RECENT EPISODES
Wed 23 SeptWhy Reinsurance Could Become DeFi’s Best Collateral | Ryan Connor & Ayyan RahmanIn this episode, Ryan Connor and Ayyan Rahman explore the potential of reinsurance as a pivotal form of collateral in decentralized finance (DeFi). They discuss how the reinsurance market, traditionally isolated, is set for growth with innovations like Henri's yield token, ONYC, which offers attractive yields backed by secure assets. The conversation highlights the integration of AI in improving risk assessments and the evolving landscape of tokenized reinsurance, emphasizing its appeal to both institutional and professional investors.Wed 16 SeptIs Robinhood Building Crypto’s Retail Moat?In this episode, the discussion centers on Robinhood's efforts to establish a retail moat in the crypto space amid regulatory uncertainties like the Clarity Act and Federal Reserve decisions. The platform has seen a significant increase in crypto volumes, with Uniswap dominating its chain. Despite challenges in the perpetual trading sector and skepticism about the long-term viability of stable chains, Robinhood's chain shows potential for innovation and revenue diversification, particularly through liquidity provision and complex financial instruments.Wed 9 SeptRobinhood REV Explosion, Is Pump Losing Its Grip & Zcash Vs BitcoinIn this episode, the hosts delve into the explosive growth of the Robinhood chain, which has generated over 30 million in network revenue in just a week, raising questions about its sustainability amid high transaction fees. They also explore the waning effectiveness of "pump" strategies in the market and the potential of Zcash as a viable alternative to Bitcoin, especially in light of its recent rally and privacy features.Wed 2 SeptIs Robinhood Chain Reigniting Crypto’s Retail Economy?This episode delves into the potential revival of the retail economy in crypto, spurred by the Robinhood chain's recent growth and its dominance in tokenized equities. With on-chain activity surging and Robinhood's crypto revenue reaching 100 million last quarter, the discussion highlights the pairing of meme coins with equities as a significant trend. The episode also explores the role of FOMO in social trading, which could simplify onboarding for new users and expand the retail crypto market.Wed 26 AugThe Bulls Are Back: Treasury Intervention, SEC Crypto Rules & Trump Says HyperliquidIn this episode, the podcast delves into the Treasury's potential $1 trillion buyback of 30-year bonds as a strategy for debt management amid rising interest rates. The SEC's proposed framework for crypto fundraising is also discussed, highlighting new exemptions that could revitalize ICOs while imposing stricter disclosure requirements. Additionally, former President Trump's comments on hyper liquid assets signal a bullish outlook for the crypto market, as retail investors increasingly engage with perpetual futures amidst ongoing regulatory uncertainties.Wed 19 AugCan MetaDAO Reinvent Crypto Capital Formation?MetaDAO started as a governance experiment using futarchy, where prediction markets replace token voting to make organizational decisions, and has since pivoted toward crypto capital formation after early attempts to sell governance software to DAOs largely failed. The project now operates a fundraising platform where teams raise money in roughly four days using decision markets as rug protection, with around 20 to 30 teams having launched so far.Wed 12 AugPump’s Bull Case, Fomo’s Social Moat & Crypto’s Consumer LayerPump Fun's price has recovered more than 100% from its lows as weekly revenue climbs toward 11 million dollars, two major bear cases around transparency and token unlock overhang have cleared, and a programmatic buyback structure starting April 2027 at 50% of revenue removes discretionary risk.Tue 11 AugCan Aerodrome Become Ethereum’s Dominant Spot Exchange? | Alexander CutlerAlexander Cutler joins to explain how Aerodrome's MetaDex-03 upgrade merges Aerodrome and Velodrome into a single exchange under one token, expanding to Ethereum mainnet and Circle's ARC chain on day one. Cutler details how the protocol redistributes 100 percent of exchange value to locked token holders, a model he compares directly to Hyperliquid's approach in derivatives, and explains why Coinbase Ventures' open-market purchase of AERO tokens gives Coinbase a structural incentive to route new tokenized equity products through Aerodrome.Wed 5 AugHyperliquid's Weekend Edge, TradeXYZ Rumors & Why 97% of Tokens FailIn this episode, the hosts examine Hyperliquid's growing role as a weekend price discovery mechanism, noting that when the platform moved more than 100 basis points during traditional market closures it predicted the direction of the next open correctly 95 percent of the time while cutting median reopening error by more than 50 percent. A manipulation incident during the SK Hynix pre-market regime triggered cascading liquidations, prompting TradeXYZ to refund over one million dollars to affected traders.Wed 29 JulTrading CLARITY, Bitcoin Bottom Signal, Are Vaults