Bankless
The Ultimate Guide to Crypto Finance. DeFi, NFTs, and cryptocurrencies. Level up. Go bankless.
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The Age of Hyper Acceleration: AI, AGI & Beyond! | Josh Kale
03/10/2025
The Age of Hyper Acceleration: AI, AGI & Beyond! | Josh Kale
AI isn't just growing—it's skyrocketing us into an unprecedented era of hyper-acceleration. Josh Kale joins us to explore how breakthroughs in intelligence, from protein sequencing and synthetic biology to autonomous transportation and energy abundance, are reshaping our world at dizzying speeds. Prepare for a future that's closer than you think, where the cost of intelligence approaches zero and possibilities become boundless. ------ 📣BECOME A BANKLESS CITIZEN ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | SWAP ON UNICHAIN ⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER ------ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro 3:48 Exponential Human Progress 7:50 Moore’s Law vs Huang’s Law 15:17 Synthetic Biology 20:37 Economic Impact 23:17 Job Market 31:02 Self-Driving Cars 33:33 Aviation 35:43 Energy 41:10 David Deutsch 45:42 Electricity & Income 51:20 Nuclear Energy 54:46 The Unibomber 1:01:09 Defensive Accelerationism 1:03:06 Robotics 1:06:14 Closing & Disclaimers ------ RESOURCES Josh Kale The Beginning of Infinity Bankless Nation Discord ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here: https://www.bankless.com/disclosures
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ROLLUP: Trump Crypto Reserve | SBF Prison Interview | Ethereum Leadership Shuffle
03/07/2025
ROLLUP: Trump Crypto Reserve | SBF Prison Interview | Ethereum Leadership Shuffle
Joining the Weekly Rollup this week is Haseeb Qureshi, dissecting Trump's controversial Crypto Strategic Reserve announcement featuring Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, and Ripple—causing an initial market surge and a swift reversal. They unpack Sam Bankman-Fried's candid prison interview with Tucker Carlson, revealing a stark divide between human empathy and detached pragmatism. Plus, Trump's erratic tariff policies are rattling macro markets; is it strategic or simply chaotic? Finally, they delve into Ethereum's leadership shuffle, Base's new speed upgrade challenging Solana, and AI's profound reshaping of crypto startups and blockchain usability. Follow Haseeb: ------ 📣SPOTIFY PREMIUM RSS FEED | USE CODE: SPOTIFY24 ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | SWAP ON UNICHAIN ⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER ----- ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS & RESOURCES 0:00 Intro 0:26 Tucker Carlson Interviews SBF 5:10 Trump announced strategic crypto reserves 25:14 Tariffs & Macro Markets 41:20 Ethereum Foundation has new leadership! 52:23 Base is getting faster and faster! 55:41 Devconnect 1:00:14 AI Developments & Kaito 1:16:12 Closing & Disclaimers ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here:
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AI ROLLUP #14: The AI Betting Genius That's Outsmarting Everyone | Humanoid Fighting Robots | AI's Invent a New Language
03/06/2025
AI ROLLUP #14: The AI Betting Genius That's Outsmarting Everyone | Humanoid Fighting Robots | AI's Invent a New Language
In this episode, we kick off with jaw-dropping scenes of home robots that aren’t just putting groceries away, they’re taking the fight to you, echoing the dark vibes of i-Robot. Next, we unravel a crazy demo where encrypted agents develop their own language, and break down Google’s game-changing agent swarm that’s setting new research standards. We also explore Claude’s innovative new model and code that transforms complex problem-solving, plus Anthropic’s record-shattering $3.5B raise. And that’s not all, we share exclusive takeaways from ETH Denver’s AI scene, highlight AskBilly’s profit-making sports betting agent, and introduce Freysa’s digital twin game with a $250K prize. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or just curious about tomorrow’s breakthroughs, this episode is your all-access pass to the cutting edge of innovation. ------ 📣RESERVE | INVEST IN CRYPTO NARRATIVES ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | SWAP ON UNICHAIN ⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER ----- ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS & RESOURCES 00:00:00 Humanoid Robots 00:04:33 Gibberlink 00:09:07 Google Co-Scientist 00:10:27 Claude 3.7 00:16:00 Vibe Coding 00:24:32 The Good About ETH Denver 00:31:16 The Bad About ETH Denver 00:35:26 Expert Sports Better 00:52:57 Freysa AI 01:04:42 Homework For you! ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here:
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Is Trump Trying to Wreck the Economy? | Macro Expert Jim Bianco
03/05/2025
Is Trump Trying to Wreck the Economy? | Macro Expert Jim Bianco
Is Trump trying to wreck the economy, or is he just ripping off the Band-Aid? Macro expert Jim Bianco breaks down Trump's economic strategy—tariffs, tax cuts, and shifting focus from the stock market to the 10-year Treasury yield. We discuss the potential risks of short-term pain, the surprising Crypto Strategic Reserve, and whether this shift could lead to long-term economic stability. Is this the start of a recession or a necessary correction? Tune in for Jim’s expert take. ------ 📣SPOTIFY PREMIUM RSS FEED | USE CODE: SPOTIFY24 ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | SWAP ON UNICHAIN ⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER ------ ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro 5:53 What is Trump Doing? 12:07 Economic Rebalancing 17:37 Crypto Strategic Reserve 28:52 Tariffs 33:39 Trade Imbalances 38:45 Tariffs & 10 Year Yield 48:28 Recession in 2025? 55:04 Optimistic Future 1:01:22 Risk-On Sector 1:05:07 Closing & Disclaimers ------ RESOURCES Jim Bianco Bianco Research ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here: https://www.bankless.com/disclosures
