Gm! This week we're back with another weekly roundup where we discuss how to position during a market crash. We deep dive into the Trump tariff dump, are altcoins cooked, the state of crypto venture, why Ripple's $1.25b acquisition is more important than you think & more. Enjoy!

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Grab your tickets to Permissionless IV. Use code EMPIRE10 for 10% off: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-iv

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Referenced In The Show:

Invest Like The Best With Michael Ovitz: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1vtKb0ZNt8xv9CaOPATSIX?si=d65f8b3bd413419d

The Essays Of Warren Buffett: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0NYR5b0RktTaxWi68kT1io?si=74358acb99604fd4

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SKALE is the next evolution in Layer 1 blockchains with a gas-free invisible user experience, instant finality, high speed, and robust security. SKALE is built different as it allows for limitless scalability and has already saved its 50 Million users over $11 Billion in gas fees.

SKALE is high-performance and cost-effective, making it ideal for compute-intensive applications like AI, gaming, and consumer-facing dApps. Learn more at https://skale.space and stay up to date with the gas-free invisible blockchain on X at @skalenetwork

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Zenrock is a permissionless, decentralized custody network backed by 1RoundTable Partners, 10T, Maven11, and Spartan. Live on Jupiter, $ROCK is the native token for transactions within the Zenrock ecosystem and secures Zenrock’s decentralized custody network.

The first application launching on Zenrock is zenBTC – yield-bearing Bitcoin on Solana. zenBTC will be live in April 2025.

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Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors Empire podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER™ device and secure your crypto today.

Buy now at www.Ledger.com

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WalletConnect is the onchain connectivity network . If you’ve connected to a Web3 app, you’ve seen WalletConnect. It’s everywhere—an icon of trust in crypto, as recognizable as Visa at checkout.

The numbers speak for themselves: Over 220 million connections and 35 million users worldwide use WalletConnect to power their Web3 experience. @WalletConnect on X and Telegram or visit https://WalletConnect.Network

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AO Mainnet is LIVE! Experience the future of decentralized computing: infinite parallel processing, secure TEE-powered computations, and LLMs in smart contracts. Built on Arweave, AO's modular design shatters scalability limits. 100% of tokens are distributed to Arweave holders and bridge depositors, with a fixed supply and halving. Explore AO today: https://ao.arweave.dev

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:46) Santi's Trip To New York

(08:25) Ads (Skale, Zenrock)

(09:44) The Trump Tariff Dump

(20:11) Ads (Skale, Zenrock)

(21:30) Do Crypto Cycles Still Exist?

(24:21) How To Position During A Market Crash

(27:44) Are Altcoins Cooked?

(36:24) Buy The Dip Or Sell The Rip?

(41:13) Ads (Ledger, WalletConnect, Arweave)

(43:28) How To Build A Portfolio

(48:03) The State Of Crypto Venture

(54:38) Ripple's Hidden Road Acquisition Is Bigger Than You Think

(1:04:29) Crypto M&A In 2025

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Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.