Securities & The Onchain RevivalThis episode examines whether the CLARITY Act can pass before the August congressional recess, with Polymarket odds falling from near 50 percent to 35 percent and one analyst doubting passage even by 2027, while noting the act would allow fundraising without security classification up to 200 million dollars.Wed 22 JulCLARITY, Base Vs Robinhood & Bitcoin Bottoming?In this episode the hosts dig into the Clarity Act after Trump accepted the ethics provision, removing the last major obstacle before a Senate vote, though Polymarket odds barely moved and Carlos argued crypto price action is a more reliable signal than prediction markets on legislative outcomes.Sun 12 JulToken Vs Equity, Venice AI, Robinhood Chain & Strategy's RecoveryVenice AI's 65 million dollar equity raise at a 1 billion dollar valuation triggered a selloff in the VVB token from roughly 14 to 15 dollars down to around 11, exposing the structural tension between token and equity instruments that plagues the broader crypto market. The raise revealed a competing private claim sitting above the token with an unclear revenue split, adding unmodeled acquisition risk.Fri 3 JulThe New Stablecoin Race, Hyperliquid’s Growth & Solana’s RevivalThis episode examines three interlocking developments reshaping crypto markets. A new stablecoin consortium backed by 140 partners including Visa, Mastercard, BlackRock, and Coinbase covers over 99 percent of global card networks and differentiates itself by sharing all treasury yield with protocols rather than splitting it, though coordinating 140 companies raises governance concerns similar to a DAO.Fri 26 JunThe Onchain Equity BoomOn-chain equities are overtaking meme coins on Solana, with tokenized spot equity volume reaching nearly 20 percent of Solana spot volume versus 10 to 15 percent for memes, and Solana alone accounting for roughly 1.4 billion dollars in weekly tokenized equity volume, or 98 percent of all on-chain spot equity volume across chains.Fri 26 JunThe Onchain Equity BoomTokenized equities on Solana have rapidly overtaken meme coins as the dominant spot trading activity on the network, with just under 1.4 billion dollars in weekly spot volume representing roughly 98 percent of all on-chain equity volume across blockchains. The structural differences between Backpack and X-Stocks, particularly Backpack's one-for-one fungibility with real-world shares that avoids triggering taxable events, are expected to drive tighter spreads and consolidation toward one or two dominant tokenized versions of each stock.Fri 19 JunThe New Fed, STRC Stress, and Hyperliquid’s RiseThis episode examines Kevin Walsh's debut as Fed chair, where he avoided any mention of balance sheet reduction and signaled the Fed should respond to liquid markets rather than dictate to them, with dot plot projections now showing a nonzero probability of a rate hike this year.Fri 12 JunSpaceX IPO Mania and Ethena’s Strategic PivotHyperliquid's pre-IPO market for SpaceX recorded 373 million dollars in volume and nearly 300 million dollars in open interest in a single 24-hour period, with Hyperliquid pricing shares at roughly 177 dollars against an implied IPO price of 135 dollars, and daily volume projected to reach 3 billion dollars once live trading begins.Fri 12 JunBlockworks Acquires MessariBlockworks has acquired Messari in a deal Jason frames as transforming Blockworks from a media and events company into the largest crypto data platform by a wide margin, combining Blockworks' deep per-protocol analyst coverage with Messari's dataset spanning 40,000 assets across markets, on-chain events, token unlocks, fundraising, and more.Wed 10 JunA Farewell to BoccaccioIn the first four to five days of June, Bitcoin ETF outflows reached approximately 1.4 billion dollars, already ranking among the third or fourth worst months on record, driven by a strong jobs report that crushed rate-cut hopes and pulled risk assets broadly lower.Mon 1 JunCrypto’s Flow-Driven Market Has Arrived | Shaundadevens & Kunal DoshiShaundadevens and Kunal Doshi examine the structural demand shifts driving crypto markets, focusing on BTC ETF outflows leaving Michael Saylor as the sole significant buyer, and the Hyperliquid Hype ETF debut accumulating 1 percent of circulating supply in its first 10 trading days, outpacing BTC ETFs at launch on a relative basis.Mon 25 MayCan Solana Catch Hyperliquid in Perps? | Luke & SamLuke and Sam examine whether Solana can close the gap on Hyperliquid's dominant position in perpetuals trading, tracing the structural reasons Hyperliquid leads, including purpose-built infrastructure and ingrained maker protections that Solana's general-purpose VM lacks.Fri 22 MayMaple’s Bet on Fintech-Powered DeFi | Martin de RijkeMaple Finance, managing roughly 4 billion dollars in on-chain assets, is positioning itself as an on-chain asset manager rather than a lending protocol, with CEO Martin de Rijke explaining how its KYC'd, custodied, and legally documented institutional loan book distinguishes it from permissionless competitors like Aave and Morpho.Mon 