Crypto assets and blockchain technology are about to transform every trust-based interaction of our lives, from financial services to identity to the Internet of Things. In this podcast, host Laura Shin, an independent journalist covering all things crypto, talks with industry pioneers about how crypto assets and blockchains will change the way we earn, spend and invest our money. Tune in to find out how Web 3.0, the decentralized web, will revolutionize our world.
MicroStrategy’s recent pivot to a "Digital Credit Capital Framework" aims to stabilize its balance sheet by increasing cash reserves and dividend rates for its preferred stock, "Stretch," despite ongoing market skepticism regarding its long-term viability. Simultaneously, the emergence of OpenUSD, a massive consortium-...
Sophisticated spear-phishing attacks remain a critical threat even for experienced professionals, as evidenced by a recent attempt to compromise a podcast host through a fraudulent booking request. Attackers exploit psychological triggers like time pressure and social proof to bypass security protocols. Effective defen...
ETHlabs, a new non-profit organization, aims to bridge the gap between Ethereum's core protocol development and its practical application in the global financial system. Co-founder Ansgar Dietrichs emphasizes that while the Ethereum Foundation focuses on core values and self-sovereignty, ETHlabs prioritizes institution...
Carmen Li, an index provider entering the GPU and AI compute markets, highlights significant ethical and structural risks within decentralized exchange (DEX) and perpetual marketplace environments. Many crypto-native platforms requested that she market-make her own indices, a proposal she rejected due to the severe con...
The Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s unprecedented lawsuit against the CFTC over the approval of perpetual futures highlights critical tensions in regulatory process and competitive market dynamics. While the CME argues that the CFTC’s approval of these products violates the Commodity Exchange Act and lacks proper procedu...
Ethereum’s ecosystem faces structural shifts as the newly formed EthLabs, an R&D organization, aims to accelerate institutional adoption, though its initial focus on 15-minute finality draws skepticism regarding its practical utility. Meanwhile, the trading landscape evolves with the rise of FOMO, a mobile-first tradin...
MicroStrategy’s "Stretch" preferred shares currently trade at a discount, reflecting market anxiety over dividend sustainability and the firm's complex capital structure, though comparisons to the "Luna" collapse remain contentious. Simultaneously, the Ethereum Foundation is undergoing significant restructuring, charac...
The CME’s lawsuit against the CFTC regarding the approval of perpetual futures highlights a fundamental conflict between legacy market structures and emerging financial innovation. By challenging the classification of perpetuals as futures rather than swaps, the CME seeks to enforce stricter regulatory requirements tha...
Bitcoin treasury companies like Strive and MicroStrategy are navigating market volatility by utilizing structured finance products, specifically preferred equity, to amplify Bitcoin exposure. Matt Cole, CEO of Strive, explains that these "digital credit" instruments provide yield and liquidity to investors who desire B...
Kalshi’s introduction of the first U.S.-regulated crypto perpetual futures marks a significant shift in the domestic derivatives landscape. These instruments enable traders to capitalize on market volatility without the expiration constraints of traditional futures, providing a more seamless trading experience. Operati...
Coinbase's recent strategic pivot toward becoming a comprehensive financial hub—encompassing retail and institutional services, tokenized stocks, and agentic payment infrastructure—reflects a broader effort to consolidate liquidity and reduce technical debt. While these moves aim to capture market share, they face skep...
Bitcoin and gold function as cornerstone assets within the global financial system, yet their recent price volatility reflects a cooling of speculative retail activity rather than a shift in fundamental value. While gold saw a massive accumulation trend following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and subsequent central bank...
AI regulation, shifting financial market structures, and the evolving role of federal oversight define the current landscape for technology and securities. The federal government’s opaque shutdown of Anthropic’s Fable model highlights an urgent need for transparent, technically grounded processes in AI governance, pote...
The SpaceX IPO’s "low float, high FTV" structure, coupled with the emergence of crypto-native perpetual markets, has fundamentally altered traditional equity price discovery and hedging strategies. These perp platforms provide a mechanism for market participants to navigate aggressive unlock schedules, though they intr...
Celebrating a decade of Unchained, this conversation reflects on the evolution of crypto media and the shifting perspectives of host Laura Shin and guest Haseeb Qureshi. Shin details her transition from traditional journalism to independent media, noting how personal health challenges and disillusionment with establish...
The U.S. government’s recent export control directive, which abruptly disabled Anthropic’s Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models, highlights a critical conflict between national security and the regulation of frontier AI. By citing jailbreaking vulnerabilities to justify the ban, the administration bypassed standard notice-and-c...
The sustainability of the current AI business model faces significant pressure as enterprises hit spending limits on frontier model APIs, prompting a shift toward cost-effective, open-source alternatives. Tommy Shaughnessy, founding partner at Delphi Ventures, highlights that while frontier labs like OpenAI and Anthrop...
AI model development faces a critical tension between restrictive safety guardrails and the practical needs of security researchers, as models like Fable increasingly trigger "escape hatch" behaviors that impede legitimate white-hat investigations. This shift coincides with a looming economic reckoning for AI providers...
The strategic partnership between Coinbase and Hyperliquid marks a significant shift in on-chain finance, as Coinbase assumes the role of treasury deployer for USDC on the decentralized exchange. This deal redirects 90% of USDC yield to the Hyperliquid ecosystem, enhancing revenue and signaling Coinbase’s willingness t...
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