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The AI Arms Race: Who Will Dominate the Next Industrial Revolution? | Josh kale
03/03/2025
The AI Arms Race: Who Will Dominate the Next Industrial Revolution? | Josh kale
The AI arms race is on, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Bankless podcast producer Josh Kale breaks down which players are poised to dominate this next industrial revolution. From the transformative power of AI across industries to the geopolitical and economic implications, we explore the critical dynamics shaping our technological future—and what this means for investors, builders, and society at large. ------ 📣SPOTIFY PREMIUM RSS FEED | USE CODE: SPOTIFY24 ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | SWAP ON UNICHAIN ⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER ----- ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro 0:25 A New Life Form? 4:23 The AI Rabbithole 11:49 xAI & Grok 3 26:51 Deepseek Breakthrough 28:47 English as a Programming Language 30:19 Open Sourcing LLMs 34:13 Other Models 39:29 Meta AI 44:04 AI Bets 46:27 Elon Musk vs Sam Altman 51:59 Worldcoin 55:48 From OpenAI to AGI 1:03:01 AI Doomerism 1:10:06 Neuralink 1:15:20 AI vs Humans 1:22:08 Frontier Tech 1:24:43 Crypto’s Role 1:28:00 Closing & Disclaimers ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here:
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ROLLUP: Macro Bearish Report | Biggest Hack In History | SEC Drops Crypto Cases
02/28/2025
ROLLUP: Macro Bearish Report | Biggest Hack In History | SEC Drops Crypto Cases
Joining us this week is Alex Thorn to break down why crypto markets are taking a hit. Major hacks, bearish macro signals, and fresh tariffs from the U.S. all played a role. But it’s not all bad news: the SEC is backing off from lawsuits against Coinbase, OpenSea, and Uniswap, signaling a potential shift in regulatory pressure. Plus, Bybit suffered the biggest crypto hack ever, losing $1.5B—how did it happen, and who’s behind it? Follow Alex: ------ 📣SPOTIFY PREMIUM RSS FEED | USE CODE: SPOTIFY24 ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | SWAP ON UNICHAIN ⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER 🦋MORPHO | CRYPTO-BACKED LOANS ----- ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS & RESOURCES 00:00:00 Intro To Alex 00:01:21 Market Breakdown 00:09:43 Treasuries vs Equities 00:22:12 The Largest Hack In History 00:34:12 Ethereum Hard Fork Backlash 00:43:03 SEC Drops Lawsuits 00:48:32 Hester Peirce Update 00:54:46 Bullish Or Bearish? 01:04:48 A16Z’s Newest Hire 01:06:30 Stablecoin Issues 01:12:31 US Treasury Updates 01:15:58 Find Alex on Twitter ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here: https://www.bankless.com/disclosures
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AI ROLLUP #13: Crypto AI vs Silicon Valley | Live From ETH Denver
02/27/2025
AI ROLLUP #13: Crypto AI vs Silicon Valley | Live From ETH Denver
📣RESERVE | INVEST IN CRYPTO NARRATIVES ------ Tom Shaughnessy from Delphi joins us to break down the AI x crypto space—where the value is, how to spot winning models, and why Silicon Valley AI and crypto AI are taking very different approaches. We also get into agent-based research, the fracturing of frontier models, and… a birthday surprise at the end. ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | SWAP ON UNICHAIN ⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER 🦋MORPHO | CRYPTO-BACKED LOANS 🏦ONDO | INSTITUTIONAL GRADE FINANCE ----- ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Start 04:42 Delphi's Interest In The Space 08:20 Initial AI Crypto Use Cases 09:18 The Era's Of AI 13:41 Where Does Value Accrual Come From 20:38 How Do You Choose The Winning Model? 27:08 Silicon Valley AI Vs Crypto AI 37:12 Fracturing Of Frontier Models 41:43 What's Exciting? 46:27 Due Diligence Via Agent 49:02 When To Use What Agent 53:10 A Birthday Surprise ------ RESOURCES Tom Shaughnessy ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here: https://www.bankless.com/disclosures
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Why This Cycle Feels Broken, Memecoins & Macro | Ben Cowen
02/24/2025
Why This Cycle Feels Broken, Memecoins & Macro | Ben Cowen
Ben Cowen, founder of Into the Cryptoverse, breaks down why the current crypto cycle feels different from past ones. We explore the Advanced Decline Index and how it reveals why Bitcoin is thriving while most altcoins struggle. Ben also discusses the impact of quantitative tightening, the ETH/BTC ratio, and why meme coin speculation is distorting market dynamics. A must-listen for anyone navigating crypto’s shifting landscape and seeking deeper market insights! ------ 📣SPOTIFY PREMIUM RSS FEED | USE CODE: SPOTIFY24 ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | SWAP ON UNICHAIN ⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER 🦋MORPHO | CRYPTO-BACKED LOANS 🏦ONDO | INSTITUTIONAL GRADE FINANCE ------ ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro 04:37 Advance Decline Index (ADI) 08:45 Crypto Vibes & Economy 10:26 ETH & BTC Dollar Relation 15:04 Has ETH Gone Home? 20:38 FED & Memecoins 23:58 Take on SOL/BTC Ratio 28:51 Rise of Meme & Alt Coins 31:45 Where the Value Lies in the Market? 39:11 Trump’s Plans with Tenures & Dollar 44:00 Crypto's Bullish Setup vs. Market Vibes 47:35 Meme Coins vs. VC Giants 53:36 Did We Just Skip a Cycle? 59:08 Closing & Disclaimers ------ RESOURCES Ben Cowen Into the Cryptoverse ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here:
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ROLLUP: Milei’s Memecoin Scandal | KAITO Airdrop | The Fed’s QT Pivot? | Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade
02/21/2025
ROLLUP: Milei’s Memecoin Scandal | KAITO Airdrop | The Fed’s QT Pivot? | Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade
