Empire

New SEC Crypto Proposal Could Finally Fix Tokens Aug 20, 2026 3328 Can new regulations finally fix the broken token market? This week, we debate whether the SEC’s new crypto framework meaningfully changes token design, capital formation, and investor protections. We dig into token cash flows, Hyperliquid’s institutional moment, if CLARITY is actually dead, regulatory first movers, and whether founders should ignore their VCs. Enjoy! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 In

Uniswap Is Building The Liquidity Network For Everything | Hayden Adams Aug 17, 2026 4561 What if Uniswap isn’t really an exchange at all, but a liquidity network for every asset? This week, Uniswap Founder Hayden Adams explains how Uniswap is evolving from a consumer DeFi app into global financial infrastructure. We explore programmable market making, tokenized assets, public market's IPO problem, Robinhood’s breakout traction, and why DeFi could reshape capital markets. Enjoy!

Crypto’s Speculation Problem, Regulation Without CLARITY & The Gambling Economy Aug 14, 2026 3655 Crypto adoption is accelerating, but does that mean token prices follow? This week, we unpack growing institutional interest in crypto as brokerages and fintechs push onchain, even as CLARITY stalls and memecoin activity dominates. We explore SEC and CFTC catalysts, Fomo versus Pump.fun, the durability of meme-driven markets, token value accrual, and crypto’s financialization problem. Enjoy!

Morpho Is Coming For The $200 Trillion Credit Market | Paul Frambot Aug 10, 2026 4139 Is DeFi’s future invisible financial infrastructure? This week, Cofounder & CEO of Morpho, Paul Frambot, joins to explore Morpho’s ambition to bring global credit markets onchain for fintechs and institutions. We discuss Midnight and fixed-rate lending, network effects, token-equity alignment, scaling distribution, and why direction can matter more than speed. Enjoy! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 I

Venture Mandates, Cloudflare Wallets, Circle Earnings & Saddam Hussein Patek Philippe Aug 7, 2026 4438 What separates lasting winners from everyone chasing the next trend? This week, we dig into why specialization may be the biggest edge in venture investing as crypto, AI, and traditional finance increasingly converge. We discuss venture mandates, stablecoin competition, Circle's earnings, Cloudflare's agent wallets, and why reputation compounds faster than capital. Enjoy! TIMESTAMPS: 00:

AI Fatigue, Robinhood & Every Market Becoming Crypto | Weekly Roundup Jul 31, 2026 3727 What happens when every market starts trading like crypto? This week, Santi and Rob examine how leverage, automation, and retail speculation are exporting crypto-style volatility across traditional finance. They also explore CLARITY’s fading odds, AI fatigue, Robinhood’s onchain expansion, and the battle between public and private tokenization. Enjoy! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro 00:58 CLARI

Robinhood's Plan to Bring Global Finance Onchain | Johann Kerbrat Jul 27, 2026 2553 What happens when Robinhood turns crypto from a trading feature into the backbone of its global financial platform? This week, Robinhood's GM of Crypto, Johann Kerbrat, explains how Robinhood Chain connects DeFi, tokenized assets, and mainstream users. We explore global access, permissionless development, strategic partnerships, token economics, and whether equities and crypto eventually co

The Bill That Could Reshape Crypto In America with Greg Xethalis from Multicoin Jul 23, 2026 2716 Is CLARITY the breakthrough crypto needs or just the beginning? This week, Jason and Multicoin’s Greg Xethalis unpack how the bill could reshape crypto’s regulatory future. They explore CFTC oversight, token classification, DeFi protections, disclosure requirements, and the fight threatening its passage. Enjoy! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro 01:20 How CLARITY Came To Be 07:08 Who Built The

Clarity Window Closing, Robinhood Eating Ethereum Value & Coinbase's Base Reset Jul 16, 2026 4472 Crypto's window for regulatory clarity is about to close while Robinhood raises questions about who actually captures the value created onchain. This week, we unpack Clarity’s narrowing path through Congress and what failure could mean for crypto markets and institutional adoption. We also debate Ethereum’s economics, Coinbase’s Base reset, the Ostium hack vs instant settlement, and Stripe’s