18 MayHyperliquid’s New Power Shift | Shaundadevens & CarlosHyperliquid restructured its stablecoin arrangement with Coinbase and Circle under Aligned Code Asset 2, raising its revenue share to 90% from 50% while both partners each stake 500,000 HYPE to run validators. Shaundadevens estimated the deal could add roughly 160 million dollars in annualized revenue, though Carlos cautioned that the 3.7 billion USDC on Hypercore is tied to trading volumes and represents cyclical rather than independent yield.Fri 15 MayHow Spark Is Rebuilding DeFi Lending | Sam MacPhersonSam MacPherson joins to explain how Spark, a sub-DAO within the Sky ecosystem formerly known as MakerDAO, is restructuring DeFi lending by replacing token plurality governance with a model where Sky acts as a wholesale credit issuer and sub-DAOs post junior first-loss capital to access liquidity.Fri 8 MayJito Goes Upstack With JTX | LivestreamThe podcast discusses JTX's potential to consolidate fragmented on-chain trading apps on Solana, emphasizing the execution layer's advantages. It explores the challenges facing Layer 2 solutions, advocating for innovative applications over mere Ethereum replicas. Additionally, liquidity issues and the demand for tokenized equities on Solana are highlighted, along with concerns about Coinbase's struggles amidst a declining crypto market and the competitive landscape of exchanges.Fri 1 MayBuilding a Fully Onchain Exchange: Inside World Markets | Aurelius & HerschLucas and Hirsh from World Markets discuss their fully on-chain exchange, MegaEaf, emphasizing its advanced risk engines and cost efficiency. They introduce Atlas, a risk management tool that enhances liquidity in perpetual contracts and lending within a unique order book model. The conversation highlights transparency in crypto markets, the need for fair liquidation processes, and the integration of retail-focused solutions, including a new vault concept for capital competition in DeFi.Fri 24 AprInside Hyperlend: Building a Lending Protocol on Hyperliquid | NessThe discussion centers on Hyperlend's integration into the HyperLiquid ecosystem, emphasizing scalability and risk management derived from Aave v3. Key issues include the absence of grants for new projects and a recent successful token generation event. Future plans highlight a pivot towards USDC assets and a unique staking utility to enhance user engagement and borrowing cost efficiency, while maintaining competitive rates to attract institutional clients.Fri 24 AprInside Hyperlend: Building a Lending Protocol on Hyperliquid | NessNess from Hyperland discusses the company's development within the crypto space, highlighting their choice to build on Hyperliquid for efficient trade execution. Key topics include ongoing challenges in the Hyperliquid ecosystem, plans for scaling security measures like AaveV4, and future product enhancements such as USDC deposits. Additionally, a recent partnership with Hyperion aims to bolster private credit markets, underscoring the strategic focus on integrating blockchain technology and improving lending protocols.Fri 17 AprWhy Perps Are Overtaking Options | DAS New YorkThe discussion highlights the growing significance of perpetual contracts in trading, particularly as they overtake options due to their simplicity and 24/7 market structure. Current market dynamics show substantial growth potential in crypto perpetuals, which dominate leverage trading, accounting for 97% of volume. Additionally, advancements like Hyperliquid's HIP3 model facilitate the transition from crypto to real-world asset trading, indicating a shift towards an efficient, transparent market environment expected to thrive by 2026.Fri 17 AprWhy Perps Are Overtaking Options | DAS New YorkThe discussion highlights a significant shift from traditional options to crypto perpetuals, emphasizing their simplicity and growing market share, which currently holds 97% of crypto trading volume. Key players like Hyper Liquid and TradeXYZ are poised to leverage 24/7 trading for traditional assets, aiming for substantial growth by 2026. Case studies illustrate the efficiency of perpetuals during market fluctuations, supporting the transition to a more integrated trading ecosystem for real-world assets.Fri 10 AprInstitutional DeFi & Yield in Modern Markets | EthCC PanelsThe discussion covers three key topics: the evolution of Institutional DeFi emphasizing transparency and professionalism, particularly in the context of asset management and risk mitigation strategies in a bear market; the potential for tokenization of real-world assets to enhance liquidity and access for institutions; and the impact of AI in improving smart contract risk assessments while advocating for clearer yield source transparency in decentralized finance.Fri 10 AprInstitutional DeFi & Yield in Modern Markets | EthCC PanelsThe discussion highlights the evolution of institutional DeFi, emphasizing the integration of real-world assets and stablecoins to enhance market liquidity and yield generation during the current crypto bear market. Panelists advocate for transparency