mankind is currency debasement -- and that crypto will change all that. In this wide-ranging interview, the CEO of crypto-to-crypto exchange Shapeshift talks about how …

Xapo's Wences Casares on How Bitcoin Makes a Fairer World

February 6th, 2018

55:35

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Growing up in Argentina, Wences Casares saw his family lose all their money three times due to …

The Tax Rules That Have Crypto Users Aghast

January 23rd, 2018

1:02:55

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Tax attorney Tyson Cross and CPA Jason Tyra discuss all things crypto and taxes, including what …

Vitalik Buterin, Creator Of Ethereum, On The Big Guy Vs. The Little Guy

January 9th, 2018

1:24:08

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The 23-year-old whiz …

Crypto 101: Everything You Need To Know About Bitcoin, Ethereum, Blockchains, ICOs, And More

December 26th, 2017

1:00:44

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In this special bonus episode, Laura cover all your basic questions about crypto. What is …

How Crypto And Blockchain Technology Should Be Regulated

December 12th, 2017

1:04:58

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Marco Santori, who leads …

Naval Ravikant On How Crypto Is Squeezing VCs, Hindering Regulators And Bringing Users Choice

November 28th, 2017

1:14:21

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The executive chairman of AngelList and partner at crypto hedge fund MetaStable explains how …

What Bitcoin's History Says About Its Future

November 14th, 2017

57:33

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Days after the SegWit2x fork was called off, Nathaniel Popper, New York Times tech reporter and …

What Will Happen At The Time Of The Bitcoin Hard Fork?

October 31st, 2017

1:08:20

As Bitcoin faces the biggest test in its nine-year history, two players on opposing sides -- Mike Belshe of BitGo and Bitcoin protocol developer Matt …

How To Value A Crypto Asset

October 17th, 2017

1:03:43

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Chris Burniske of …

How To Explain Cryptocurrencies And Blockchains To The Average Person

October 3rd, 2017

1:02:16

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Tired of having your friends and family say cryptocurrencies are a Ponzi scheme, nothing backs …

From Blockchains To Mooncakes: Two Chinese Crypto Founders On The ICO And Bitcoin Exchanges Ban

September 19th, 2017

1:01:00

Da Hongfei of NEO and Patrick Dai of Qtum tell us just how crazy China's ICO craze was getting, with mooncake companies, celebs and Ponzi schemers all jumping on the blockchain train. They also explain what the reaction …

Blockstack On Getting Independence From Google, Facebook And Amazon

September 5th, 2017

58:34

Ryan Shea and Muneeb Ali, the cofounders of Blockstack, on how their tools enable users to control their own data, why the internet should have …

The High-Speed World Of ICOs: Smith and Crown Discuss Cryptoeconomics And The Future Of Tokens

August 22nd, 2017

1:01:17

Brian Lio, CEO of cryptofinance research site Smith and Crown, and head of research Matt Chwierut discuss how they do their research, how they decide which projects to cover in-depth rather than just list and when they …

How Bitcoin Solved This Serial Entrepreneur's Problems

August 8th, 2017

56:46

Afghan entrepreneur Roya Mahboob has launched numerous companies, but it was a blogging platform that presented her with the problem of how to pay her (mostly female) users, 99% of whom did not have bank accounts. And …

Why November Will Be The Real Test For Bitcoin

July 25th, 2017

1:12:31

Bitcoin core developer Eric Lombrozo and OB1 CEO Brian Hoffman debate whether SegWit2x is the best path forward, discuss who supported it and why, and whether the potential for a hard fork harms the price. They also …

Listener Qs: Laura On Ponzi Schemes, Bubbles, Greed And More

July 11th, 2017

1:00:23

In this episode, coming one day after the release of my Forbes cover story online, I answer listener questions, starting with my background, the history of the podcast, whether or not I trade or invest in crypto, and …

Why Digital Currency Group's Meltem Demirors Is Concerned About The ICO Craze

June 13th, 2017

1:06:40

The DCG director of development talks about why she thinks identity will be the first tangible application of blockchain technology that consumers …

'Bitcoin Oracle' Vinny Lingham On Why Bitcoin Is Overpriced

May 30th, 2017

1:03:36

The Civic CEO and cofounder explains how his upbringing in South Africa and his experience at former company Gyft led him to launch a startup focused on identity. It was also at Gyft that he realized how enthusiastic …

ICOs: Why People Are Investing In This $380 Million Phenomenon

May 16th, 2017

1:00:12

Don't forget to take the Unchained podcast survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/unchained

Developers of new cryptocurrencies are raising gobs of money with little more than a white paper. Though real advances are …

IBM's Jerry Cuomo On Everything From Blockchain Security To Hyperledger To The Internet Of Things

May 2nd, 2017

56:33

Thanks to all the listeners who've let me know what you want to hear more of, what you like about the show, and who you want to see as guests. If you haven't yet, have a say in the direction of the show -- tell me what …

This VC Is Sure Venture Capital Is About To Be Disrupted

April 18th, 2017

1:00:17

Don't forget to take the Unchained Podcast survey! http://surveymonkey.com/r/unchained 

Blockchain Capital's recent BCAP token offering is a harbinger of things to come in venture capital and private equity, says the …

Why Bitcoin May Split In Two And How To Prevent It

April 4th, 2017

1:00:58

Please take the Unchained podcast survey! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/unchained

