Bankless

Edward Chancellor, a financial historian and journalist known for his insightful works on financial speculation, dives deep into the fascinating world of money and interest. He explores how low interest rates fuel speculative bubbles and discusses the societal impacts of debt and inflation. Chancellor connects historical events with modern challenges like central bank digital currencies, emphasizing the emotional narratives behind financial systems. The conversation also critiques current banking practices and highlights the potential risks of the 'everything bubble' in today’s economy.

Dive into the wild world of meme coins, where the rise of PepeCoin showcases both explosive profits and potential pitfalls. Discussions cover the fluctuating cryptocurrency landscape, including recent market declines and Ethereum's resilient staking surge. The hosts tackle the idea of community shifts within Bitcoin culture, contrasting traditionalists with newer perspectives. Plus, explore the regulatory challenges facing digital assets and the humor found in cryptocurrency scams. A lively mix of insights and laughs waiting for curious minds!

Ritchie Torres, a U.S. Representative from New York's 15th district, champions crypto within the Democratic Party. He explores the polarized landscape of cryptocurrency legislation and the generational divides evident in Congress. Torres highlights blockchain's potential to benefit underserved communities and critiques the current regulatory environment. He also addresses the implications of central bank digital currencies and emphasizes the need for congressional oversight to safeguard civil liberties. This conversation reveals the complex interplay between politics and cryptocurrency.

Ram Ahluwalia, CEO of Lumida Wealth Management, returns to discuss dire implications of recent bank failures. He predicts more failures ahead while questioning if crypto can be the savior for troubled banks. The conversation delves into the silence of politicians during this crisis and the pressures of commercial real estate, drawing comparisons to the 2008 financial collapse. Ahluwalia also explores the looming risks in the banking sector and what solutions may stabilize the system as interest rates rise.

Justin Drake, a key researcher at the Ethereum Foundation and creator of Ultrasound.Money, joins Dom to delve into Ethereum's latest upgrade focused on burning Miner Extractable Value (MEV). They explain MEV's impact on the network and the dual nature of its benefits and challenges. The conversation includes the economic implications of this change, concerns about staking rewards, and the potential for a deflationary environment. With intriguing analogies and expert insights, the duo reveals how this upgrade may reshape the Ethereum landscape.

Recent bank failures are shaking the economy, with discussions around the potential nationalization of the U.S. banking system. The collapse of First Republic Bank highlights troubling trends, as rising interest rates pose a serious threat. Meanwhile, innovations in crypto continue to flourish, with Coinbase expanding internationally and Venmo introducing crypto vaults. The looming risk of stagflation and the need for reliable exchanges spark intense debate, leaving listeners pondering the delicate balance between traditional finance and the evolving crypto landscape.

Tom Duff Gordon, the Vice President of International Policy at Coinbase, shares insights on the company's potential shift to international markets due to U.S. regulatory challenges. He discusses how these regulations impact crypto innovation, expressing concerns about the U.S. falling behind global standards. Duff Gordon elaborates on Coinbase's strategy for global growth, highlighting their recent acquisition of a digital asset business license in Bermuda and the importance of clearer regulations for crypto's future.

Join Qiao Wang, a Partner at AllianceDAO focused on Web3 investments, and Mohamed Fouda, a Venture Partner at Volt Capital with expertise in AI technologies. They delve into the exciting convergence of AI and cryptocurrency, highlighting innovations like AutoGPT for smart contracts. The duo discusses the implications of AI agents in decentralized finance and the challenges of centralization. They also explore the necessity of authenticity in an AI-driven world and the balance of optimism and caution as we navigate this technological evolution.

Join Sergey Gorbunov, CEO of Axelar, Zaki Manian, co-founder of Sommelier Protocol, and Steven Goldfeder, co-founder of Offchain Labs, as they dive into the future of blockchain interoperability. They unveil Axelar's General Message Passing technology, transforming cross-chain interactions and allowing seamless connectivity between Ethereum and Cosmos. Topics include the evolution of decentralized finance, the importance of security in bridges, and how these innovations are set to revolutionize user experiences in the multi-chain ecosystem.

Tim Urban, a renowned blogger and author of "What's Our Problem?: A Self-Help Book for Societies," joins the discussion to tackle the pressing issues facing our society today. He delves into power dynamics versus liberal games, the necessity of liberal values in crypto, and how to discern between echo chambers and innovative think tanks. Urban also navigates the roots of societal anger fueled by social media, highlighting the importance of fostering higher thinking in overcoming challenges. Plus, he shares intriguing insights about AI and its potential impact on society.