Fomo Co-Founders on Building the Social Network for Finance Jul 14, 2026 4467 What happens when crypto finally builds a trading experience for everyone, not just crypto natives? This week, Jason sits down with fomo co-founders Paul and Se to discuss why consumer crypto has struggled, how fomo is approaching onchain trading differently, and why they believe social finance is the next major platform. They explore building for mainstream users, the future of tokenized as

Crypto's Value Capture Problem & Why Robinhood Built Its Own Blockchain Jul 10, 2026 4393 AI and distribution moats are forcing investors to separate real business transformation from crypto’s unresolved value-capture problem. This week, Jason and Santi discuss what months of researching crypto adoption taught Inversion, why the firm's investment strategy is evolving, and what it reveals about where value is actually being created today. They also explore Robinhood's onchain stra

What’s Circle’s End Game, Robinhood Launches A Chain & Venice Raises $65M Jul 3, 2026 4654 This week, we’re back with another weekly roundup to discuss the announcement of OUSD and what it means for the future of Circle. We then deep dive into Robinhood’s recent product launches, Venice’s $65M raise, crypto’s continued discussion around tokens vs. equity, and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Empire: https://x.com/thee

Can You Really Buy A House Without Selling Your Crypto? | Vishal Garg Jun 29, 2026 2927 This week, Vishal Garg joins the show to discuss how crypto and AI are reshaping the mortgage market. We deep dive into Better’s business model, why the mortgage market is so inefficient today, how to leverage tokenization and AI, partnering with Coinbase and OpenAI, and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Vishal: https://x.com/vishal_better Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://

State of The Market, The Prediction Market Wars & Kraken Pursues Aave Jun 27, 2026 3216 This week, we’re back with another weekly roundup to discuss the current state of markets as worries around Strategy drag crypto lower. We then deep dive into the competition in prediction markets, the state of crypto venture, Kraken’s pursuit of a stake in Aave, Fomo’s $75M raise, and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Rob

Optimism Co-Founders: What Happened to the L2s? Ben Jones & Karl Floersch Jun 22, 2026 4160 This week, Ben Jones and Karl Floersch join the show to discuss what happened to the L2s. We take a deep dive into Optimism's new strategy for 2026, the current state of Ethereum, why companies need to launch a chain, having a token, and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Karl: https://x.com/karl_dot_tech Follow Ben: https://x.com/ben_chain Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https:/

Anthropic's Fable Banned, Will Microstrategy Blow Up & Structuring A Portfolio in 2026 Jun 19, 2026 4254 This week, we’re back with another weekly roundup to discuss why the US government placed export controls on Anthropic's Fable model. We then deep dive into open vs close sourced models, will Microstratgey blow up, structuring a portfolio in 2026, Coinbase's new product announcement and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jordi: https://x.com/gametheorizing Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow

The Bull Case For Hyperliquid | Ryan Watkins Jun 15, 2026 4122 This week, Ryan Watkins join the show to discuss the current state of crypto and where he sees the most opportunity in 2026. We deep dive into running a crypto fund in 2026, do four year cycles still exist, the Hyperliquid thesis, token unlocks and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Ryan: https://x.com/RyanWatkins_ Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod --

Blockworks Acquires Messari Jun 12, 2026 1739 In this special episode, Blockworks announces its acquisition of Messari and unpacks what it means for crypto’s next phase. Michael and Jason explore why Messari’s breadth of data, APIs, and research complement Blockworks’ deep on-chain analytics, investor relations, and disclosure products. They also address crypto’s trust problem, the need for standardized data and disclosures, and how Blockwork

CFTC Chair Michael Selig On Perps, Prediction Markets & Crypto In The U.S Jun 8, 2026 3778 This week, CFTC Chair Michael Selig joins the show to discuss the CFTC's recent policy announcement on perps in the U.S. We deep dive into how to regulate crypto in the U.S, prediction markets, 24/7 markets, working with the SEC and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Michael: https://x.com/MichaelSelig Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod -- Robots will soon outnu

SpaceX’s $1.75T IPO, Strategy Sells Bitcoin & Crypto’s Hard Reset Jun 5, 2026 4602 This week, we’re back with another weekly roundup to discuss the upcoming SpaceX IPO with early investor Ryan Zurrer. We deep dive into how to value SpaceX, why this crypto bear market feels worse than others, opportunities in DeFi today, Strategy selling Bitcoin and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Ryan: https://x.com/kukulabanze Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santi: https://x.com/san