This week’s Weekly Rollup, David and Kain Warwick dive into Argentine President Milei’s LIBRA fiasco and Strategy’s bold $2B Bitcoin play, while we check out the new Kaito airdrop making waves. We also explore Ethereum’s biggest upgrade yet—Pectra—plus Monad’s high‐speed L1 testnet launch. Finally, we dig into the SEC’s fresh “CETU” cyber unit and what the brand‐new Infinex platform means for DeFi. Tune in for all the drama and alpha happening in the third week of February! ------ 📣RESERVE | INVEST IN CRYPTO NARRATIVES ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | SWAP ON UNICHAIN ⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER 🦋MORPHO | CRYPTO-BACKED LOANS 🏦ONDO | INSTITUTIONAL GRADE FINANCE ----- ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS & RESOURCES 0:00 Intro, Libra, Memecoins, & ICOs 29:59 Markets 38:51 Kaito Airdrop 53:16 Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade 1:00:21 Monad launched a public testnet 1:00:47 SEC Launches New Cyber Unit ‘CETU’ Aims to Protect From Bad Actors 1:06:52 Infinex 1:11:29 Closing & Disclaimers ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here:
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AI ROLLUP #12: Kaito's Secret Token Utility | Grok 3 Released | Bittensor Launch | Virtuals Revenue Record
02/20/2025
AI ROLLUP #12: Kaito's Secret Token Utility | Grok 3 Released | Bittensor Launch | Virtuals Revenue Record
Ejaaz and David are back this week with a new frontier model to dissect. With the release of Grok 3, xAI is now a real competitor to companies like Anthropic and OpenAI. Joining this news cycle is Kaito, set to launch it's airdrop and it turns out Ejaaz is... a top yapper? Meanwhile, David tried to get a date with an AI agent and a Kardashian is quote tweeting Virtuals, it's been a weird week. ------ 📣 RESERVE | INVEST IN CRYPTO NARRATIVES ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | SWAP ON UNICHAIN ⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER 🦋MORPHO | CRYPTO-BACKED LOANS 🏦ONDO | INSTITUTIONAL GRADE FINANCE ----- ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS & RESOURCES 00:00 Intro & Temp Check 04:10 Grok 3 Release 12:25 Nous Research 20:17 Date Abby 23:22 Replit and Agent On Agent Coding 27:59 Kaito Explained 36:47 Kaito Airdrop 41:18 Tracy And Sports Betting AI 45:13 BillyBets 50:48 BIttensor Upgrade 56:03 AI16Z ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here: https://www.bankless.com/disclosures
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SEC's Crypto Task Force: A New Era for Regulation? | Hester Peirce
02/17/2025
SEC's Crypto Task Force: A New Era for Regulation? | Hester Peirce
SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce discusses her new role as head of the SEC Crypto Task Force and its impact on crypto regulation. We explore the repeal of SAB 121, how the task force aims to bring clarity to token issuances, and potential pathways for retroactive relief for crypto projects. Peirce also shares insights on SEC-CFTC collaboration, no-action letters, and her approach to prioritizing key industry issues. A must-listen for understanding the future of crypto regulation and policy shifts at the SEC! ------ 📣SPOTIFY PREMIUM RSS FEED | USE CODE: SPOTIFY24 ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | SWAP ON UNICHAIN ⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER 🦋MORPHO | CRYPTO-BACKED LOANS ------ ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro 04:21 Post-Election Thoughts 05:09 Crypto Task Force & SAB 121 11:00 Hester's Statement on SEC Site 12:41 Issuing Tokens & SEC 14:58 No-Action Letters 18:30 Communication with SEC 22:00 Task Force & Companies 23:55 SEC & CFTC Relations 26:42 Token as a Security? 32:00 KYC, Securities & Open Networks 36:23 Investment Barriers & Accreditation 38:32 Paul Akin’s Retirement Effects 40:30 Matt Levine’s "Dumb Investment" 42:52 SEC & Memecoins 45:03 Airdropped Coins 47:33 Miscellaneous Issues 48:46 SEC & ETFs 49:23 Prioritizing Work 50:17 Future SEC Plans 53:15 Closing & Disclaimers ------ RESOURCES Hester Peirce ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here:
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ROLLUP: Trump vs. The Fed | Staked ETH ETF | The First Stage 2 Rollup | Robinhood's Crypto Pivot
02/14/2025
ROLLUP: Trump vs. The Fed | Staked ETH ETF | The First Stage 2 Rollup | Robinhood's Crypto Pivot
This week’s Weekly Rollup covers Trump’s clash with the Fed over interest rates and the surprising crypto moves from Trump Media. Gauntlet’s Tarun Chitra joins us to unpack the latest developments—from OpenSea’s upcoming airdrop to Arbitrum’s permissionless fault proofs—while we debate whether airdrops are truly over. We also dig into Vitalik’s “communist” joke and Dave Portnoy’s memecoin mania. Tune in for all the drama and alpha happening in the second week of February! ------ 📣 MORPHO | GO-TO LENDING INFRASTRUCTURE ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | SWAP ON UNICHAIN ⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER 🎮RONIN | THE FUTURE OF WEB3 GAMING ----- ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS & RESOURCES 00:00:00 Start 00:03:33 Trump vs The Fed 00:06:25 Tarun Market Takes 00:10:18 ETH Staking ETF 00:15:26 Robinhood Enters The Chat 00:27:13 Brian Quintenz Nominated to Lead CFTC 00:30:08 Is The Airdrop Meta Over? 00:34:21 MegaETH Exploring Alternatives 00:40:38 OpenSea SEA Airdrop 00:46:17 Ethereum Shenanigans 00:52:51 Arbitrum Launched BOLD 00:55:19 JailStool 01:04:01 Where To Find Tarun ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here: https://www.bankless.com/disclosures
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AI ROLLUP #11: $97B Elon OpenAI Rumor | AI Crypto Rebound? | Virtuals on Solana | ARC Launchpad
02/13/2025
AI ROLLUP #11: $97B Elon OpenAI Rumor | AI Crypto Rebound? | Virtuals on Solana | ARC Launchpad
