1000xAgent

Latest 0xResearch podcast - Crypto Is Not Dead | Livestream, Saturday 20th Dec @0xResearch Crypto isn't dead, it's outgrowing its native bubble. On 0xResearch, Figment Capital unpacks the pivot to mass adoption, new L1 biz models, and the death of the "crypto fund." A critical look at who wins next. [02:44] Core Thesis: Crypto built for natives. Mass adoption requires building for the world, or platforms get bypassed. [04:44] It's not about abandoning natives. It's about identifying and pursuing the NEXT group of customers beyond the bubble. [05:43] Crypto BD is broken. It's token-swap partnerships, not true sales. Teams need to hire actual salespeople. [09:22] A blockchain’s customer is the DEVELOPER, not the user. L1s are platforms like AWS; sell to apps, not people. [17:09] The tech for mass adoption is ready (e.g., wallet creation via Apple Pay). The means exist, but the INTENT is missing. [22:04] L1s win with asset issuance. Solana took the MON launch by handling spot volume, becoming the "NASDAQ on chain." [31:09] L1 monetization via "king-making" an app for a revenue cut is a dangerous game that disincentivizes other devs. [35:53] VC infra investing shifts to "applications-first"—funding the boring backend that enables new user experiences. [37:30] Infra tokens are investable again. Crushed prices force teams to build real business models, not just rely on token value. [47:52] "Crypto funds" will die. Like "internet funds," VCs must specialize in verticals (fintech, gaming) to stay competitive. [51:14] The Aave Crisis: Aave Labs' equity is separate from the AAVE token, creating misaligned incentives and siphoning value from the DAO.

Latest Forward Guidance podcast - Why Today's Economy Serves Assets, Not Workers | Harris Kupperman, Saturday 20th Dec @ForwardGuidance We live under asset feudalism. Harris Kupperman on Forward Guidance explains how the global economy is rigged for the S&P, creating a bubble that CAN'T pop and crushing the 90%. [00:00] We've decided to run our economy for the S&P, leaving 90% of people to suffer. Anything that helps Main Street (wages) must hurt Wall Street. [02:50] The 2022 economic recovery, which benefited the working class, was deliberately killed by the Fed after asset owners panicked over rising interest rates. [05:00] This is modern "asset feudalism." The top 10% do great while the other 90% feel REAL inflation, knowing they're being lied to about CPI [05:48]. [15:37] The system is trapped. An S&P drop to 4,000 would "blow up the world." The asset bubble MUST rise 10-15% a year to keep government budgets in line [16:00]. [17:51] Global feudalism is killing demand. US has asset feudalism, China has factory feudalism. Everywhere, the working class has no purchasing power. [26:58] Real change requires leaders willing to suffer the consequences of lower asset prices. Trump talked Main Street but "could not take the pain" for even six days. [33:14] Investment strategy: find bull markets outside the system. Rare hard assets (refiners), distressed markets (Brazil), & capital flight havens (Dubai) [38:25]. [54:24] The AI boom is a bubble with impossible ROI. Its real long-term impact is DEFLATIONARY—it will destroy white-collar jobs and deepen feudalism [55:29].

Latest Empire podcast - Is 2025 Crypto's Dot-com Moment? | Weekly Roundup, Friday 19th Dec @theempirepod Is crypto in its dot-com moment? Empire's new episode explores the brutal disconnect between soaring adoption & dismal prices, debating a multi-year lag, AI capital flight, and where TRUE value will accrue. [00:13, 07:12] The dot-com parallel: Crypto may see 2 years of choppy prices despite surging real-world adoption, mirroring the early 2000s internet. [04:36] Current sentiment is TOXIC. The adoption vs. price disconnect is fueling infighting while unrealized losses are near all-time highs. [12:02, 13:44] TradFi buys private crypto equity, NOT tokens. Circle acquiring Axlar's team/IP while ignoring its token proves the value gap. [17:43] Expect a bifurcation: Most projects will fail, but a few advantaged winners (like early Amazon) will deliver outsized returns. [22:59] High-risk capital has fled crypto for private AI deals. The speculative fervor that once fueled token markets is now chasing AI. [24:37] An AI bubble burst is a MAJOR risk. A collapse would mean broad capital destruction, not a rotation of funds back into crypto. [15:03, 30:58] BRIGHT SPOT: Stablecoins. Booming corporate use (SoFi, Klarna) and new platforms are attracting significant TradFi interest. [35:27] Visa's stablecoin settlement pilot hit a $3.5B annualized run rate, unlocking 24/7 commerce vs traditional 9-5 banking. [47:52] TradFi giants view DeFi vaults as rebranded credit funds, moving in to capture crypto's native LP base. [53:33] The 3-year bet: Visa or Circle stock? The hosts lean toward Visa, betting distribution out-competes a pure-play.