Avichal Garg On Investing in Crypto, AI and Ethereum’s Path Forward Jun 1, 2026 3683 This week, Avichal Garg joins the show to discuss how he is currently allocating to crypto in 2026. We deep dive into the opportunity in crypto and AI venture, how to build a breakout app, the future path for Ethereum, why Avichal is still bullish on SOL & ETH, why tokens trade at a discount and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Avichal: https://x.com/avichal Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Fol

Why’s Everyone So Bearish, Robinhood's AI Agent and SoFi's Stablecoin Launch May 29, 2026 3735 This week, we’re back with another weekly roundup to discuss why everyone in crypto feels so bearish. We then dive deep into whether stablecoins significantly improve payment rails, Robinhood’s AI agent announcement, Rob’s takeaways from a trip to D.C., MicroStrategy and RoboStrategy NAV premiums, and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiago

Hyperliquid Just Had It's Breakout Moment May 22, 2026 3506 This week, we’re back with another weekly roundup to discuss why Hyperliquid is having its breakout moment by capitalizing on the trillion dollar IPO wave. We then deep dive into whether we’re entering a new bull market, if Ethereum is overvalued, SpaceX’s IPO, and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Rob: https://x.com/Hadic

Figure Co-Founder: How Figure Became A $10B Business | Mike Cagney May 19, 2026 4478 This week, Mike Cagney joins the show to discuss Figure and how it became the leading non-bank HELOC lender in the U.S. We deep dive into how Figure leverages blockchain rails to scale the next evolution of capital markets before Mike shares his thoughts on tokenization, being a public vs private company, how to fix tokens and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Mike: https://x.com/mcagney Follow Jason: htt

AI Feels Like Crypto In 2017, Circle Raises $222M and Anthropic Cracks Down On SPVs May 14, 2026 4567 This week, we’re back with another weekly roundup to discuss the current AI mania and how it feels similar to crypto in 2017. We then deep dive into Circle's $222M raise, expectations for the Clarity Act, Anthropic's crackdown on SPVs and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Empire: https://

How KelpDAO's $290M Exploit Nearly Killed DeFi | Stani Kulechov & Mike Silagadze May 4, 2026 3564 This week, Stani Kulechov & Mike Silagadze join the show to discuss the aftermath of the KelpDAO exploit. We deep dive into why this hack could have potentially killed DeFi, launching the DeFi United fund, how to mitigate against future hacks, why DeFi tokens are uninvestable and more .Enjoy! -- Follow Stani: https://x.com/StaniKulechov Follow Mike: https://x.com/MikeSilagadze Follow Jason: ht

Big Tech Earnings, DeFi United and Pump Fun’s Token Burn May 1, 2026 3751 This week, we’re back with another weekly roundup to discuss the current state of markets during earnings season. As equities push to new all time highs on stronger than expected results, we take a closer look at Robinhood’s numbers, the DeFi United recovery fund, Pump.fun’s token burn announcement and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiag

A Quantum Fork is Coming to Bitcoin | Alex Pruden & Philip Martin Apr 27, 2026 3925 This week, Alex Pruden & Philip Martin join the show to discuss Bitcoin's rising quantum threat. We deep dive into what is the risk from quantum, what to do with Satoshi's coins, will we see a Bitcoin fork, how does DeFi mitigate hacks, how to protect your privacy and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Alex: https://x.com/apruden08 Follow Philip: https://x.com/SecurityGuyPhil Follow Santi: https://x.com/

DeFi’s Latest $290M Hack, Kalshi vs Polymarket & Will the Clarity Act Pass? Apr 24, 2026 4380 This week, we’re back with another weekly roundup to discuss the latest DeFi exploit of KelpDAO which saw $290M in funds exploited. We deep dive into how to resolve the recent exploits in DeFi, the rivalry between Kalshi and Polymarket, will the Clarity Act pass and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Rob: https://x.com/Had

The Blockworks Vision Apr 22, 2026 2701 This week, Jason and Mippo sat down to discuss the Blockworks rebrand! They examine the trust problem in crypto, onchain capital markets, disclosure frameworks, industry consolidation, and Blockworks’ evolution over the years. Enjoy! – Follow Blockworks: https://x.com/blockworks Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Mike: https://twitter.com/MikeIppolito_ Subscribe on YouTube: h