Ejaaz and David reunite to dissect the AI Crypto sector’s rebound from a 70% crash, fueled by Elon’s rumored $97B OpenAI bid and the relentless rise of open-source devs being heads down. They explore how tokens might be the most accessible path to AI exposure, why ARC’s curated launchpad could elevate agent quality, and what Virtuals’ move onto Solana means for cross-chain expansion. Meanwhile, X (Twitter) embraces a new wave of AI agents, and AI16z reorganizes to stay competitive. Is this the turning point for AI and crypto—or just another plateau? Tune in to find out, anon. ------ 📣SPOTIFY PREMIUM RSS FEED | USE CODE: SPOTIFY24 ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | SWAP ON UNICHAIN ⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER 🏦ONDO | INSTITUTIONAL GRADE FINANCE ------ ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS & RESOURCES 0:00 Intro 1:17 Crypto x AI Exposure Strategy 10:56 Elon’s $97B OpenAI Bid 13:14 Crypto x AI Mindshare & Markets 22:48 Andrej Karpathy 22:58 Replit comes out with a mobile app 33:12 X (Twitter) is getting involved in agents 37:24 ARC reveals their new launchpad & agent launch 51:17 Virtuals are live on Solana! 59:03 AIXBT holders can now connect X account = richer agent interactions 1:02:46 Ai16z (ElizaOS): a brutally raw take 1:07:57 What Ejaaz focused on this upcoming week 1:08:59 Closing & Disclaimers ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here:
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Berachain 101: Everything You Need To Know | Founder Smokey The Bera
02/12/2025
Berachain 101: Everything You Need To Know | Founder Smokey The Bera
In this episode, we speak with Smokey the Bera, co-founder of Berachain, about the project’s newly launched mainnet and its innovative Proof of Liquidity model. The discussion unpacks Berachain’s unique three-way relationship between its app layer, validators, and a nontransferable governance token that reimagines traditional proof of stake systems. Smokey explores both the potential benefits and the challenges of this economic experiment as it seeks to reshape blockchain economics. We also spotlight our sponsor Morpho, whose cutting-edge integration of DeFi with traditional finance is driving new opportunities in the market. ------ 📣 MORPHO | GO-TO LENDING INFRASTRUCTURE ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | SWAP ON UNICHAIN ⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER 🎮RONIN | THE FUTURE OF WEB3 GAMING ------ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Start 05:10 How Did Bera Come To Be? 09:43 Starting With Community 12:09 The Memetic Roadmap 14:43 Proof Of Liquidity 20:41 The Triangle Based Loop 33:26 Liquidity Provisioning 35:21 Discovering Equilibrium 38:28 How To Grow Market Share 43:53 Bera and Monad 47:13 Addressing Criticism 53:51 2025 Roadmap ------ RESOURCES Smokey - ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here:
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Unichain is Live! What This Means For The Future of DeFi | Hayden Adams
02/11/2025
Unichain is Live! What This Means For The Future of DeFi | Hayden Adams
Hayden Adams, creator of Uniswap, introduces UniChain, a new Layer 2 solution designed to enhance DeFi scalability and efficiency. We explore UniChain’s innovations, including its decentralized sequencing mechanism, one-second block times, and seamless interoperability with Ethereum and the Optimism Superchain. Adams also discusses Uniswap v4’s impact on gas efficiency and how UniChain aims to reduce MEV extraction, benefiting users and liquidity providers. A must-listen for anyone interested in the future of DeFi scalability and cross-chain integration! ------ 📣 MORPHO | GO-TO LENDING INFRASTRUCTURE ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙 FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | SWAP ON UNICHAIN 🌐 CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK ⚖️ ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum 🏦ONDO | INSTITUTIONAL GRADE FINANCE ------ ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro 5:38 Unichain’s Significance 11:43 Uniswap V4 & Unichain 18:56 Unichain's Interoperability 25:46 How Interoperability Works 31:21 Tech Behind Interop 46:33 Mempools, MEVs & Unichain 49:16 When Will Blocks Hit 250ms? 50:25 Unichain's Validation & Fees 56:02 Unichain Rollout 58:51 Unichain Developer Ecosystem 1:05:53 Hooks & Uniswap V4 1:12:29 Closing & Disclaimers ------ RESOURCES Hayden Adams Unichain ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here: https://www.bankless.com/disclosures
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Trump, Tariffs & The Dollar’s Fate: Lyn Alden’s Macro Predictions for 2025
02/10/2025
Trump, Tariffs & The Dollar’s Fate: Lyn Alden’s Macro Predictions for 2025
The 2024 U.S. election has reshaped the macro landscape, and few understand its implications better than Lyn Alden. She joins Bankless to discuss the impact of Trump’s policies on the dollar, Bitcoin, and global markets. From fiscal dominance and trade wars to the possibility of a new Plaza Accord and the role of Bitcoin in sovereign reserves, this episode covers the key macro trends that will shape 2025 and beyond. Will Trump’s economic agenda lead to a weaker dollar and lower interest rates? What does it mean for Bitcoin and risk assets? Tune in to find out. ------ 📣SPOTIFY PREMIUM RSS FEED | USE CODE: SPOTIFY24 ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙 FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | BUG BOUNTY PROGRAM ⚖️ ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐 CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER 🏦ONDO | INSTITUTIONAL GRADE FINANCE ------ ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro 4:03 Trump’s Policies 15:52 Dollar Strength 24:11 Plaza Accord 2.0 29:59 Inflation 33:25 Tariffs 37:50 Interest Rates 47:32 Monetary Policy 56:06 Impact on Stocks & Crypto 59:33 Bitcoin as a Reserve Asset 1:06:32 Energy Policy 1:07:58 Closing Thoughts ------ RESOURCES Lyn Alden Lyn Alden Newsletter ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here: https://www.bankless.com/disclosures
