The Breakdown

Blockworks
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Mar 9, 2022 • 20min

What a DeFi Developer Departure Means for the Crypto Market Cycle

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus and FTX US.    One of DeFi’s best known developers, Andre Cronje, has left the industry. In this episode, NLW looks at how the markets and the broader crypto community are reacting to the news. In particular, he explores the shifting tone within the sector. Does this dev’s departure make a protracted winter more likely?  - Take your crypto to the next level with Nexo. Invest and swap instantly, earn up to 20% APR on your idle assets or borrow cash against them at industry-leading rates. Get started today at nexo.io to receive up to a $100 welcome bonus. Valid through March 31. - Arculus™ is the next-gen cold storage wallet for your crypto. The sleek, metal Arculus Key™ Card authenticates with the Arculus Wallet™ App, providing a simpler, safer and more secure solution to store, send, receive, buy and swap your crypto. Buy now at amazon.com. - FTX US is the safe, regulated way to buy Bitcoin, ETH, SOL and other digital assets. Trade crypto with up to 85% lower fees than top competitors and trade ETH and SOL NFTs with no gas fees and subsidized gas on withdrawals. Sign up at FTX.US today. - Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/538vuul1PuorUDwgkC8JWF?si=ddSvD-HST2e_E7wgxcjtfQ Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9ubHdjcnlwdG8ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M=   Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8   Follow on Twitter: NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW “The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell, research by Scott Hill and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Adam B. Levine is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsor is “Obligated” by Daniele Musto. Image credit: Ja_inter/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.
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Mar 8, 2022 • 17min

The Iron Firewall Descends as Visa, Mastercard and PayPal Leave Russia

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus, FTX US and Cointelli.    Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at Russia’s increasing economic isolation. Visa, Mastercard and PayPal all announced their plans to stop servicing the country while Netflix and TikTok also restricted access, citing new “fake news” laws. Meanwhile, the world is grappling with higher prices of key Russian export commodities, such as oil and wheat.  - Take your crypto to the next level with Nexo. Invest and swap instantly, earn up to 20% APR on your idle assets or borrow cash against them at industry-leading rates. Get started today at nexo.io to receive up to a $100 welcome bonus. Valid through March 31. - Arculus™ is the next-gen cold storage wallet for your crypto. The sleek, metal Arculus Key™ Card authenticates with the Arculus Wallet™ App, providing a simpler, safer and more secure solution to store, send, receive, buy and swap your crypto. Buy now at amazon.com. - FTX US is the safe, regulated way to buy Bitcoin, ETH, SOL and other digital assets. Trade crypto with up to 85% lower fees than top competitors and trade ETH and SOL NFTs with no gas fees and subsidized gas on withdrawals. Sign up at FTX.US today. - Cointelli makes accurately reporting your crypto taxes easy. Built by CPAs and crypto experts, Cointelli supports hundreds of platforms and produces tax reports you can count on in just a few clicks. And all for just $49! See what Cointelli can do for you at cointelli.com. - Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/538vuul1PuorUDwgkC8JWF?si=ddSvD-HST2e_E7wgxcjtfQ Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9ubHdjcnlwdG8ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M=   Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8   Follow on Twitter: NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW “The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell, research by Scott Hill and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Adam B. Levine is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsor is “Obligated” by Daniele Musto. Image credit: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.
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Mar 7, 2022 • 16min

Did We Just Enter the Beginnings of the Post-Dollar Hegemony Era?

  This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus, FTX US and Cointelli.    This week on “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads and discusses “Bitcoiners Were Right: Weaponized Finance Just Created a Post-Dollar Planet” by David Z. Morris.    - Take your crypto to the next level with Nexo. Invest and swap instantly, earn up to 20% APR on your idle assets or borrow cash against them at industry-leading rates. Get started today at nexo.io to receive up to a $100 welcome bonus. Valid through March 31. - Arculus™ is the next-gen cold storage wallet for your crypto. The sleek, metal Arculus Key™ Card authenticates with the Arculus Wallet™ App, providing a simpler, safer and more secure solution to store, send, receive, buy and swap your crypto. Buy now at amazon.com. - FTX US is the safe, regulated way to buy Bitcoin, ETH, SOL and other digital assets. Trade crypto with up to 85% lower fees than top competitors and trade ETH and SOL NFTs with no gas fees and subsidized gas on withdrawals. Sign up at FTX.US today. - Cointelli makes accurately reporting your crypto taxes easy. Built by CPAs and crypto experts, Cointelli supports hundreds of platforms and produces tax reports you can count on in just a few clicks. And all for just $49! See what Cointelli can do for you at cointelli.com. - Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/538vuul1PuorUDwgkC8JWF?si=ddSvD-HST2e_E7wgxcjtfQ Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9ubHdjcnlwdG8ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M=   Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8   Follow on Twitter: NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW “The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Michele Musso, research by Scott Hill and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Adam B. Levine is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsor is “Obligated” by Daniele Musto. Image credit: Steven Puetzer/iStock/Getty Images Plus, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.    
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Mar 5, 2022 • 17min