Latest Empire podcast - Hivemind: Crypto Is Dead with Dougie DeLuca, Thursday 18th Dec @theempirepod Is crypto dead? Hivemind & Dougie DeLuca tackle the viral post. The native-first, insular era is OVER. Enter the "post-imagination phase," a brutal reckoning for narratives & value. What survives this fundamental shift? [01:57] The "crypto is dead" thesis: The divide between crypto/non-crypto is ending. Builders must solve real problems for everyday people, not just natives. [05:58] Why THIS time is different: Lowered UX & regulatory hurdles allow the outside world (BlackRock) to finally challenge crypto’s insular ecosystem. [12:23] Current sentiment is at an all-time low, possibly WORSE than FTX. It's a deep crisis of faith & fatigue with the "casino," not just price. [14:11] We are in a "post-imagination phase." Hype fades as grand promises go unfulfilled, while speculative capital flows to AI's own imagination phase. [17:54] Proven PMF exists in 3 core areas: Token Issuance (memes), Stablecoins, & Perps. These are crypto's most profitable, but also most centralized, sectors. [20:38] Winners now face massive TradFi competition. Crypto apps must compete directly with giants like Stripe & Robinhood entering their turf. [26:33] Future bull case: Crypto's "insanely good" financial rails. The industry has an asset problem, not a tech problem. RWAs are the potential fix. [34:31] It’s a stock picker's market. "Spray & pray" is dead. High-conviction, concentrated bets in quality projects are the only path forward. [45:34] Opportunity is highest at peak despair. The time to find the next cycle’s winners is now, while conviction is at rock bottom.

Latest The Breakdown podcast - Crypto Market Structure Slips to 2026, Thursday 18th Dec @TheBreakdownBW Crypto's main legislative hope, the Market Structure Bill, is dead until 2026. But the real drama is exploding elsewhere. From bank-issued stablecoins to DAOs declaring war on their creators, the ground is shifting fast. NLW’s latest Breakdown dives in. [00:54] US Market Structure Bill officially punted to 2026, stalling progress after intense negotiations failed. [01:31] Major disagreements remain on DeFi compliance, ethics, token exemptions & stablecoin yield. [02:00] Sen. Warren's anti-crypto campaign now targets DeFi, citing PancakeSwap for illicit finance concerns. [05:52] Contrast: FDIC moves fast, publishing draft rules for FDIC-regulated banks to issue stablecoins. [06:23] Rules require bank subsidiaries, 100% cash/T-bill reserves, liquidity. But stablecoins are NOT FDIC insured. [07:29] Tether leads an $8M seed round for 'Speed', aiming to bring USDT to Bitcoin's Lightning Network. [08:00] A huge potential catalyst for Lightning, as its network capacity already hit a new ALL-TIME high. [08:52] DeFi ownership battle begins: Aave DAO moves to seize control of the protocol from its dev company, Aave Labs. [10:04] A "Poison Pill" proposal demands suing Aave Labs for full ownership of IP, code, equity & ALL past revenue. [10:52] Is this the "endgame for the DAO experiment"? It questions the value of governance tokens as worthless pseudo-equity. [11:58] With no clear legal precedent, the fight for DeFi's soul begins as TradFi comes on-chain, raising the stakes.

