Bankless

Luke Gromen, a macro investor and founder of FFTT, dives into the new regime of debasement, explaining why traditional assets may appear strong in dollar terms but stagnate when viewed through the lens of gold and Bitcoin. He highlights the geopolitical shift favoring gold over treasuries and argues the implications of a possible gold revaluation. Additionally, Gromen discusses the risk factors surrounding paper gold and the potential roles of Bitcoin as the global financial landscape evolves. His insights provide a thought-provoking framework for navigating a 100-year reset.

The markets reacted unexpectedly to a Fed rate cut, leaving many puzzled. Discussion delves into MegaETH's oversubscribed ICO and Monad's innovative airdrop mechanics. Notably, JP Morgan estimates the potential value of a Base token at a staggering $34 billion. In addition, the new CFTC chair's nomination hints at a brighter regulatory future for crypto. Meanwhile, Western Union prepares to launch a stablecoin on Solana, stirring community debates. A lively look at market shifts, new crypto products, and institutional moves keeps listeners engaged.

Sam Kazemian, co-founder of Frax and a pioneer in stablecoins, dives into the innovative world of crypto neobanks. He discusses the two-coin model of FraxUSD and sFRAX USD, highlighting their roles in payments and savings. Sam explains how neobank cards could potentially sidestep the traditional Visa system, making stablecoins more mainstream. He also shares insights on institutional reliability and the importance of metrics like card acceptance and bank deposits, painting a vibrant picture of a future on-chain economy.

Tristan Thompson, NBA star and web3 entrepreneur, joins Paul Grewal, Chief Legal Officer of Coinbase, to discuss why athletes are embracing crypto. They explore the shift towards Bitcoin for financial control and the challenges of trusting traditional advisors. Paul shares insights on stablecoin rewards and regulatory battles, while Tristan introduces his innovative app, basketball.fun, which tokenizes NBA players. They delve into the implications of prediction markets versus sportsbooks and emphasize the need for transparency in crypto regulation.

Downtober continues to weigh on sentiment, yet Bitcoin shows strength. The hosts explore three potential market scenarios and question whether crypto can catch up with gold's recent surge. Dankrad's transition to Tempo sparks discussions about competition and collaboration in the space. Coinbase's strategic moves, including buying Echo and exploring new NFT integrations, signal an evolving market landscape. Additionally, the rise of AI in trading raises exciting prospects for the future of finance.

Eddy Lazzarin, CTO at a16z Crypto, and Daren Matsuoka, partner at a16z, dive into the future of crypto in 2025. They explore Bitcoin's dominance and its role as digital gold, along with the rapid adoption of stablecoins rivaling Visa volumes. The discussion highlights decentralized exchanges reshaping price discovery, and the emerging potential of prediction markets. They also tackle the integration of AI with crypto, addressing concerns about quantum risks and the evolving landscape of institutional engagement. Get ready for a thought-provoking analysis!

Michael Nadeau, founder of The DeFi Report and a savvy crypto researcher, shares insights on current market dynamics. He explains his shift to a risk-off stance, moving 70% to cash ahead of a flash crash due to rising leverage and weakening signals. Nadeau analyzes late-cycle indicators and debates the muted sentiment in this bull cycle. He discusses potential catalysts for a final market push, including global liquidity and AI, while emphasizing the importance of positioning and caution for year-end opportunities.

Felipe Montealegre, an investor at Thea Research and futarchy advocate, joins Proph3t, co-founder of MetaDAO, to explore innovative governance solutions in crypto. They discuss how futarchy can prevent token rug pulls by shifting governance from voting to market trading. The conversation covers the importance of liquidity, the mechanics of conditional trades, and the concept of ownership coins designed to protect investors. They also tackle regulatory challenges and envision a future where futarchy unlocks significant on-chain capital flows, making crypto more investable.

A staggering $19 billion was wiped out in a single day, causing uproar in the crypto world. The hosts dive into the causes of the Friday flash crash, including a suspicious tweet and market liquidity issues. They discuss Binance's leaked listing fees, the growing role of decentralized exchanges, and a major Chinese tech company launching on Ethereum. Additionally, there's buzz about the U.S. potentially adding $14 billion in Bitcoin to its strategic reserve, alongside rising regulatory pressure on DeFi efforts.

Vladimir Novakovski, Founder and CEO of Lighter, discusses his cutting-edge ZK Layer-2 perpetual DEX on Ethereum. He reveals how Lighter's escape hatch protects users during mishaps, and shares insights from a recent $19B liquidation wave. The conversation dives into the importance of verifiable order matching and liquidation fairness for traders. Vlad also highlights Lighter's unique architecture, future plans for spot trading, and the balance between security and performance in the DeFi landscape.