Did Bitcoin Just Become Legal Tender in Switzerland?

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus, FTX US and Cointelli.  On this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW checks in on the state of key bitcoin, crypto and economic narratives, from bitcoin’s institutional bid to bitcoin as legal tender to inflation as transitory.  - Take your crypto to the next level with Nexo. Invest and swap instantly, earn up to 20% APR on your idle assets or borrow cash against them at industry-leading rates. Get started today at nexo.io to receive up to a $100 welcome bonus. Valid through March 31. - Arculus™ is the next-gen cold storage wallet for your crypto. The sleek, metal Arculus Key™ Card authenticates with the Arculus Wallet™ App, providing a simpler, safer and more secure solution to store, send, receive, buy and swap your crypto. Buy now at amazon.com. - FTX US is the safe, regulated way to buy Bitcoin, ETH, SOL and other digital assets. Trade crypto with up to 85% lower fees than top competitors and trade ETH and SOL NFTs with no gas fees and subsidized gas on withdrawals. Sign up at FTX.US today. - Cointelli makes accurately reporting your crypto taxes easy. Built by CPAs and crypto experts, Cointelli supports hundreds of platforms and produces tax reports you can count on in just a few clicks. And all for just $49! See what Cointelli can do for you at cointelli.com. - Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/538vuul1PuorUDwgkC8JWF?si=ddSvD-HST2e_E7wgxcjtfQ Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9ubHdjcnlwdG8ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M=   Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8   Follow on Twitter: NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW “The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell, research by Scott Hill and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Adam B. Levine is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsor is “Obligated” by Daniele Musto. Image credit: Marc Bruxelle/iStock/Getty Images Plus, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.    
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4 snips
Mar 5, 2022 • 17min

Enforcing Sanctions in Crypto Isn't the Problem

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus, FTX US and Cointelli.  Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at scrutiny around sanctions and the crypto industry. He talks about three situations that show the state of the discourse: Recent statements by the Treasury Department and the National Security Council suggesting they’re not overly concerned Russia can use crypto to escape the pinch of sanctions Elizabeth Warren’s letter asking Treasury are they sure about that Key Ethereum infrastructure blocking Iranian and Venezuelan users  - Take your crypto to the next level with Nexo. Invest and swap instantly, earn up to 20% APR on your idle assets or borrow cash against them at industry-leading rates. Get started today at nexo.io to receive up to a $100 welcome bonus. Valid through March 31. - Arculus™ is the next-gen cold storage wallet for your crypto. The sleek, metal Arculus Key™ Card authenticates with the Arculus Wallet™ App, providing a simpler, safer and more secure solution to store, send, receive, buy and swap your crypto. Buy now at amazon.com. - FTX US is the safe, regulated way to buy Bitcoin, ETH, SOL and other digital assets. Trade crypto with up to 85% lower fees than top competitors and trade ETH and SOL NFTs with no gas fees and subsidized gas on withdrawals. Sign up at FTX.US today. - Cointelli makes accurately reporting your crypto taxes easy. Built by CPAs and crypto experts, Cointelli supports hundreds of platforms and produces tax reports you can count on in just a few clicks. And all for just $49! See what Cointelli can do for you at cointelli.com. - Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/538vuul1PuorUDwgkC8JWF?si=ddSvD-HST2e_E7wgxcjtfQ Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9ubHdjcnlwdG8ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M=   Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8   Follow on Twitter: NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW   “The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell, research by Scott Hill and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Adam B. Levine is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsor is “Obligated” by Daniele Musto. Image credit: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.
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Mar 4, 2022 • 21min