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ROLLUP: U.S. Crypto Task Force | Ethereum L1 Is Scaling | Microstrategy's Record BTC Buy | Uniswap v4 | Berachain's Massive Airdrop
02/07/2025
ROLLUP: U.S. Crypto Task Force | Ethereum L1 Is Scaling | Microstrategy's Record BTC Buy | Uniswap v4 | Berachain's Massive Airdrop
This week on Bankless Weekly Rollup, we explore major crypto updates from Berachain’s mainnet launch and the rollout of its BERA token, to Uniswap V4’s new features and hooks that are shaking up decentralized trading. The episode delves into market dynamics including SEC moves led by Hester Peirce, Microstrategy’s rebranding, and the impact of US tariff actions on global trade. We also unpack Ethereum’s scaling upgrades and discuss the innovative strategies behind emerging DeFi protocols. Tune in for an in-depth look at the evolving crypto landscape and the key developments driving the space. Thanks to Mike Ippolito for joining us: ------ 📣 MORPHO | GO-TO LENDING INFRASTRUCTURE ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | BUG BOUNTY PROGRAM ⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER 🎮RONIN | THE FUTURE OF WEB3 GAMING ----- ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS & RESOURCES 00:00:00 Start 00:03:57 Why We Dumped, Again 00:15:33 L2 Updates 00:18:06 Microstrategy Rebrands to ‘Strategy’ 00:19:28 The $20 Billion Dollar Bid 00:26:31 US Lawmakers Plan For Digital Assets 00:28:06 New Stablecoin Bill 00:35:07 SEC Creates Crypto Task Force 00:42:42 Uniswap V4 Is Live! 00:49:41 Berachain Token Launch 00:57:51 ETH To Increase Gas Limit 01:01:38 Loss Of Ultra Sound 01:08:02 Thanks To Mike ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here: https://www.bankless.com/disclosures
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AI ROLLUP #10: 70% AI Market Crash | Fair-Launch Tokens Good or Bad? | Virtuals’ $2M Fiscal Policy | Coinbase AI Hackathon
02/06/2025
AI ROLLUP #10: 70% AI Market Crash | Fair-Launch Tokens Good or Bad? | Virtuals’ $2M Fiscal Policy | Coinbase AI Hackathon
David and Ejaaz dissect the latest in AI crypto markets after a ruthless 70% drop, weighing whether it’s just a temporary setback or a major reset. Arc and Fartcoin show surprise rebounds, Virtuals unveils a $2M “fiscal policy” to fund agent innovation, and Coinbase’s AI hackathon spotlights a future swarming with yield-bots and marketing agents. Meanwhile, Freya’s vision of sovereign on-chain AI may mark the next frontier. If you’re tracking the evolution of agents, markets, and where crypto’s AI boom goes next, this episode is a must-listen (as always, anon). ------ 📣SPOTIFY PREMIUM RSS FEED | USE CODE: SPOTIFY24 ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | BUG BOUNTY PROGRAM ⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER 🏦ONDO | INSTITUTIONAL GRADE FINANCE ------ ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS & RESOURCES 0:00 Intro 0:41 AI Crypto Mindshare 15:13 Fair-Launch Tokens Good or Bad? 25:30 Virtuals Nation Fiscal Policy 35:10 Coinbase Hackathon 42:54 OpenAI’s Deep Research Agent 50:52 Freysa 59:32 EigenLayer Verifiable Agents 1:04:18 Voice-Enabled Agents Next Meta? 1:11:22 Reflection of 10 Weeks of AI Rollup 1:12:37 Closing & Disclaimers ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here:
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Tariffs, Trump, & Bitcoin Endgame | Jeff Park
02/05/2025
Tariffs, Trump, & Bitcoin Endgame | Jeff Park
Donald Trump’s newly announced 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico (and 10% on China) have rattled global markets and sparked fresh uncertainty around the U.S. dollar. According to Bitwise’s Jeff Park—whose article “Tariffs, Triffin, and Trump: How the End Game Sends Bitcoin Vertical” has gone viral—this policy shift is fueling one of the biggest crypto-macro convergences since COVID. In this episode, we explore how these cascading forces could radically suppress Treasury yields, devalue the dollar, and propel Bitcoin into unprecedented territory. ------ 📣SPOTIFY PREMIUM RSS FEED | USE CODE: SPOTIFY24 ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | BUG BOUNTY PROGRAM ⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER 🏦ONDO | INSTITUTIONAL GRADE FINANCE ------ ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro 2:40 Trump Tariffs & Bitcoin Connection 4:09 Fiscal Deficit Benefits 7:28 Plaza Accord 1.0 & 2.0 14:12 Tariffs Now vs. 8 Years Ago 16:55 What Happens Next? 19:36 Lowering 10-Year Rate 22:10 Fiscal Dominance Policy Control 23:28 The Triffin Dilemma 29:01 Bitcoin’s Impact 32:16 Trump Advocation of Bitcoin 35:10 Crypto & Real Estate 37:06 Eric Trump’s ETH Tweet 39:22 10-Year Yield Rate Lowering Invetitabilty 42:07 Bitcoin & Other Crypto Risk Assets 47:17 Bitwise’s Dogecoin ETF 50:05 Closing & Disclaimers ------ RESOURCES Jeff Park Jeff Park’s Thread ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here:
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Can Pudgy Penguins Flip DOGE? | Luca Netz
02/03/2025
Can Pudgy Penguins Flip DOGE? | Luca Netz