Solana vs Hyperliquid, Why Ethereum Is Overvalued & Crypto In 2026 | Logan Jastremski Apr 20, 2026 4137 This week, Logan Jastremski joins the show to discuss his current crypto thesis in 2026. We deep dive into who wins the competition for onchain trading volume between Solana and Hyperliquid, are L1s overvalued, Logan's highest conviction bets in 2026 and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Logan: https://x.com/LoganJastremski Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowit

Markets Bounce Back, The Hyperliquid Thesis and Kraken Raises $200M Apr 17, 2026 3491 This week, we’re back with another weekly roundup to discuss the current state of markets as the S&P hits a new all time high. We then deep dive into Tether's $150M recovery plan for Drift, Kraken's $200M raise, the impact on Microstrategy's $STRC, why have L2s underperformed and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: h

How To Make DeFi Great Again | Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic & Luca Prosperi Apr 13, 2026 5205 This week, Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic & Luca Prosperi join the show to discuss what's next for DeFi in 2026. We deep dive into why are rates so low in DeFi today, how to mitigate risk, the growth of stablecoins, the fallout from Drift's exploit, the opportunity for prediction markets and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Adrian: https://x.com/adcv_ Follow Luca: https://x.com/LucaProsperi Follow Jason: h

Why DeFi Is Unattractive, Claude Mythos and Cryptos's Biggest Winners Apr 10, 2026 4583 This week, we’re back with another weekly roundup to discuss the biggest problem within DeFi today. We then deep dive into Anthropic's announcement of Mythos, the state of crypto fundraising, the biggest winners in crypto today, are we buying the dip and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod

Hivemind: Ceasefire In Iran, Is AI a Bubble & Drift Exploited For $280M Apr 9, 2026 4062 This week, the Hivemind team breaks down the ceasefire in Iran and how it could impact markets going forward. We then deep dive into the 2026 IPO window, is AI a bubble, the fallout of Drift's $280M exploit, Polymarkets recent announcement and more. Enjoy! -- To stay up to date with future Hivemind episodes: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Delphi_Digital Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/s

Paxos CEO on Crypto Today & Why Stablecoins Are Exploding | Charles Cascarilla Apr 6, 2026 4947 This week, Charles Cascarilla joins the show to discuss the current state of crypto and the future of Paxos. We deep dive into Paxos’ origin story and business model, the growth of stablecoin payments, whether Paxos may look to IPO in 2027, Charles' advice for founders and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Charles: https://x.com/chadcascarilla Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: http

Making Tokenization a Reality: Bringing Assets Onchain | Samara Cohen Apr 4, 2026 1216 Making Tokenization a Reality: Bringing Assets Onchain Speakers: Samara Cohen, Jason Yanowitz This is a panel from DAS New York 2026. To explore more Blockworks events, visit blockworks.co/events

Western Union CEO: Western Union's Stablecoin Future Apr 4, 2026 1528 Inside Western Union's Stablecoin Fueled Future Speakers: Jason Yanowitz, Devin McGranahan This is a panel from DAS New York 2026. To explore more Blockworks events, visit blockworks.co/events

The Two Biggest Issues In Crypto Today | Weekly Roundup Apr 3, 2026 4466 This week, we’re back with another roundup covering whether it’s time to buy the dip, crypto’s VC mass extinction event, the state of secondary markets, Drift’s $280M exploit, Bitcoin’s quantum threat and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod -- ZKsync is

Copper Founder: Building a Billion Dollar Company & Fixing Crypto Custody Mar 30, 2026 3217 This week, Dmitry Tokarev joins the show to discuss how he built one of crypto's largest institutional custody platforms. We deep dive into the Copper origin story, what's broken with crypto custody today, Dmitry's new venture (Bron) and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Dmitry: https://x.com/tokarev_d Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod -- ZKsync is the

It's Still a Bull Market, But Not The One You Wanted Mar 27, 2026 3229 This week, we’re back with another weekly roundup live at DAS to discuss our takeaways from the conference. We deep dive into the institutional bull market, the state of angel and venture investing in crypto, Western Union's stablecoin pivot and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: h