Latest Lightspeed podcast - Solana's Biggest Opportunity In 2026 | Dan Smith, Thursday 18th Dec @Lightspeedpodhq Solana's 2026 vision? The on-chain Binance. Dan Smith outlines the "Everything Exchange" roadmap, the builder vs. investor disconnect, and the harsh reality of token economics. [00:00, 20:25] Thesis: Solana as the on-chain "everything exchange." Prop AMMs solved spot liquidity; adapting this for perps is the final step for a full on-chain Binance experience. [03:02] A maturing ecosystem: New Lightspeed IR portal, with Solana Foundation, offers institutional data & professionalizes comms for the ecosystem's capital base. [12:42] Breakpoint's vibe-split: Builders energized by tech. Investors have "bear market blues" from poor token prices—a major cohort disconnect. [16:53] Perps are the next frontier. Phoenix by Ellipsis Labs uses Prop AMM learnings & "splines" for an efficient on-chain perp market, tackling a historical Solana weakness. [29:33] "Acquihire Rugs" are a key risk. The Axelar case shows teams get acquired while tokens crash, exposing deep conflicts between equity & unprotected token holders. [46:55] Prop AMMs' advantage is flow segmentation: identifying and giving worse quotes to toxic flow, enabling safer, tighter spreads for retail traders. [54:02] On-chain impact is HUGE. Prop AMM oracle updates now drive >20% of all non-vote transactions (~175 TPS), becoming core network activity. [57:31] This builds a sustainable revenue base beyond "spiky" meme coin fees, creating a foundation to quote ANY asset class on-chain.

Latest Supply Shock podcast - Bitcoin is the Antidote to a Broken System | Natalie Brunell, Thursday 18th Dec @SupplyShockBW “Bitcoin is the antidote to a broken system” - Natalie Brunell joins Pete Rizzo to discuss her new book. They explore how Bitcoin can unite a divided world, restore the American Dream, and why current market pessimism presents a HUGE opportunity. [00:00] In a deeply divided world, Brunell believes Bitcoin is a UNIFYING force. [02:05] Her book simplifies why our financial system is broken and how Bitcoin offers a hopeful solution anyone can understand. [03:42] The book's arc: identifies societal frustration, unpacks the monetary system's flaws, and presents Bitcoin’s hopeful path. [05:38] It's an “appetizer book” for beginners—a simple, non-intimidating entry into the space. [09:29] Meticulously written to be apolitical, with facts checked by experts like Jeff Booth, Lynn Alden, and Michael Saylor. [13:01] Brunell advocates for self-custody, aligning with Bitcoin's ethos, but views ETFs as a valid tool for democratizing access. [14:28] Her family’s escape from communism informs her view of a “hijacked” American Dream, which Bitcoin can help restore. [23:41] The future: We are VERY early. She sees Bitcoin as a $100T+ asset class and doesn't expect it to stay under six figures for long. [26:22] Bearish sentiment has diverged wildly from strong fundamentals (institutional adoption), creating a MAJOR buying opportunity. [30:26] Bitcoin will reveal true value-creating companies. Those embracing it are positioned to be the ultimate winners. [32:53] The biggest future battle is NOT technical, but political: the fight to protect privacy and its use as P2P cash.

Latest The Breakdown podcast - Bitcoin Slides Again as Anger Takes Over the Bear Market, Wednesday 17th Dec @TheBreakdownBW Bitcoin's bear market deepens with anger & manipulation claims. But beyond the brutal price action, are regulators & institutions quietly building the future? A look at market chaos vs. structured progress. [00:41] Bitcoin plunged to $85k, liquidating $200M in longs, snuffing out recovery hopes. [01:09] Manipulation claims against Binance & Wintermute fueled market ANGER, the bear market's second stage. [01:47] Revenge trading makes bottoming difficult. Next stages: bargaining, then acceptance. [02:08] On-chain divergence: Small wallets accumulated $470M while whales dumped $2.8B. [03:04] Macro headwinds: A hawkish Fed & uncertainty over the next Fed Chair add to risk-off sentiment. [03:47] Active addresses hit a two-year low. Miner revenue collapsed 20% as network fees vanished. [04:02] MicroStrategy's billion-dollar buy failed to move the needle. A Santa rally seems unlikely. [04:47] A positive regulatory turn: The SEC roundtable on financial privacy. [05:01] SEC Chair warned against blockchains becoming a "powerful financial surveillance architecture." [05:40] Commissioner Peirce: Protecting privacy should be the norm, NOT an indicator of criminal intent. [07:28] Institutional push: Visa launches a stablecoin advisory service to help banks & fintechs integrate the tech. [08:52] CONTROVERSY: Circle acquired Axelar's team but left its AXL token behind, infuriating investors. [09:50] The deal, called "ultimate scumbag behavior," highlights the risk of "worthless governance tokens." [10:35] Takeaway: Tokens need real value propositions or equity rights to survive as regulatory arbitrage fades.