The bitcoin community is mired in a civil war. In this episode of the Unchained podcast, supporters of opposing sides -- former Bitcoin …

Bobby Lee, CEO Of BTCC, On Why The Chinese Probably Aren't Using Bitcoin To Evade Capital Controls

March 21st, 2017

55:48

Bobby Lee, CEO of BTCC, one of the world's longest-running cryptocurrency exchanges, talks about whether Chinese people are using bitcoin to evade …

Why The First Employee Of Coinbase Launched A Hedge Fund

March 7th, 2017

58:07

Olaf Carlson-Wee is the founder of Polychain Capital, a hedge fund that has invested $15 million into digital assets and has gotten backing from …

Why Nasdaq Is Even More Optimistic About Blockchain Than It Was 3 Years Ago

February 21st, 2017

50:40

Fredrik Voss, Nasdaq's head of blockchain initiatives, discusses what the company has accomplished with the technology and how his firm evaluates …

With Deadline Looming, Will The SEC Approve A Bitcoin ETF?

February 7th, 2017

57:46

The SEC will make a decision on a proposed bitcoin ETF by March 11. Will it approve? An optimist and pessimist weigh in, touching upon bitcoin’s liquidity, the impact recent events in China have had on its trading, as …

Is The IRS Justified In Demanding Information On Millions Of Bitcoin Users?

January 24th, 2017

52:20

The IRS found three entities using bitcoin to evade taxes and has now demanded the records of millions of users at Coinbase, the largest U.S. cryptocurrency exchange. An accountant and an attorney specializing in …

What Is One Of The World's Largest Derivatives Exchanges Doing With Bitcoin?

January 10th, 2017

46:03

CME Group handles three billion contracts worth about $1 quadrillion annually. So why is it making a foray into bitcoin, whose market capitalization is a mere $16 billion? Sandra Ro, CME's head of digitization, explains …

Federal Prosecutor Kathryn Haun On How Criminals Use Bitcoin -- And How She Catches Them

November 1st, 2016

45:59

Kathryn Haun put away the DEA and Secret Service agents who tried to make off with more than $800,000 in stolen bitcoin while investigating the …

How Coin Center Is Helping Define The 'Big Fuzzy Gray Area' Of Blockchain And Cryptocurrency Law

October 18th, 2016

50:58

As blockchains and cryptocurrencies evolve, there are times when the technology outpaces the law. That's when Coin Center steps in. The non-profit, …

What Does Cornell’s Emin Gun Sirer See As The Main Security Threats In Cryptocurrency? ‘Everything’

October 4th, 2016

58:14

Cornell University computer science professor Emin Gun Sirer, an influential figure in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space, describes his ideas for improving security in the space, his skepticism about how to scale …

Why A Wall Street Journal Currency Reporter Didn't Understand Money Until He Learned About Bitcoin

September 20th, 2016

57:25

Michael Casey, senior advisor at MIT's Media Lab and author of the Age of Cryptocurrency, spent 18 years at the Wall Street Journal -- a good portion of that covering currency markets. But he says it wasn't until he …

Why Tyler And Cameron Winklevoss Fell In Love With Bitcoin

September 6th, 2016

56:47

Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, CEO and President, respectively, of cryptocurrency exchange Gemini, talk about the importance of regulation in a sector …

Blockchain 101 With Andreas Antonopoulos: How Bitcoin Makes Each Of Us As Powerful As A Bank

August 23rd, 2016

53:38

“Shifting from a perspective of 'only humans control money' to 'machines and software control money' is really radical and it changes a lot of …

How The Blockchain Alliance Helps Law Enforcement With Bitcoin Crime And Developments Like The DAO

August 9th, 2016

46:24

Jason Weinstein and Alan Cohn, partner and of counsel, respectively at law firm Steptoe & Johnson, discuss their work with the Blockchain Alliance, a coalition of both blockchain and cryptocurrency companies as well …

Chain's Adam Ludwin On Who Is Best Poised To Benefit From Blockchain Technology

July 26th, 2016

53:18

As blockchain technology remakes financial services, some companies will be better positioned than others, says Adam Ludwin, CEO of Chain, which has …

Want to Diversify Your Portfolio? Try Bitcoin, Say ARK's Chris Burniske And Coinbase's Adam White

July 12th, 2016

47:10

Invest in oil and gold? In this episode, the co-authors of a compelling white paper explain the four reasons why they believe you may soon be …

MaiTai Global's Bill Tai On Why Blockchain Is The 6th Wave Of Technology

June 28th, 2016

49:38

Bill Tai, a venture capitalist who got his start as a computer chip designer in the 1980s, places blockchain in the context of the broader …

Bloq's Matt Roszak on Necker Island: Connecting Multiple Blockchains, China and Tech Cooperatives

June 14th, 2016

52:43

Matt Roszak, a venture capitalist for 20 years, discusses how his new company Bloq, cofounded with former Bitcoin core developer Jeff Garzik (from talks they began on Necker Island last year), serves enterprise clients …

BitPesa's Elizabeth Rossiello on Necker Island

June 14th, 2016

48:42

Elizabeth Rossiello talks about how she went from being a credit ratings analyst for microfinance investors to heading up an "international mobile money" company for sub-Saharan Africa that uses Bitcoin's rails. Along …

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