Hivemind: State of The Market, Saylor’s End Game & AI Growth in China Mar 26, 2026 3811 This week, the Hivemind team breaks down the current market reaction as conflcit in Iran continues. We then deep dive into Delphi's recent trip to China, the end game for Michael Saylor, where to invest in Chinese AI and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Ceteris: ⁠https://x.com/ceterispar1bus⁠ Follow Jason: ⁠https://x.com/3xliquidated⁠ Follow Yan: https://x.com/YanLiberman Follow Jose: https://x.com/

Investor Relations in the Onchain Era Mar 24, 2026 1319 In this special episode, we introduce Blockworks’ new investor relations platform for onchain businesses. As institutional capital continues to enter crypto markets, expectations around transparency, standardization, and professionalism are rising. But instead of replicating legacy systems, Blockworks IR takes a different approach, leveraging real-time, onchain data to create a more transparent

State of The Market, How to Value Hyperliquid & Tempo Launches Mainnet Mar 20, 2026 3276 This week, we’re back with another weekly roundup to discuss the current state of markets as conflict in Iran continues. We then deep dive into Hyperliquid's announcement with S&P, how to value Hyperliquid, Tempo's mainnet launch, Kraken's reported IPO delay & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod

How To Fix Crypto's Token Problem | Weekly Roundup Mar 13, 2026 4087 This week, we’re back with another weekly roundup on the equity vs. token debate in crypto. We dive deep into Across Protocol’s proposal to convert its token into equity before covering Kraken’s Fedwire approval, Ripple’s $50B valuation, and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod -- Join us at DAS

How Hyperliquid Unlocks 24/7 Markets | Jake Chervinsky & MC Lader Mar 11, 2026 3912 This week, Jake Chervinsky & MC Lader join the show to discuss the growth of Hyperliquid in 2026 and beyond. We deep dive into Hyperliquid's 24/7 markets thesis, how Native Markets won the USDH proposal, founding the Hyperliquid Policy Center, regulation in 2026 and more. Enjoy! -- Follow MC: https://x.com/Mclader Follow Jake: https://x.com/jchervinsky Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel

State of The Market, Polymarket Insider Trading & a16z Raising $2B | Weekly Roundup Mar 6, 2026 4872 This week, we're back with another weekly roundup where we discuss the current state of markets as Bitcoin holds steady around $70k. We then deep dive into how to unlock 24/7 markets, insider trading on prediction markets, recent VC fundraises & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire:https://x.com/theempirepod -- Join us at

Hivemind: Can Bitcoin Reclaim $80k, State of The Market & The AI Trade Mar 6, 2026 3757 This week, the Hivemind team breaks down the current market sentiment as crypto tries to put in a bottom. We deep dive into reasons to be optimistic, the convergence of crypto and AI, Citrini's AI piece & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Ceteris: ⁠https://x.com/ceterispar1bus⁠ Follow Jason: ⁠https://x.com/3xliquidated⁠ Follow Yan: https://x.com/YanLiberman Follow Jose: https://x.com/ZeMariaMacedo F

Introducing: Inflection Point | The Crypto-TradFi Convergence Mar 5, 2026 3830 In this first episode of Inflection Point, we explore the accelerating convergence between traditional finance and crypto as institutional adoption begins reshaping the foundations of global financial infrastructure. The conversation examines ETFs, DeFi innovation, market structure shifts, institutional flows, and how evolving investor behavior is changing Bitcoin and digital asset markets. Along

Building The Perfect Portfolio In 2026 | Tushar Jain & Pranav Kanade Mar 3, 2026 4799 This week, Tushar Jain & Pranav Kanade join the show to discuss the current state of markets. We deep dive into where are we in the cycle, where to allocate in 2026, how to value tokens, stablecoin chains & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Tushar: https://x.com/tushar_jain Follow Pranav: https://x.com/vaneckpk Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod -- Coin

Terra vs Jane Street, Circle Earnings & Robinhood’s Venture Fund | Weekly Roundup Feb 27, 2026 5055 This week, we're back with another weekly roundup where we discuss the recent lawsuit filed by Terraform Labs against Jane Street. We then deep dive into Circle's earnings, Tether's investment in Whop, Robinhood's Venture fund & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire:https://x.com/theempirepod -- Join us at DAS (Digital Asse