In this episode of Bankless, Luca Netz, CEO of Pudgy Penguins, explores how meme coins are evolving beyond speculation. We discuss Pengu’s launch on Solana, Pudgy Penguins’ expansion into retail and gaming, and how GIFs with 300M+ daily views are driving mass adoption. Luca also shares why meme coins can be real brands and what’s next for Pudgy’s growing ecosystem. ------ 📣SPOTIFY PREMIUM RSS FEED | USE CODE: SPOTIFY24 ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙 FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | BUG BOUNTY PROGRAM ⚖️ ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐 CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER 🏦ONDO | INSTITUTIONAL GRADE FINANCE ------ ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:53 Opinion on Pengu token and its competitor 00:08:03 Reformatting the idea of a memecoin 00:12:32 Pudgy Penguins aren't just memes 00:16:09 Solana competitor vs Pengu 00:20:03 Impact of 30 Billion views on the GIFs on the brand 00:22:56 How does the GIFs system work? 00:25:27 GIFs working principle 00:27:13 Big brands doing SEO on GIFs 00:28:38 Non-crypto people using Pudgy GIFs 00:31:59 Physical Products of Pudgy Penguins 00:36:50 Other components of expanding the brand 00:38:56 How big is the conglomerate? 00:39:26 Choosing Solana L1 over L2 00:45:27 Where does Base stand in the algorithm? 00:51:26 Some thoughts on Ethereum's current state 00:55:32 Abstract Chains 01:02:58 Pudgy Penguins' relation with Abstract Chains 01:04:18 Closing & Disclaimers ------ RESOURCES Luca Netz Pudgy Penguins ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here: https://www.bankless.com/disclosures
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ROLLUP: Bitcoin on the US Balance Sheet? | Trump's US Crypto Stockpile | Banks Can Now Custody Crypto | Venice AI's Massive Airdrop
01/31/2025
ROLLUP: Bitcoin on the US Balance Sheet? | Trump's US Crypto Stockpile | Banks Can Now Custody Crypto | Venice AI's Massive Airdrop
Joining us this week is Haseeb Qureshi who is here to help walk us through this week’s Weekly Rollup. We cover the major shift in the U.S. government’s stance on crypto, as Trump signs an executive order that establishes a national digital asset stockpile working group and bans CBDCs. The SEC also revokes SAB121, clearing the way for banks to custody crypto. Meanwhile, Venice AI’s token launch made waves, and Abstract Chain went live with a focus on creators and streamers. In markets, Nvidia’s $600B plunge rattled investors, and the Czech National Bank considers adding Bitcoin to its reserves. Plus, Gary Gensler lands a new job—back at MIT. ------ 💸 CRYPTO TAX CALCULATOR | CODE: BANKLESS15 ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | BUG BOUNTY PROGRAM ⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER 🎮RONIN | THE FUTURE OF WEB3 GAMING ----- ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS & RESOURCES 00:00:00 Start 00:02:10 NVDA and Deepseek Selloff 00:08:26 Why It Sold Off 00:10:56 Markets 00:12:28 Why is The Vibe So Off? 00:16:53 Bitwise Files For Doge ETF 00:21:01 Powell On Cutting Rates 00:24:30 US Strategic Crypto Reserve? 00:29:21 Czech And Norway Invest In BTC 00:33:28 SAB121 Repeal 00:37:02 New Treasury Secretary 00:38:48 Gary Returns To MIT 00:44:01 Venice AI Token Launch 00:49:08 Abstract Chain Mainnet Launch 00:50:33 Symbiotic 00:52:48 TRUMP Token, Good And Bad 00:58:02 TRUMP Is A Celeb Coin 01:03:45 Haseeb’s Podcast And Parting Advice ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here: https://www.bankless.com/disclosures
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AI ROLLUP #9: $6M DeepSeek Shocker | $500B AI Push | Venice’s Billion-Dollar Airdrop | Solana DEX Record
01/30/2025
AI ROLLUP #9: $6M DeepSeek Shocker | $500B AI Push | Venice’s Billion-Dollar Airdrop | Solana DEX Record
Ejaaz and David reunite to unpack the DeepSeek shockwave: how a mere $6M open-source AI model rattled OpenAI’s dominance, nudged Nvidia’s stock, and sparked a fresh “arms race” in crypto AI. Meanwhile, Trump’s massive AI funding pledge and Solana’s record DEX volumes signal that the space might be heading for its biggest bull run yet. On the builder side, ARC’s rust-based agents partner with the Solana Foundation, AI16Z launches a $10M fund, and Virtuals teases multi-chain expansions that could redefine how agent tokens earn revenue. Between China’s fast breakthroughs and America’s big AI bets, the race to integrate AI and crypto has never been hotter. Buckle up, anon. ------ 💸 CRYPTO TAX CALCULATOR | BANKLESS15 ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | BUG BOUNTY PROGRAM ⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER 🎮RONIN | THE FUTURE OF WEB3 GAMING ----- ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS & RESOURCES 0:00 China & DeepSeek 12:43 Why Markets Rattled 24:32 OpenAI & Perplexity Agent Products 34:12 AI Agent Chain Wars 39:42 Virtuals is expanding to SOLANA! 53:01 AIXBT is becoming a product 56:01 VeniceAI launches a token that pays for your agent’s expenses 1:03:13 Griffain now has a Shopify integration for their agents 1:05:22 ARC partnered with Solana 1:06:36 Ai16z $10M x Jupiter Fund & Rebrand? 1:08:45 What is Ejaaz paying attention to? 1:10:02 Closing & Disclaimers ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here:
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DeepSeek R1 & The Short Case For Nvidia Stock | Jeffrey Emanuel
01/28/2025
DeepSeek R1 & The Short Case For Nvidia Stock | Jeffrey Emanuel
China’s new DeepSeek AI model, which reportedly matches GPT-4’s performance at 1/45th the cost, has rattled the AI hardware market and contributed to a 20% dip in Nvidia’s stock price. Investor-technologist Jeffrey Emanuel argues that DeepSeek’s efficiency gains aren’t the only story, as his viral 12,000-word article “The Short Case for Nvidia Stock” also catalyzed the market’s panic. In this episode, we explore how these converging factors could unbundle Nvidia’s once-unassailable lead and drastically reshape AI compute economics. Jeff's Article: Jeff on X: ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | BUG BOUNTY PROGRAM ⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER 🎮RONIN | THE FUTURE OF WEB3 GAMING ----- ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Start 05:20 Intro To Jeff 07:27 The Issue With DeepSeek 16:00 Inference Compute Explained 24:51 Nvidia's Competition 29:14 DeepSeek's Impact On Valuations 36:46 Criticism Around Jeff's Thesis 44:17 DeepSeek's 45x Upgrade 51:30 The Transformer Explained 01:03:15 Why Is Everyone Shocked? 01:12:07 Synthetic Data 01:21:30 Why Jeff's Article Went Viral ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here: https://www.bankless.com/disclosures