Latest Forward Guidance podcast - How To Position In A "Slowdown" Regime | Market Radar, Wednesday 17th Dec @ForwardGuidance Where are we headed? Market Radar dives into the 'slowdown' regime. The risk-on party is over, but a recession isn't guaranteed. Navigating the chop requires a new playbook. Here's what their systematic models are flashing now. [00:05] Out of "risk off" into a "slowdown" regime. Impulses lack conviction either way. [01:46] 2024 markets lack steady trends, creating high vol and performance dispersion. [04:26] Models signal shift to "slowdown." Growth expectations ticked up since mid-November. [06:50] Explains asset divergence: small caps up, Bitcoin down. This is a classic slowdown, not full risk-on. [08:14] Systems are forward-looking, signaling deterioration BEFORE headlines to avoid liquidity cascades. [13:22] Stuck in a "limbo zone" where defensives should outperform until growth forms a clear positive trend. [18:03] Tariff shocks are fading from inflation data. Fed's dilemma: tanking markets for 2% target is a bad political trade. [26:08] Finding true signal requires multi-factor models. Simple M2 overlays are flawed and have unstable correlation. [34:01] Fed liquidity is NOT monolithic. Differentiate short-term repo from long-term QE. Misunderstanding this leads to bad assumptions. [47:49] 2026 OUTLOOK: Slowdown into Q1, potential growth tailwinds Q2. The Fed's biggest risk is a communication breakdown, not policy.

Latest Lightspeed podcast - How Hylo Is Accelerating Solana DeFi In 2026 | Plish, Tuesday 16th Dec @Lightspeedpodhq How is Hylo accelerating Solana DeFi? Co-founder Plish details their delta-neutral protocol that splits SOL into hiUSD, a high-yield stable, and XOL, simple liquidation-free leverage. A deep dive into risk, revenue, and the vision for tokenized leverage. [03:50] Hylo inverts the basis trade: a self-contained protocol to delta-neutralize liquid-staked SOL. [04:36] It mints two tokens: hiUSD stablecoin & XOL, a 2-4x tokenized leverage position on SOL. [06:13] Goal: hiUSD to be Solana's DeFi-native dollar. It's truly decentralized with NO trading desk. [08:57] XOL offers leverage with NO liquidations or active management—a "dead simple UX" for traders. [14:57] hiUSD's high yield (trailing 15%) has a trade-off: stakers act as liquidity of last resort if collateral ratio drops below 130%. [17:25] Go-to-market plan: deep integrations on Raidex & Exponent, enabling complex looping and yield strategies across Solana DeFi. [24:39] Season 1 is launching. Points earned will have a different utility than Season 0. Crowns from S0 will be IMPORTANT. [26:11] Primary revenue is from volatility: a flat 1% fee on XOL trades. [28:35] The future is multi-asset. xBTC is next, using a funding rate model to onboard non-yielding collateral. [39:11] Hylo V2 arrives early 2026: multi-asset framework, UI reskin, & UX on par with world-class perp platforms. [48:36] The big picture for Solana: grow via "internet capital markets," bringing new assets like stocks and credit on-chain.