Zero Just Made Blockchains 100x Better | Bryan Pellegrino & Raz Zarick Feb 23, 2026 5917 This week, Bryan Pellegrino and Raz Zarick from LayerZero join the show to discuss Zero, the 100x breakthrough in blockchain architecture. We deep dive into the Zero origin story, the roadmap for 2026, LayerZero's ultimate vision, how to build a moat in crypto, hiring top talent and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Bryan: https://x.com/PrimordialAA Follow Raz: https://x.com/ryanzarick Follow Santi: http

Inside Dragonfly’s $650M Raise | Weekly Roundup Feb 20, 2026 3257 This week, we're back with another weekly roundup where Rob walks us through Dragonfly's most recent $650M raise. We deep dive into the state of crypto VC, what allocators look for when deploying into crypto, whether tokens are investable in 2026, if Base will launch a token, and more. Enjoy. -- Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire:https://x.

Hivemind: Surviving Market Chop, Is Crypto Bottoming & Reasons to Be Optimistic in 2026 Feb 19, 2026 3607 This week, the Hivemind team breaks down the current market chop as equities trade sideways and crypto tries to hold on after a huge downturn. We deep dive into whether we’ve finally bottomed, reasons to be optimistic, AI’s impact on markets, Aave’s value accrual, and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Ceteris: ⁠https://x.com/ceterispar1bus⁠ Follow Jason: ⁠https://x.com/3xliquidated⁠ Follow Yan: https:/

Quadrillions: The New Wall Street | Nick Shalek & Mathew McDermott Feb 18, 2026 2546 In the Quadrillions finale, we map the power shift from crypto building parallel markets to institutions integrating onchain rails into traditional finance. With Ribbit Capital’s Nick Shalek, and Goldman’s Mathew McDermott, we break down why the last wave of adoption stalled, why distribution beats ideology, and how networks like Canton are building from the inside out. This is the blueprint for “

MegaETH in 2026 & Ethereum's L2 End Game | Brett DiNovi & Lei Yang Feb 16, 2026 4627 This week, Brett DiNovi and Lei Yang join the show to discuss the path forward for L2s. We deep dive into why we need L2s, MegaETH's 2026 roadmap, how to build a successful ecosystem, lessons learned from building MegaETH, and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Brett: https://x.com/bread_ Follow Lei: https://x.com/yangl1996 Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepo

The Clarity Act, State of Crypto VC & LayerZero Launches Zero | Weekly Roundup Feb 13, 2026 4556 This week, Rebecca Rettig joins the show to discuss the latest happening in Washington and what it means for crypto. We deep dive into the Clarity act, how to regulate prediction markets, who's crypto's enemy now, the state of crypto VC, LayerZero's Zero announcement and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Rebecca: https://x.com/RebeccaRettig1 Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/

How Rain Grew To A $2B Company | Charles Yoo-Naut Feb 9, 2026 4378 This week, Charles Yoo-Naut joins the show to unpack Rain's explosive growth and what's next for crypto payments. We deep dive into the Rain origin story, their recent $250M fundraise, partnering with Visa, who wins the crypto card race, how Rain grew to a $2B company, and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Charles: https://x.com/cnaut Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://x.com

Why Is Crypto Crashing? | Weekly Roundup Feb 6, 2026 4539 This week, Josh Lim from FalconX joins the show to discuss the recent market sell-off. We deep dive into Josh's outlook for 2026, who is crypto's marginal buyer, the Ethereum L2 roadmap, Kyle Samani's announcement of leaving Multicoin and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Josh: https://x.com/joshua_j_lim Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire:https://x.c

Hivemind: Are L1s Still Overvalued, Hyperliquid’s End Game & State of The Market Feb 5, 2026 3355 This week, the Hivemind team breaks down the continued sell-off in markets, from crypto to software. We deep-dive into the historical L1 premium, the endgame for Hyperliquid, Bitcoin's quantum threat, Vitalik's post on L2s, and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Ceteris: ⁠https://x.com/ceterispar1bus⁠ Follow Jason: ⁠https://x.com/3xliquidated⁠ Follow Yan: https://x.com/YanLiberman Follow LTR: https://x

Quadrillions: Stablecoins: We’ve Only Just Begun | Mohamed Afifi Feb 4, 2026 2860 In this episode, we break down the state of stablecoins and why they’ve been able to bridge the gap into TradFi’s mainstream. Who’s adopting stablecoins and why? How are stablecoins changing the financial and legislative landscape? And what does this mean for the future of the larger crypto landscape? -- Follow Canton: https://x.com/CantonNetwork Follow Mo: https://x.com/Mo_Bps Follow Eric: h

