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Peter Van Valkenburgh, Chief Research Officer at Coin Center, and David Morris, Chief Insights Columnist at CoinDesk, break down the recent verdict in the Roman Storm case. They discuss the significant split decision, particularly the implications of the unlicensed money-transmission charge for non-custodial developers. Peter outlines possible appeals and the broader ramifications for financial privacy legislation. David shares gripping courtroom insights, including jury dynamics and emotional moments. The verdict serves as both a wake-up call and a unique opportunity for crypto regulation.

Tom Lee, Chairman of Bitmine and Wall Street investor, discusses the ambitious goal of acquiring 5% of total ETH supply with his ETH treasury. He argues Ethereum could surpass Bitcoin, predicting prices from $4,000 to $15,000. The conversation dives into market dynamics, the risks of excessive leverage, and the often misguided perceptions Wall Street has about crypto. Lee also shares insights on valuing Ethereum and NFTs, highlighting their cultural significance. Tune in for a deep exploration of Ethereum's promising future!

Michael Nadeau, founder of The DeFi Report, dives into the surge of ETH treasury companies and their implications for the market. He reveals the potential for a bullish late-cycle trend while emphasizing the risks of leverage and market volatility. The conversation explores the impact on DeFi, the rising DEX volumes, and signals that could push ETH to new heights. Nadeau highlights the importance of strategic investor approaches and the cautious optimism among institutional players navigating the evolving crypto landscape.

Ben Cowen, founder of Into the Cryptoverse, brings his data-driven insights to the forefront. He discusses Ethereum's recent surge in performance, signaling the start of 'Ethereum season.' Ben breaks down why ETH might reach new all-time highs, along with its implications for Bitcoin and altcoins. He explains the concept of market narratives following price movements and shares his roadmap for the upcoming months, emphasizing the dynamics of the crypto landscape as Ethereum takes the lead.

Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly Capital and a crypto investor, dives into the SEC's transformative Project Crypto and its implications for the cryptocurrency landscape. He celebrates Ethereum's tenth birthday, reflecting on its impressive growth despite legal hurdles. The discussion also touches on the contentious Roman Storm case, the launch of ETH Zilla, and new developments in crypto ETF regulations. With a mix of excitement and caution, Haseeb examines the evolving regulatory environment and its potential impact on innovation in the crypto space.

Edward Fishman, a senior research scholar at Columbia University and former State Department official, unpacks the U.S.'s financial warfare strategies. He reveals how economic sanctions have eclipsed military action as the main tool for exerting power, detailing the effects on nations like Iran and Russia. The conversation also explores the rise of stablecoins and their potential to challenge dollar dominance, alongside the geopolitical ramifications of a shifting financial landscape. Buckle up for insights into a world where currency is mightier than the sword!

Dwarkesh Patel, a prominent voice in the AI space and author of "The Scaling Era," delves into the transformative power of artificial intelligence. He discusses the critical scaling laws driving AI advancements and the ongoing quest for artificial general intelligence. Patel offers insight into AI's limitations, particularly its inability to learn in real-time, and emphasizes the moral implications of AI development. He highlights the potential socioeconomic shifts brought by AI and the pressing need for robust governance to ensure ethical alignment with human values.

Andrew Keys and David Merin join us to unveil the Ether Machine—a bold new strategy to make ETH the internet’s reserve currency. We unpack their ambitious plan to acquire and actively manage hundreds of thousands of ETH, why they believe ETH is more than just a treasury asset, and how institutional capital can finally understand and tap into Ethereum’s full potential. From staking and restaking to DeFi yield generation and Wall Street education, this episode explores why Ether is not just digital oil—it’s the engine of the next internet.------📣SPOTIFY PREMIUM RSS FEED | USE CODE: SPOTIFY24 https://bankless.cc/spotify-premium------BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS:🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFihttps://bankless.cc/Frax 🦄UNISWAP | SWAP ON UNICHAINhttps://bankless.cc/unichain 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORKhttps://bankless.cc/Mantle 🟠BINANCE | THE WORLDS #1 CRYPTO EXCHANGEhttps://bankless.cc/binance🦎COINGECKO API | REAL-TIME CRYPTO PRICE & MARKET DATAhttps://bankless.cc/coingecko------TIMESTAMPS0:00 Intro1:32 How Much Ether?4:57 Other ETH Treasuries9:41 Ether Machine12:46 ETH vs BTC17:27 Ether Machine DeFi Strategy21:14 Explaining ETH to Wall Street26:01 How Big is ETH?28:14 ETH ETFs vs Ether Machine37:13 Andrew’s Journey40:54 Gensler’s SEC Era43:30 Michael Saylor of ETH?49:29 Decentralization Worries52:09 ETH’s Narrative Problem56:47 The Institutional Cycle1:00:41 Closing------RESOURCESThe Ether Machinehttps://x.com/TheEtherMachine https://ethermachine.com/ Andrew Keyshttps://x.com/ak_ethermachine David Merinhttps://x.com/dfmerin ------Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here:https://www.bankless.com/disclosures⁠ 

Jesse Pollak, the visionary behind Base, unveils his ambitious crypto-powered everything app designed to empower creators and redefine social media. He discusses how Base tackles the challenges creators face, offering equitable revenue models and innovative features to enhance user interactions. Pollak shares insights on content optimization strategies aimed at achieving virality and highlights the rise of mini apps within the platform. He also addresses concerns around creator monetization, painting an exciting picture of a more decentralized and rewarding digital economy.

The cryptocurrency market has hit a staggering $4 trillion cap, sparking conversations about the implications of the newly passed Genius Bill on stablecoins and digital assets. There's a deep dive into the exciting inflows of Ethereum ETFs and the ongoing courtroom drama surrounding the Roman Storm trial. The hosts also compare the dynamics of Bitcoin and Ethereum, discuss innovations in decentralized finance, and unravel the challenges faced by new crypto ventures amid evolving regulations.