Lever Time What Tech Wants: Crypto Reign Of Terror (with Jacob Silverman and Molly White)
Jan 29, 2026
Jacob Silverman, journalist and author who writes about tech and politics, discusses tech's political power and crypto's election influence. Short takes cover Trump's embrace of crypto and its promise to end enforcement. Conversations explore crypto's post-FTX boom-and-bust, massive 2024 spending, targeted super PAC ads, and how stablecoins and banklike moves could reshape finance.
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Trump Cemented A Crypto Political Alliance
- Donald Trump's July 2024 Bitcoin conference speech marked a clear political alliance with crypto investors.
- Jacob Silverman says Trump pledged to end Biden-era crypto enforcement and promised industry-friendly leadership.
Treat Crypto As High-Risk Custody Assets
- Be aware that crypto lacks many traditional investor protections and carries unique custody risks.
- Molly White warns you might wake up to find your crypto wallet empty and law enforcement unable to help.
Crypto's Massive 2024 Election Spend
- The crypto industry poured over $130 million into the 2024 elections to influence outcomes nationwide.
- Jacob Silverman links that spending to crypto-backed victories and industry-friendly lawmakers.