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Superagency: The Bull Case for AI | Reid Hoffman
01/27/2025
Superagency: The Bull Case for AI | Reid Hoffman
In this episode of Bankless, Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and author of Super Agency, explores how AI is set to transform humanity and amplify individual potential. We dive into Hoffman’s vision of “super agency,” We examine AI's potential to democratize technology and reshape society, along with an analysis of four distinct perspectives on its impact: pessimistic, cautious, ambitious, and balanced. Hoffman shares lessons from past tech revolutions, the risks of AI misuse, and how innovation can unlock a more optimistic future. ------ 📣SPOTIFY PREMIUM RSS FEED | USE CODE: SPOTIFY24 ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙 FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | BUG BOUNTY PROGRAM ⚖️ ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐 CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER 🎮RONIN | THE FUTURE OF WEB3 GAMING ------ ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 Intro 00:09:10 Is superagency a superpower? 00:11:09 How to identify a humanoid AI agent? 00:13:28 Which people will get this AI superpower? 00:17:22 Propagation of AI 00:18:47 AI religions 00:24:31 Zoomers are e/acc? 00:25:56 Thoughts on Gloomers 00:29:09 Mainframe computers' relation with today's AI 00:37:03 Negative and positive impacts of AI 00:50:28 Benefits of AI to the average citizen 00:52:58 What if AI misuses/sells our data? 00:59:31 How AI will deliver value worth millions 01:02:17 Why innovation is safety 01:05:59 AI choices shaping our freedom? 01:10:07 America’s approach towards AI 01:12:27 Is AI overhyped? 01:14:05 Closing & Disclaimers ------ RESOURCES Reid Hoffman Blitzscaling Super Agency ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here: https://www.bankless.com/disclosures
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ROLLUP: Trump's Massive Memecoin | Ethereum Ecosystem Drama | Ross Ulbricht Freed | Phantom Wallet Worth $3B?
01/24/2025
ROLLUP: Trump's Massive Memecoin | Ethereum Ecosystem Drama | Ross Ulbricht Freed | Phantom Wallet Worth $3B?
In this week’s Bankless Weekly Rollup, David is joined by Eric Conner to unpack a whirlwind week in crypto. Highlights include Trump’s explosive entry back into the Oval Office, launching a $50B memecoin on Solana, a full pardon for Ross Ulbricht, and pro-crypto cabinet appointments. Meanwhile, the Ethereum Foundation faces internal drama as Vitalik declares “wartime mode” amidst leadership restructuring. We also dive into Solana’s soaring ecosystem, BlackRock’s massive Bitcoin buys, and the SEC’s shakeup with new pro-crypto initiatives. It’s a week of big moves, bigger drama, and major market shifts! ------ 📣 0x | Start building with 0x v2 ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | BUG BOUNTY PROGRAM ⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER 🎮RONIN | THE FUTURE OF WEB3 GAMING ----- ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS & RESOURCES 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:30 Markets 00:06:08 ETF Flows 00:11:19 Trump Memecoin 00:14:10 Melania Token 00:20:53 World Liberty Financial Bids 00:26:06 Ross Ulbricht Freed 00:31:08 Politics and Agencies 00:35:53 Brian Armstrong Expectations 00:40:15 Trump Effect Kicking In 00:47:35 What’s Going On In The EF? 00:56:19 EF Leadership Drama 01:06:37 SEC Charges Digital Currency Group 01:07:25 Circle Introduces USDC Paymaster 01:07:41 Phantom Raised $150M Series C ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here: https://www.bankless.com/disclosures
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AI ROLLUP #8: $500B AI Boost | Trump’s $70B Memecoin Frenzy | 400K Onboarded | Agent Framework Wars
01/23/2025
AI ROLLUP #8: $500B AI Boost | Trump’s $70B Memecoin Frenzy | 400K Onboarded | Agent Framework Wars
Ejaaz is back with David to unpack the whirlwind effects of President Trump’s $70B memecoin launch, which slammed 400K fresh users onto Solana and shattered revenue records in under 30 hours. Meanwhile, a $500B federal boost to AI—backed by OpenAI and SoftBank—has everyone on edge about how crypto’s AI agent economy might ride this newfound momentum. On the protocol front, Arc’s Rake framework and AI16z’s curated Eliza ecosystem are both stepping up, incubating projects like SoulGraph and Listen that promise a more user-friendly DeFAI future. Virtuals keeps shipping at breakneck speed too, testing new multi-chain waters, instituting a bold buyback, and hinting at metaverse collabs that could reshape gaming for good. From automated DeFi positions and trading dashboards to fully autonomous NPCs that commentate (and maybe soon play) your favorite games, the lines between AI and crypto are getting blurrier—and more exciting—by the day. Buckle up as the AI agent revolution continues to redefine what “on-chain” can really mean. Ready for the ride? ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | BUG BOUNTY PROGRAM ⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER 🎮RONIN | THE FUTURE OF WEB3 GAMING ----- ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ----- TIMESTAMPS & RESOURCES 0:00 Intro 0:50 Trump’s Memecoin & $MELANIA 13:52 The Stargate Project…$500B AI U.S. Investment & OpenAI Agents https://x.com/OpenAI/status/1881830103858172059 23:09 Virtuals goes multi-framework 30:54 Indie.fun 36:16 First AI Agent DOTA2 Stream 38:39 Agent tank demo of agent performing TA on a chart 42:22 Ai16z demo day 46:44 ARC announces initial agent projects launching on its framework RIG, soulgraph 1:00:20 AI Agent Playground Grows 1:03:19 Closing & Disclaimers ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here:
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LIVE: Trump Pardons Ross Ulbrict, TRUMP Offical Memecoin, SEC's Pro-Crypto Pivot | Alex Thorn
01/22/2025