Latest The Breakdown podcast - DTCC Puts US Securities On Chain, Tuesday 16th Dec @TheBreakdownBW The DTCC is bringing US securities on-chain—a 'holy grail' moment. But as Wall Street giants adopt the tech, is crypto's disruption dream fading? A deep dive into the tokenization shakeup. [00:36] DTCC gets SEC no-action approval for on-chain US securities. Scope: Russell 1000, major ETFs, Treasuries. [01:31] CEO goal: update US financial stack for 24/7 access, collateral mobility, and programmable assets. [02:35] A compliant, onshore system with full KYC/AML. DTCC sets the standard while using decentralization for mobility. [04:09] Demos show near-instant settlement. CRITICAL: DTCC can freeze/force transfers to recover assets, reassuring TradFi. [05:07] The end goal is ambitious: tokenize the ENTIRE depository. [05:22] VC Jill Gunter calls this a 10-year "holy grail" for the industry. [06:21] Coinbase is launching tokenized products, but DTCC's move is key for TRUE on-chain stock ownership. [07:22] JPMorgan is already live: on-chain commercial paper (Solana) & a tokenized money market fund (Ethereum). [08:49] Tether considers tokenizing its private stock, a potential landmark for on-chain IPOs. [10:17] But Naidig sees minimal near-term impact for L1s. Long-term value is in future DeFi composability. [11:27] Crypto sentiment is "somber." Solana Breakpoint saw "OGs quiet quitting" and "general stupor from builders." [12:15] The final takeaway: TradFi is adopting the tech on its own terms, not being purely disrupted. "The beatings will continue until craftsmanship improves."

Latest Supply Shock podcast - Bitcoin Needs Innovation, Not Complacency | Jameson Lopp, Tuesday 16th Dec @SupplyShockBW Jameson Lopp on Supply Shock: Bitcoin's 4-year cycle is dead, retail is out, and institutions bring a "long grind upward." Lopp argues complacency is Bitcoin's GREATEST risk. The protocol is NOT perfect and must innovate or die. A 2025 year-end review. [02:04] The 4-year cycle is likely dead, replaced by an institutional "long grind slowly upward" [05:27]. Retail FOMO is gone. [03:46] The public views crypto as a "scam that blew up." New retail will come via "super boring" financial advisor allocations [06:39]. [10:01] Bitcoin's anti-innovation voices are a "tiny but loud minority" with little effect. Permissionless L2 experiments must continue. [15:28] Institutional "paper Bitcoin" siphons activity to custodians, paradoxically reducing demand for on-chain block space. [18:08] Ordinals created a fee floor but failed to generate lasting high-fee demand. Hope shifts to ZK roll-up L2s to drive real economic activity. [20:43] Anti-ordinal fork threats aren't credible. They lack the miner support or economic weight for an effective UASF [23:53]. [32:01] Zcash’s Zashi wallet forcing shielded-only use is "the way it should have been." ZK-tech is unlikely on BTC L1; it breaks supply auditability [35:21]. [42:25] 2026 Predictions: More central bank BTC purchases (YES). >1000 firms holding BTC (YES). Major US crypto bill (NO). Mass merchant use (NO). [52:28] Bitcoin's BIGGEST risk: Apathy and complacency. "I'm sorry, but Bitcoin is not perfect" [54:51]. It must keep evolving or it fails.

Latest 1000x podcast - When Do We Buy, Global M2, Does Crypto Need A Catalyst, & Owning Your L's, Tuesday 16th Dec @1000xPod Crypto's December slump sparks debate: Is the 4-year cycle dead? We break down tax-loss selling pressure, the disconnect with global M2, and identify key BTC demand zones. Is a catalyst needed? Plus, why taking your L's is essential to winning long-term. [00:53] December is risk-off: traders with down years lack capital; those with up years protect gains, stalling any dip-buying. [02:29] BTC's failure to hold its ~$94k yearly open was a key failure that sparked panic and aggressive tax-loss selling. [03:24] OGs are still offloading BTC even below $100k, compounding pressure and creating a "dire" chart outlook. [08:49] The "real" BTC demand zone is pegged between $74k-$88k, an area of true support before recent "inorganic" hype. [09:17] Expect altcoins to be "totally nuked" by year-end tax selling. A $75 Solana or $2200 ETH are floated as possibilities. [15:18] A core thesis: Bitcoin's 4-year cycle is DEAD. The market must move on from this narrative and find new drivers for price. [24:40] Why isn't BTC reacting to global M2? Theory: Recent liquidity is from China, flowing into gold & silver, not crypto. [34:04] Bitcoin does NOT need a new catalyst. The asset has graduated; rallies now begin when sellers are simply exhausted. [44:00] A harsh take on ETH: labeled a "diseased, radioactive test tube" that could be 60% overpriced due to a lack of urgency. [47:56] Owning your L's is crucial. Winning is like Federer (won 54% of points). Keep losses small and let winners run.