Why BitGo Went Public | Mike Belshe Feb 2, 2026 4757 This week, we’re joined by CEO and Co-founder of BitGo, Mike Belshe, to discuss BitGo’s IPO, their motivations for going public, and the IPO process. We dive into allocation decisions, key product growth areas, and views on regulation, crypto market structure, and future industry evolution. Enjoy! – Follow Mike: https://x.com/mikebelshe Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire:

The Bull Case For DePIN, RWAs on Hyperliquid & The Onchain Endgame | Weekly Roundup Jan 30, 2026 4702 This week, we break down the evolving DePIN thesis, from real revenue traction to infra financing, regulation, and why some networks are finally compounding at scale. We also discuss the boom in Hyperliquid RWAs, bringing money & companies onchain, 2026 IPOs, and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Salvador: https://x.com/DAnconia_Crypto Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com

Why Kraken Is Betting Big on Onchain Vaults | John Zettler & Sun Raghupathi Jan 26, 2026 3802 This week, we’re joined by John Zettler, Director of Product at Kraken and Sun Raghupathi, Co-founder of Veda, to discuss their collaboration to bring onchain vaults to Kraken! We explore the growth of onchain vaults, how vaults package DeFi lending and yield strategies, vault mechanics, risk management, business models, comparisons to past yield products, and implications for DeFi adoption and fu

AI Breaking Software Economics, CLARITY Bill, & Debating BitGo’s IPO | Weekly Roundup Jan 23, 2026 4695 This week, we discuss Claude and the ongoing AI acceleration, AI’s impact on VC and SaaS, and the latest draft of the CLARITY Bill. We also dig into BitGo’s upcoming IPO, Polygon’s latest acquisitions, the Farcaster Sale, Larry Fink’s WEF comments, and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Em

Hivemind: Bitcoin Volatility, Perp DEX Trends, and Crypto Market Cycles Jan 22, 2026 3874 This week, the Hivemind team discusses Bitcoin’s recent price action, macro and equity market influences, perp DEX activity, and their outlooks on Solana, Hyperliquid, Lighter, and PumpFun. They also cover privacy coins, equity perps, and market cycles. Enjoy!Thanks for tuning in! – Follow Ceteris: ⁠https://x.com/ceterispar1bus⁠ Follow Jason: ⁠https://x.com/3xliquidated⁠ Follow Yan: https://x.

Quadrillions: How to Win the World | Chris Maurice Jan 21, 2026 2898 In this episode, Chris Maurice, Co-founder & CEO of Yellow Card, joins us to explore how compliant crypto rails are reshaping everyday money movement across Africa. We dig into stablecoins as practical financial tools, the regulatory groundwork that makes them usable, and what it takes to build a pan-African fintech that can withstand FX volatility, fragmented payment systems, and shifting policy

Inside Lighter’s Plan to Overtake Hyperliquid | Vladimir Novakovski Jan 20, 2026 3261 This week, Lighter Founder & CEO Vladimir Novakovski discusses Lighter’s competitive edge over Hyperliquid, why he chose to be an L2 on Ethereum, and the role of their ZK innovations. We also touch on equity perps, Lighter’s partnership with Robinhood, and why Vlad chose to work in crypto. Enjoy! Follow Vlad: https://x.com/vnovakovski Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: h

Claude Code, Stablecoin Adoption, and 2026 Trends | Weekly Roundup Jan 16, 2026 4452 This week, we discuss the rise of AI tools like Claude Code, and their impact across the industry. We also cover Rain’s growth, supply and demand dynamics in crypto, capital raising, and crypto and AI trends in 2026. Enjoy! – Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod –

Claude Opus 4.5’s Breakout Moment & Investing in 2026 with Qiao Wang Jan 12, 2026 3471 This week, Qiao Wang joins the show to discuss how AI is transforming what it means to be an investor in 2026. We deep dive into Claude Opus 4.5 and its breakout moment, why Qiao got into the Google trade, constructing a portfolio for 2026, where to allocate time in the age of AI and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Qiao: https://x.com/QwQiao Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: htt