in crypto investor relations and risk management, underscoring the potential for open-source smart contracts and innovative financial products. Additionally, the conversation examines the implications of tokenization and risk assessment, especially regarding collateral management and user-friendly infrastructure that demystifies blockchain technology for broader adoption.Fri 3 AprTokenization, AI Agents, and the Future of DeFi | AryanThe conversation highlights three key topics: the potential of tokenization, particularly tokenized treasuries, in enhancing transparency and efficiency in decentralized finance (DeFi) for traditional institutions; the role of AI agents in automating processes and improving coordination within crypto environments; and the challenges facing DeFi, including risk management and the need for legal enforceability of collateral, particularly concerning Real World Assets (RWAs).Fri 3 AprTokenization, AI Agents, and the Future of DeFi | AryanThe discussion highlights the significant advantages of tokenization in decentralized finance (DeFi), particularly through tokenized treasuries, and the necessity for improved legal enforceability and risk management. Insights on AI agents underscore their role in enhancing coordination and decision-making within crypto environments, while raising concerns about biases and identity systems. The evolving collaboration between traditional finance and DeFi emphasizes the potential for innovation in lending and risk-return instruments, shaping the future landscape of finance.Mon 30 MarThe State of Liquid Token Markets | DAS New YorkThe podcast discusses the current state of liquid token markets, highlighting a decline in most tokens since 2025, alongside increased institutional adoption amid negative sentiment. Experts emphasize the need for regulatory clarity to restore investor trust and advocate for a trading approach over buy-and-hold. The conversation also identifies the growing intersection of AI and Real-World Assets (RWAs), predicting their potential to attract institutional capital and transform the market landscape.Mon 30 MarThe State of Liquid Token Markets | DAS New YorkThe podcast discusses the current state of liquid token markets, highlighting significant declines in token values and the challenges of institutional investor relations in the crypto landscape. Despite bearish sentiments, participants express optimism for a future driven by institutional adoption and regulatory clarity, particularly in the context of blockchain and AI convergence. Additionally, the discussion underscores the need for quality investment tokens and structural improvements to restore investor confidence and enhance market dynamics.Fri 27 MarArchitecting DeFi’s Yield Curve | DAS New YorkThe episode highlights the emergence of DeFi's yield curve in the crypto market, emphasizing its foundational role in on-chain trading and pricing. Luke Laeser discusses innovations such as Pendle, which separates principal and yield, influencing market expectations and Bitcoin prices through term spreads. Michael Apolito underscores the importance of transparency in institutional crypto markets, introducing BlockWorks Investor Relations to enhance investor analytics and advisory support.Fri 27 MarArchitecting DeFi’s Yield Curve | DAS New YorkThe discussion centers on the emergence of DeFi’s yield curve, mirroring traditional markets and enabling yield trading through platforms like Pendle and Athena. Transparency in institutional capital markets for crypto is emphasized, with BlockWorks Investor Relations providing analytics and advisory support. Insights reveal that the yield curve’s shape influences Bitcoin's forward returns, with backwardation and contango indicating market expectations, ultimately linking DeFi dynamics to broader cryptocurrency trends.Tue 24 MarInvestor Relations in the Onchain EraMichael Ippolito discusses the launch of Blockworks Investor Relations (IR) in the context of evolving investor expectations in the crypto market, emphasizing the need for transparency and data-driven practices. He highlights challenges like trust issues stemming from fragmented liquidity and insufficient data disclosures, advocating for on-chain solutions that enhance investor engagement and narrative clarity. The episode underscores a shift towards more interactive investor relations methods, leveraging real-time data to improve market standards and restore confidence in the crypto space.Tue 24 MarInvestor Relations in the Onchain EraMichael Ippolito discusses the launch of Blockworks Investor Relations (IR) amidst evolving investor expectations in the crypto space, emphasizing the need for transparency and data-driven practices. He addresses the disconnection between on-chain revenue and token prices, resulting from fragmented liquidity and inadequate data access, which fosters mistrust. Blockworks IR aims to enhance investor relations through analytics, personalized portals, and improved reporting, reflecting a shift toward proactive engagement and adaptability in the rapidly evolving crypto landscape.