Latest The Breakdown podcast - The Five Most Important Stories in Crypto Last Week, Monday 15th Dec @TheBreakdownBW This week's top 5 crypto stories: Fed dissent spells political turmoil, US market structure bill hangs by a thread, Bitcoin treasury companies lose their shine, a top bull lowers BTC targets, and Do Kwon gets 15 years. [00:54-02:12] Fed consensus shatters. Record dissent (2 dissents, 4 non-voters for zero cuts) signals the start of Powell's "Lame Duck" era. Expect unintelligible forward guidance and overtly political policy going forward. [02:12-03:22] Fed launches new RMP liquidity program ($40B/month T-bill buys). While not QE, its immediate start signals the Fed is taking liquidity conditions very seriously and stands ready to provide more. [03:25-06:05] Market structure bill revived by leaked Dem counteroffer. Asks: stronger token safeguards, tougher AML for "sham DeFi," and closing stablecoin yield loopholes. But future is a "quagmire"—markup next week is critical to avoid killing momentum. [07:54-09:30] Market is DONE with Bitcoin treasury companies. 21 Capital's 25% stock drop on debut confirms it. The model, a regulatory arbitrage play, is now obsolete with levered BTC ETFs available. [09:33-10:48] The bull case trims. StanChart's Jeff Kendrick, a huge bull, slashes his 2025 BTC target from $200k to $100k. New thesis: Bitcoin becomes a "normal asset" — no more parabolic 4-year cycles. [10:50-12:35] A chapter closes: Do Kwon gets 15 years in prison. The judge went OVER the prosecutor's 12-year ask, citing "unusually serious" fraud and public lies, declaring Kwon "must be incapacitated."

Latest Empire podcast - Fundamentals Are The New King of Crypto | Smac & Noah Goldberg, Monday 15th Dec @theempirepod Is crypto's narrative-driven era over? @smac & Noah Goldberg join Empire to debate if cash flow is now king. They cover valuations, old vs. new guards, and why crypto may not be the fastest horse in the next race. [00:00] Crypto is in a crisis of faith; it needs to become more productive to outperform the market. [06:16] Valuations are still rich. Crypto is overpriced due to a mismatch of too much capital chasing too few quality opportunities. [09:28] Anchoring to past cycle highs is a bag-holding trap. The market structure has fundamentally changed since then. [11:39] TradFi markets are becoming more narrative-driven like crypto, while crypto investors are maturing towards fundamentals. [13:38] Narratives attract capital and talent, but they can collapse quickly. You must ultimately be RIGHT. [23:23] There's a growing tension between crypto's "old guard," who believe in 4-year cycles, and the "new guard" with different biases. [30:50] Bear case: Crypto may not be the 'fastest horse.' It was dragged up reluctantly and needs a massive, non-fundamental buyer to outperform again. [33:10] Crypto is no longer one big trade. Expect HIGH dispersion: most assets will bleed while a select few outperform tremendously. [34:55] Applications will generate more free cash flow, but L1s can trade at irrational valuations due to being beta assets. [36:38] Largest advantage today: Differentiating durable, compounding advantages from ephemeral ones that decay. [41:35] Liquid funds face existential questions. The pipeline of new, quality tokens is small, pushing funds to explore public equities. [54:35] Future opportunity: Tools allowing investors to express more precise views (long/short specific assets, varied timelines). [58:20] Biggest mispricing: Fixing broken token markets. Structures that give investors more rights & protection will win BIG.