LIVE: Trump Pardons Ross Ulbrict, TRUMP Offical Memecoin, SEC's Pro-Crypto Pivot | Alex Thorn
Alex Thorn, Head of Research at Galaxy Digital, joins us to unpack all the craziness that's gone down this week around the inauguration. Alex had the opportunity to attend the Crypto Ball and spend the weekend in DC so he gives us the inside scoop among all the other exciting developments. Alex on X - ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙 FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | BUG BOUNTY PROGRAM ⚖️ ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐 CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER 🎮RONIN | THE FUTURE OF WEB3 GAMING ----- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Inaugration Recap 04:23 Ross Ulbricht Is Free 20:42 TRUMP Token Launch 37:27 The Crypto Ball 44:00 Pro Crypto SEC 50:05 Tornado Cash Updates ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here: https://www.bankless.com/disclosures
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BlackRock's Crypto Plans for 2025 | CIO Samara Cohen
01/20/2025
BlackRock's Crypto Plans for 2025 | CIO Samara Cohen
In this episode of Bankless, Samara Cohen, BlackRock's Chief Investment Officer of ETFs and Index Investments, discusses how ETFs and blockchain are revolutionizing finance. We explore Bitcoin and Ether ETFs as bridges between crypto and TradFi, blockchain's role in market modernization, and how ETFs enhance transparency and diversification. Cohen also shares insights on upcoming regulations and the importance of education in driving crypto adoption. ------ 📣SPOTIFY PREMIUM RSS FEED | USE CODE: SPOTIFY24 ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙 FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | BUG BOUNTY PROGRAM ⚖️ ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐 CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER 🎮RONIN | THE FUTURE OF WEB3 GAMING ------ ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 Intro 00:06:59 Role of Market Modernizer 00:09:12 Blockchains and ETFs Future 00:12:54 "Blackrock" Blockchain? 00:16:09 ETF Progress Check 00:19:22 Bitcoin & Ether ETFs Updates 00:24:08 Blackrock on Cryptos/ETPs 00:27:47 Blackrock's Research Audience 00:29:26 2025 ETF Predictions 00:33:21 Blackrock's Effect on Options 00:36:06 Options Unlock Opportunities 00:40:28 "Price is Best Marketing" 00:42:42 Upgrading ETF Protocols 00:44:49 Blackrock’s Other ETFs Plan 00:54:11 New Administration Impact 00:58:11 Blackrock's 2025 Outlook 01:00:30 Digital Assets & ETF Teams 01:03:33 Samara's Next Guest 01:05:55 Samara on 2025 Excitement 01:09:02 Closing & Disclaimers ------ RESOURCES Samara Cohen Black Rock Research Paper ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here:
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ROLLUP: 2025 Market Outlook | Inauguration Impact | Gary Gensler's Parting Gift | Sony Censors Ethereum?
01/17/2025
ROLLUP: 2025 Market Outlook | Inauguration Impact | Gary Gensler's Parting Gift | Sony Censors Ethereum?
This week’s episode dives into the evolving landscape of crypto as we approach a new administration. We discuss Donald Trump’s upcoming presidency and what it could mean for markets, analyze the recent market turmoil despite positive economic indicators, and break down the SEC’s case against Elon Musk. We also explore Sony’s controversial L2 launch and Tether’s move to El Salvador. Finally, some an exciting new privacy tool teams up with Coinbase. ------ 📣 0x | Start building with 0x v2 ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | BUG BOUNTY PROGRAM ⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER 🎮RONIN | THE FUTURE OF WEB3 GAMING ----- ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS & RESOURCES 00:00:00 Start 00:02:34 Markets 00:11:45 Strong Jobs Report https://imgur.com/MxHgOOe 00:18:28 SEC Sues Elon Musk 00:29:26 3 Days Until Trump Takes Office 00:36:24 What If Kamala Won? 00:41:59 Sony Launches ETH L2 00:51:30 Coinbase uses Morpho for Bitcoin Loans 00:53:58 Aevo Moves To EigenDA 00:56:22 Veil.Cash Uses Coinbase 01:03:05 An Update From RSA ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here: https://www.bankless.com/disclosures
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AI ROLLUP #7: DeFAI Mindshare | Arc’s Multi-Chain Moves | ai16z: Sink or Swim? | Virtuals $40M Burn
01/16/2025
AI ROLLUP #7: DeFAI Mindshare | Arc’s Multi-Chain Moves | ai16z: Sink or Swim? | Virtuals $40M Burn
Ejaaz is back with David to dissect the accelerating rise of AI agents at crypto’s cutting edge. They uncover how Arc’s multi-chain approach and Ai16z’s Eliza framework are igniting a fresh wave of DeFAI innovation—everything from clever Twitter agents to more autonomous protocols. They dive into Virtuals’ relentless shipping, which is driving record on-chain fees and fueling a bold $40M buyback, while exploring why upcoming gaming collaborations may unlock AI’s next breakout moment. New players like Ava and Pippin also take center stage, proving both the promise and FUD-fueled volatility of this fast-growing sector. Whether it’s DeFi revamps, multi-chain expansions, or full-blown AI-driven games, this episode outlines the major trends shaping crypto and AI’s convergent future. Ready for the ride? Further DAO Drama Conext ------ 📣SPOTIFY PREMIUM RSS FEED | USE CODE: SPOTIFY24 ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi 🦄UNISWAP | BUG BOUNTY PROGRAM ⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK 🌐CELO | BUILD TOGETHER AND PROSPER ------ ✨ Mint the episode on Zora ✨ ------ TIMESTAMPS & RESOURCES 0:00 Intro 0:22 Last Week’s DAO Drama 9:14 Last 7 Days of AI Action & Themes 13:36 AI Mindshare DeFAI 19:00 Franklin Templeton AI Agent Report 23:33 Arc Announcements & Why Arc? 32:08 Ai16z: sink or swim? 46:22 aixbt & Virtuals Announcements 1:00:25 $Ava & Pippin 1:03:24 Closing & Disclaimers ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here:
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