Ukraine and the War Airdrop That Never Came

  This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus, FTX US and Cointelli.  Over the last week, the government of Ukraine has held one of the most successful fundraising efforts of all time. It has raised over $50 million in crypto from over 100,000 donation transactions. On today’s episode, NLW tells the story of how the donation campaign started, how the promise of an airdrop super-charged the effort and the fallout from the country’s decision not to go through with the airdrop. Moreover, he discusses the new ethical considerations of donating directly to war efforts.  - Take your crypto to the next level with Nexo. Invest and swap instantly, earn up to 20% APR on your idle assets or borrow cash against them at industry-leading rates. Get started today at nexo.io to receive up to a $100 welcome bonus. Valid through March 31. - Arculus™ is the next-gen cold storage wallet for your crypto. The sleek, metal Arculus Key™ Card authenticates with the Arculus Wallet™ App, providing a simpler, safer and more secure solution to store, send, receive, buy and swap your crypto. Buy now at amazon.com. - FTX US is the safe, regulated way to buy Bitcoin, ETH, SOL and other digital assets. Trade crypto with up to 85% lower fees than top competitors and trade ETH and SOL NFTs with no gas fees and subsidized gas on withdrawals. Sign up at FTX.US today. - Cointelli makes accurately reporting your crypto taxes easy. Built by CPAs and crypto experts, Cointelli supports hundreds of platforms and produces tax reports you can count on in just a few clicks. And all for just $49! See what Cointelli can do for you at cointelli.com. - “The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell, research by Scott Hill and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Adam B. Levine is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsor is “Obligated” by Daniele Musto. Image credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images News, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.
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Mar 3, 2022 • 17min

Citadel Is Coming to Crypto

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus, FTX US and Cointelli.    While much of the recent focus of “The Breakdown” has been on the relationship between crypto and geopolitics, today’s episode revisits the institutional narrative that drove industry adoption in 2020 and 2021. NLW looks at Citadel CEO Ken Griffin’s recent comments on crypto, numerous TradFi execs taking jobs in crypto and a Big Four accounting firm buying NFTs to position itself to help with corporate NFT strategy.  - Take your crypto to the next level with Nexo. Invest and swap instantly, earn up to 20% APR on your idle assets or borrow cash against them at industry-leading rates. Get started today at nexo.io to receive up to a $100 welcome bonus. Valid through March 31. - Arculus™ is the next-gen cold storage wallet for your crypto. The sleek, metal Arculus Key™ Card authenticates with the Arculus Wallet™ App, providing a simpler, safer and more secure solution to store, send, receive, buy and swap your crypto. Buy now at amazon.com. - FTX US is the safe, regulated way to buy Bitcoin, ETH, SOL and other digital assets. Trade crypto with up to 85% lower fees than top competitors and trade ETH and SOL NFTs with no gas fees and subsidized gas on withdrawals. Sign up at FTX.US today. - Cointelli makes accurately reporting your crypto taxes easy. Built by CPAs and crypto experts, Cointelli supports hundreds of platforms and produces tax reports you can count on in just a few clicks. And all for just $49! See what Cointelli can do for you at cointelli.com. Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/538vuul1PuorUDwgkC8JWF?si=ddSvD-HST2e_E7wgxcjtfQ Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9ubHdjcnlwdG8ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M=   Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8   Follow on Twitter: NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW - “The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell, research by Scott Hill and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Adam B. Levine is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsor is “Obligated” by Daniele Musto. Image credit: Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.
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Mar 2, 2022 • 19min

Is Bitcoin Freedom Money or a Tool for Sanctions Evaders?

