On The Brink with Castle Island

Weekly Roundup 10/24/25 (Quantum, Crypto Pardons, Fed Payment Accounts) (EP.679)

9 snips
Oct 24, 2025
This week dives into a wild mix of topics. Crime makes a comeback with insider NBA betting scandals and a daring jewel heist at the Louvre. Insights reveal how quantum computing could threaten Bitcoin's security. A controversial presidential pardon for a crypto CEO stirs political debates, while the Federal Reserve introduces a payments charter impacting fintech. Plus, major fundraises in the crypto world, including the launch of a new hedge fund, ramp up the stakes in digital assets. Don't miss the clash of crypto and AI policy discussions!
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ANECDOTE

Modern Sports Crime Stories

  • Matt and Nic recount recent sports and poker-related crimes involving NBA personnel and rigged games with hidden card techniques.
  • They compare these scandals to historical sports corruption and argue sports betting normalization fuels such issues.
ANECDOTE

Brazen Louvre Jewelry Heist

  • They describe a brazen jewel heist at the Louvre with unarmed guards and thieves using tools to access priceless items.
  • Nic criticizes the guards' inaction and imagines the logistical impossibility of selling famous stolen jewels.
INSIGHT

Quantum Poses Near-Term Crypto Risk

  • Nic argues quantum computing now poses a realistic, near-term threat to elliptic-curve cryptography securing Bitcoin.
  • He estimates a quantum break between 2028–2033 and urges early preparation today.
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