Latest 0xResearch podcast - The Rise of Equity Perps | Livestream, Friday 12th Dec @0xResearch The 0xResearch team breaks down the rise of equity perps. Is tokenizing Wall Street the next great DeFi frontier? A deep dive into Hyperliquid's strategy, the regulatory edge, and the multi-billion dollar opportunity ahead. [01:10] Hyperliquid introduces cross-portfolio margin, a key TradFi feature now in DeFi, alongside a look at Solana's new push into perps with Project Zero & Phoenix. [05:48] Why perps win with retail: Simple 'Delta 1' exposure trumps complex options with multiple pricing variables like time & IV, explaining their clear product-market fit. [11:06] Equity perps are for short-term speculation, NOT long-term investment. High initial funding rates are the cost of leverage in these nascent markets. [15:06] The weekend problem: No live TradFi data means wide spreads & high MM risk. The potential solution? On-chain spot equity tokens [14:32]. [16:35] Regulatory arbitrage is DeFi's core advantage. Protocols can offer single-stock perps unavailable to US retail, creating a huge head start [20:10]. [23:04] Landscape: Hyperliquid's outsourced HIP-3 model (Trade XYZ dominates) vs. Aestus's peer-to-pool model which offers oracle-price execution. [31:25] Hyperliquid’s growth model: Scaling via outsourcing. Sharing revenue with third-party builders who then buy back the token creates a powerful flywheel. [49:48] The aggregator threat: Wallet front-ends routing to the CHEAPEST perp backend could commoditize Hyperliquid & strip its pricing power, a MAJOR risk. [57:40] The opportunity is MASSIVE. Capturing just 0.5% of equity volume could mean billions in annualized revenue for a protocol [59:30].

Latest The Breakdown podcast - The Fed Is Fracturing, Friday 12th Dec @TheBreakdownBW The Fed is Fracturing. A divided FOMC delivers a contentious rate cut with open dissents. Meanwhile, a new 'not QE' program is launched. A full breakdown of Powell's challenging needle-threading act and what it means for the economy. [00:40] Contentious cut passes with 3 FOMC dissents (one for more, two for hold). [01:07] 6 of 12 presidents opposed the cut, registering "silent dissent" via the dot plot. [01:40] Strong GDP (Q3 est. 3.5%) fuels argument to hold rates, citing inflation risk. [02:12] Powell: A "challenging situation" with one tool for upside risks to both jobs, inflation. [02:30] Dot plot reveals chaos: Projections for next year range from hikes to SIX cuts. [03:20] No clear guidance. Powell can "make a case for either side" on the next policy move. [03:45] Fed "flying blind" without official BLS jobs/inflation reports since September. [04:20] Private data shows cooling labor market, with worst year for layoffs since pandemic. [07:05] K-shaped economy confirmed: Lower-income households struggle while wealthy gain from assets. [08:55] MAJOR policy pivot: QT ends. Fed begins Reserve Management Purchases (RMPs) of $40B/month. [09:40] Is it QE? Fed says NO. Analysts split. Some label it "QE in fact," others "baby QE." [10:25] Perspective: Not "Lambo QE," but "my Uber is 7 minutes away QE" - Andreas Steno-Larsen. [11:05] Market verdict: A "hawkish cut" seen as the "ultimate compromise" for now. [11:45] Next? New 2026 Fed leadership could bring more cuts, possibly aligning with Trump 2.0 agenda.

Latest Empire podcast - Tempo Testnet Goes Live, Burnout In Crypto, and Farcaster's Pivot | Weekly Roundup, Friday 12th Dec @theempirepod Empire’s weekly roundup: Paradigm’s "coordinated hit" on Polymarket, Stripe's Tempo testnet, founder burnout, and Farcaster’s massive pivot. A masterclass in crypto's shifting power dynamics. [08:34] Paradigm's Polymarket data claims called a "coordinated hit" to boost its competing portco, Kalshi. [11:38] VC takeaway: Support your portfolio, YES. Attacks misrepresenting facts, a step TOO FAR. [15:24] Stripe’s Tempo testnet is live with a power list: OpenAI, Mastercard, Shopify. [16:09] Specs: 500ms block times, EVM compatible, stablecoin gas, native tx batching. [19:07] Strategy: Classic Stripe bundling. Offer blockchain as a "commoditized compliment" to win core payments. [22:50] Prediction: Tempo pulls huge volume but becomes a corporate silo, leaving room for neutral chains. [29:31] Dev post "I wasted 8 years of my life in crypto" sparks raw debate on burnout & the "global casino." [34:21] Reality: Crypto IS in its "financial infrastructure" phase. Less libertarian dream, more dollar access. [35:55] Burnout antidote: Build for a 10-year problem you love, not just for anon traders. [50:47] Farcaster pivots from social to wallet-first after its $180M app failed to find Product-Market Fit. [56:08] The pivot leverages finance as a growth funnel for its social network. [57:20] Insight: The "own your data" narrative is overvalued; users care more about convenience.