Lighter’s Token Launch, Erebor Raises $350M & Walmart's Crypto Strategy Jan 9, 2026 2966 We're back with our first weekly roundup of 2026! This week we discuss Lighter token launch, Walmart's crypto strategy with OnePay, Erebor's $350m raise, what to expect in 2026 & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- "Mantle Global Hackathon 2025 is live! Running from Oct 22 to Dec 31, M

Hivemind: Will 2026 Be Bullish & Crypto's Token vs Equity Problem Jan 8, 2026 3869 This week, the Hivemind team breaks down the current state of the markets and asks whether the start of 2026 will be bullish. We then dive into the ongoing token vs equity debate in crypto and explore the best way to structure ICOs. Enjoy! -- Follow Ceteris: ⁠https://x.com/ceterispar1bus⁠ Follow Jason: ⁠https://x.com/3xliquidated⁠ Follow Jose: https://x.com/ZeMariaMacedo Follow Yan: https:/

Quadrillions: The Crypto Capital of the World | Acting Chairman Pham Jan 7, 2026 2123 In this episode, we’re joined by Acting Chairman Pham to discuss the CFTC’s “back to basics” regulatory approach, cooperation with the SEC, and the CFTC’s 12-month Crypto Sprint initiative. We dive into tokenized collateral, stablecoin regulation, global market harmonization, and strategies to make the U.S. the crypto capital of the world. -- Quadrillions brings together the voices defining the

Our 2026 Predictions Dec 26, 2025 5445 Welcome to our final weekly roundup of the year! In this episode we reflect on our 2025 predictions before deep diving into our 2026 predictions. We discuss what to expect for stablecoins, prediction markets, the equity vs token debate & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https:/

The State of Crypto, 2026 Predictions & Espresso's Token Launch | Jill Gunter Dec 22, 2025 3422 This week, Jill Gunter from Espresso joins the show to discuss the state of crypto today. We deep dive into how has crypto evolved, why privacy matters, predictions for 2026, will Espresso launch a token & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jill: https://x.com/jillgun Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaC

Is 2025 Crypto's Dot-com Moment? | Weekly Roundup Dec 19, 2025 3784 This week, we discuss whether 2025 marks crypto’s dot-com moment. We deep dive into how to allocate capital as crypto and fintech continue to merge, crypto’s token-vs-equity dilemma, Coinbase’s recent product releases, who wins the stablecoin race and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Em

Hivemind: Crypto Is Dead with Dougie DeLuca Dec 18, 2025 2918 This week, Dougie DeLuca joins the Hivemind team to discuss his recent piece "Crypto Is Dead". We deep dive into the shift that is happening within crypto as we head into 2026, why is sentiment so bad, where to allocate in 2026, where crypto has found PMF and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Dougie: https://x.com/DougieDeLuca Follow Jose: https://x.com/ZeMariaMacedo Follow Jason: ⁠https://x.com/3xliquid

Fundamentals Are The New King of Crypto | Smac & Noah Goldberg Dec 15, 2025 3788 This week, Noah from Theia & Smac from Compound discuss why crypto’s next chapter won’t be powered by hype alone. They explain how valuations, narratives, fund structures, and real cash-flow durability are reshaping the industry, and why investors must adapt to a world where fundamentals finally matter. Enjoy! — Follow Noah: https://x.com/tradernoah Follow Smac: https://x.com/0xsmac Follow Jason

Tempo Testnet Goes Live, Burnout In Crypto, and Farcaster’s Pivot | Weekly Roundup Dec 12, 2025 3790 This week, we discuss Polymarket data accuracy, VC involvement in portfolio companies, Paradigm’s Tempo testnet launch, reflections on burnout in crypto, and Farcaster’s pivot. Enjoy! – Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod —- Zcash is encrypted Bitcoin. Your digita

Institutional Flows Will Overpower the 4-Year Cycle | Matt Hougan Dec 8, 2025 3094 This week, CIO of Bitwise Matt Hougan joins the show to discuss fading the power of the four-year cycle, the accelerating wave of institutional adoption, and whether Strategy selling its Bitcoin is a real risk. Matt also weighs in on the Santi-Haseeb L1 debate, balancing token value with investment, and what he thinks drives the next phase of growth. Enjoy! — Follow Matt: https://x.com/Matt_Houg

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