

The Breakdown
Blockworks
A daily analysis of macroeconomics, bitcoin, geopolitics and big picture power shifts, hosted by Nathaniel Whittemore @nlw. The Breakdown is part of Blockworks.Subscribe to The Breakdown newsletter: https://the-breakdown.carrd.co/
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 21, 2023 • 12min
The SEC Sues Kraken (Again?!)
The SEC has filed a lawsuit against Kraken, accusing them of operating as an unregistered securities exchange broker and clearing house. The lawsuit raises concerns about Kraken's commingling of customer assets. The crypto-legal community questions the validity of the SEC's theories. The podcast also discusses the ongoing negotiations between Binance and the Justice Department.

Nov 21, 2023 • 17min
A Primer on Argentina's New Pro-BTC President Javier Milei
Javier Milei, winner of the Argentine presidential election, discusses the country's economic challenges, his plans for economic reform, the rise of a pro-Bitcoin politician in Argentina, and the potential effects of his presidency on the economy, including dollarization and increased access to cryptocurrencies.

Nov 19, 2023 • 9min
Is the Bank Secrecy Act Unconsitutional?
Exploring the potential unconstitutionality of the Bank Secrecy Act, including concerns about fairness and arbitrary enforcement. Discussing the power of surveillance and the need for Congress to define regulated financial institutions and maintain a balance between safety and personal liberty.

Nov 19, 2023 • 16min
This Presidential Candidate Has a Crypto Plan That Includes "Code is Law"
Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy discusses his comprehensive crypto plan, including freedom to code, financial self-reliance, and reducing regulations. He emphasizes the importance of self-hosted wallets and downsizing the bureaucracy. The candidate's understanding of crypto asset regulation focuses on privacy rights and combating illicit activity. The controversy surrounding the funding of Hamas through digital assets is also explored.

Nov 17, 2023 • 14min
Delay Ends Mass BTC Spot ETF Approval Dream
Discussion on the delay in Bitcoin ETF approval, Coinbase as a compliance partner, crypto rebounds after ETF approval, growth in Bitcoin futures and options market, and increasing interest in Bitcoin as price nears $40,000.

Nov 16, 2023 • 13min
Not the BTC Decoupling We Were Looking For
Exploring the market response to inflation; Speculations on ETF approvals and SEC Chairman's motivations; Confusion surrounding Bitcoin ETFs and perspectives on its impact; Analysis of S1 filings, risk disclosures, and SEC enforcement actions; Events of school year 2023 and averted government shutdown.

Nov 15, 2023 • 14min
With Latest CPI, the Fed Hiking Cycle Finally Appears Over
Before today's CPI numbers were released, markets were pricing in a 14% chance of one more rate hike. After the numbers were released, that number plummeted to zero. NLW catches up on the macro. Today's Sponsor: KrakenKraken: See what crypto can be - https://kraken.com/TheBreakdownEnjoying this content?
SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto
Subscribe to the newsletter: https://breakdown.beehiiv.com/
Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8
Follow on Twitter:
NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw
Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW

Nov 14, 2023 • 15min
BTC Held By Institutional Products Hits ATH
Bitcoin funds reach all-time high for BTC held by institutional products, potential effects of Bitcoin ETF approval on the market, Solana's impressive price surge, narrative shift in the crypto industry towards institutional adoption, recent crypto hacks and allegations of money laundering with Tron.

Nov 11, 2023 • 11min
Markets Surge as BlackRock Files ETH Spot ETF
BlackRock, a prominent institutional investor, files a spot Ethereum ETF. The podcast discusses the likelihood of approval, market surveillance agreements with Coinbase, and the impact on the crypto market. It explores the implications for detecting fraud, the rise of Ethereum's price, Bitcoin liquidations, and the rise of CME as a trading venue. Discussion on the current state of the Bitcoin market and potential impact of a Bitcoin ETF approval is also included.

Nov 10, 2023 • 16min
ETF Excitement Drives Bitcoin Past $36,000
The podcast explores the excitement around ETFs and its impact on the Bitcoin market. It covers Grayscale's application for a Bitcoin ETF and the potential approval of 12 spot Bitcoin ETFs by the SEC. The timeline for launching Bitcoin ETFs and the market impact are also discussed. Additionally, the podcast highlights the accumulation of Bitcoin by long-term holders, the increase in network fees and miner revenue, the launch of new crypto ETF products, and the importance of crypto lending for financial institutions.