This episode is sponsored by Nexo, Arculus, FTX US and Cointelli.    On today’s episode, NLW looks at the contrasting public images of crypto regarding the Ukraine-Russia war. On the one hand, the Ukrainian resistance has raised more than $30 million from more than 26,000 crypto donations while traditional fundraising platforms block similar efforts. On the other, some politicians and media are raising the specter of bitcoin and crypto as a way for Russian leaders to minimize the impact of sanctions. Which perspective on crypto is more correct as this generational conflict unfolds?  - Take your crypto to the next level with Nexo. Invest and swap instantly, earn up to 20% APR on your idle assets or borrow cash against them at industry-leading rates. Get started today at nexo.io to receive up to a $100 welcome bonus. Valid through March 31. - Arculus™ is the next-gen cold storage wallet for your crypto. The sleek, metal Arculus Key™ Card authenticates with the Arculus Wallet™ App, providing a simpler, safer and more secure solution to store, send, receive, buy and swap your crypto. Buy now at amazon.com. - FTX US is the safe, regulated way to buy Bitcoin, ETH, SOL and other digital assets. Trade crypto with up to 85% lower fees than top competitors and trade ETH and SOL NFTs with no gas fees and subsidized gas on withdrawals. Sign up at FTX.US today. - Cointelli makes accurately reporting your crypto taxes easy. Built by CPAs and crypto experts, Cointelli supports hundreds of platforms and produces tax reports you can count on in just a few clicks. And all for just $49! See what Cointelli can do for you at cointelli.com. - Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/538vuul1PuorUDwgkC8JWF?si=ddSvD-HST2e_E7wgxcjtfQ Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9ubHdjcnlwdG8ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M=   Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8   Follow on Twitter: NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW “The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell, research by Scott Hill and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Adam B. Levine is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsor is “Obligated” by Daniele Musto. Image credit: Cigdem Hizkan/Getty Images News, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.
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Mar 1, 2022 • 21min

Russian Banks Cut Off From SWIFT, Central Bank Reserves Blocked as West Responds

This episode is sponsored by Nexo, Arculus and FTX US. Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at what we learned over the weekend about the U.S. and European Union’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The West significantly increased its economic pressure on Russia, removing some banks from SWIFT as well as freezing the foreign reserve assets of Russia’s central bank. As Monday dawned, the Russian ruble was sent tumbling, major Western corporations were withdrawing their investments from Russia, and Putin and Russia began their economic counters as well.   - Nexo is a powerful, all-in-one crypto platform where you can securely store your crypto. Invest, borrow, exchange and earn up to 18% APR on Bitcoin and 20+ other top coins. Insured for $375M. Audited in real-time by Armanino. Rated excellent on Trustpilot. Get started today at nexo.io. - Arculus™ is the next-gen cold storage wallet for your crypto. The sleek, metal Arculus Key™ Card authenticates with the Arculus Wallet™ App, providing a simpler, safer, and more secure solution to store, send, receive, buy, and swap your crypto. Buy now at getarculus.com. - FTX US is the safe, regulated way to buy Bitcoin, ETH, SOL and other digital assets. Trade crypto with up to 85% lower fees than top competitors and trade ETH and SOL NFTs with no gas fees and subsidized gas on withdrawals. Sign up at FTX.US today. - “The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell, research by Scott Hill and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Adam B. Levine is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsor is “Vision” by OBOY. Image credit: Diego Puletto/Getty Images News, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.  
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Feb 27, 2022 • 15min

What the West Got Wrong on Ukraine

This episode is sponsored by Nexo, Arculus, and FTX US.   On this week’s “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads three threads about Russia-Ukraine: "Why You Were Wrong About Ukraine and Will Be Again" by Konstantin Kisin  Autocrats are crazy, with Melissa Chan  Protests, with Sam Greene  - Nexo is a powerful, all-in-one crypto platform where you can securely store your crypto. Invest, borrow, exchange and earn up to 18% APR on Bitcoin and 20+ other top coins. Insured for $375M. Audited in real-time by Armanino. Rated excellent on Trustpilot. Get started today at nexo.io. - Arculus™ is the next-gen cold storage wallet for your crypto. The sleek, metal Arculus Key™ Card authenticates with the Arculus Wallet™ App, providing a simpler, safer, and more secure solution to store, send, receive, buy, and swap your crypto. Buy now at getarculus.com. - FTX US is the safe, regulated way to buy Bitcoin, ETH, SOL and other digital assets. Trade crypto with up to 85% lower fees than top competitors and trade ETH and SOL NFTs with no gas fees and subsidized gas on withdrawals. Sign up at FTX.US today. - Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/538vuul1PuorUDwgkC8JWF?si=ddSvD-HST2e_E7wgxcjtfQ Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9ubHdjcnlwdG8ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M=   Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8   Follow on Twitter: NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW “The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell, research by Scott Hill and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Adam B. Levine is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsor is “Vision” by OBOY. Image credit: Alessandra Benedetti/Corbis News/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

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