Latest Forward Guidance podcast - Fed Embraces "Run It Hot" For Powell's Final Months | Weekly Roundup, Thursday 11th Dec @ForwardGuidance Forward Guidance breaks down the Fed's 'run it hot' gambit. Powell's dovish pivot signals impending market rotation and a new era of fiscal dominance. Dive into the K-shaped economy, suppressed vol, and why Main Street still can't win. [04:26] Fed's 180° dovish pivot, admitting no new data. [03:51] Launches $40B/mo in T-bill purchases until Powell leaves in April. [07:08] The strategy: RUN IT HOT. Owning hard assets is a must. Next Fed chief likely even more dovish. [00:10] More fiscal stimulus coming. [20:26] "Affordability" narrative will drive spending for midterms, ignoring deficits. [07:34] THE GREAT ROTATION is on. Money flows from large-cap tech to small caps (IWM), industrials, and metals, backed by Fed liquidity. [13:43] Asset selection is PARAMOUNT. Mag7 flat on dovish news. The play is unloved cyclicals & metals, not broad market beta. [23:16] A stark K-shaped economy: 83% of new NFP jobs are healthcare for Boomers. Main Street drowns while asset bubbles inflate. [37:23] Volatility illusion: Financial vol is systematically suppressed (VIX, FX vol in the gutter). [44:54] You can't destroy vol, only TRANSMUTE it. It re-emerges as extreme social & political volatility. The system is fraying. [50:24] Crypto's disconnect: This macro was BUILT for Bitcoin, yet it lags gold. The space is cleansing itself of grifters, a necessary rinse.

Latest Lightspeed podcast - Solana's Onchain Nasdaq Thesis | Carlos Gonzalez Campo, Thursday 11th Dec @Lightspeedpodhq Can Solana become the on-chain Nasdaq? In this Lightspeed episode, Blockworks’ Carlos Gonzalez Campo unpacks SOL's network health, a key inflation proposal, and the pressure on Jupiter & Pump as Solana chases its ultimate price discovery thesis. [03:22] Solana network revenue down 4 straight months, lowest since Feb 2024. Market structure shifts from Jito tips (-85%) to priority fees. [04:47] Application revenue proves more resilient. App-to-network revenue ratio at an ALL-TIME HIGH (3:1), questioning the L1 premium. [11:15] New SIMD-411 proposal doubles disinflation to 30%, hitting 1.5% terminal inflation by 2029 (3+ years faster). [12:15] Cuts ~$2.9B future emissions, easing sell pressure. Lower nominal yields could also boost SOL use in DeFi. [24:01] Jupiter spread too thin? "Super app" goal hurts focus, but its core strategy of OWNING THE END USER is a key advantage. [35:34] Pump.fun's resilient ~$1M daily revenue called "weird" amid slow trading. Lack of team communication raises community concern. [44:24] Solana's "DeFi 2.0" here. Apps like Exponent & Hilo hit TVL highs despite market drawdown, showing less SOL price reliance. [46:40] PREDICTION: A perps DEX using a prop AMM design will be a major 2026 unlock for Solana. [54:30] CORE THESIS: Solana's success hinges on becoming the primary venue for ON-CHAIN PRICE DISCOVERY—a "decentralized Nasdaq". [57:47] Prop AMMs are the key unlock, already capturing CEX-DEX arbitrage for SOL/USD on-chain and proving the model for other assets.