

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

Mar 23, 2023 • 1h 3min
The Fed's Balance Sheet Jumped $300B Last Week. Is That Inflationary?
NLW is joined by Ram Ahluwalia, CEO of Lumida Wealth Management. In this conversation, they discuss: The fall of Credit Suisse The Federal Reserve’s new Bank Term Funding Program and whether it’s inflationary Why this crisis is currently deflationary And more. 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 and narrated by Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Michele Musso and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. Music behind our sponsor today is “Foothill Blvd” by Sam Barsh. Image credit: Douglas Rissing/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8. Join the most important conversation in crypto and Web3 at Consensus 2023, happening April 26-28 in Austin, Texas. Come and immerse yourself in all that Web3, crypto, blockchain and the metaverse have to offer. Use code BREAKDOWN to get 15% off your pass. Visit consensus.coindesk.com.

Mar 22, 2023 • 16min
The FDIC is Exploring How to Ensure All US Bank Deposits
Just a week after backstopping Silicon Valley Bank and Signature, the FDIC is reportedly exploring how they could feasibly cover all US deposits. NLW explores the implications. 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

Mar 21, 2023 • 16min
Was UBS Buying Credit Suisse Just ‘Soft Nationalization’?
Due to its global systemic importance, Credit Suisse appeared to be in serious trouble last week. In the past weekend, Swiss authorities, along with their counterparts in the US, EU, and UK, hammered out a deal that nobody is really happy with, aside from the fact that it may prevent banking contagion. 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 and narrated by Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Michele Musso and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. Music behind our sponsor today is “Foothill Blvd” by Sam Barsh. Image credit: Arnd Wiegmann/Stringer/ Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8. Join the most important conversation in crypto and Web3 at Consensus 2023, happening April 26-28 in Austin, Texas. Come and immerse yourself in all that Web3, crypto, blockchain and the metaverse have to offer. Use code BREAKDOWN to get 15% off your pass. Visit consensus.coindesk.com.

Mar 19, 2023 • 16min
Bitcoin Was Created for Times Like These
On this week’s Long Reads Sunday, NLW reads: “Should I Keep My Money in Bitcoin or a Bank?” By Daniel Kuhn “Evaluating Bitcoin as a Store of Value” by Joe Orsini “Bitcoin Was Built for This Moment” by Tatianna Koffman 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

Mar 18, 2023 • 60min
A Real-Time History of the Crypto Banking Crisis, With Austin Campbell
NLW is joined by Austin Campbell, Adjunct Professor at Columbia University and former banker and stablecoin operator, to discuss the recent crypto banking crisis. They discuss: Why interest rate risk, not crypto troubles, was the source of the problems Why even banal regulatory disinterest in crypto could create significant problems for the industry What rules need to change for crypto to fit in a U.S. banking framework

Mar 18, 2023 • 33min
The 5 Key Bitcoin Building Themes, With Wolf Lightning Accelerator CEO Kelly Brewster
Kelly Brewster is the CEO of Wolf, a new Lightning and Bitcoin startup accelerator in New York City. In this conversation, he and NLW discuss five big themes they’re seeing among Bitcoin builders, including Bitcoin DeFi, Lightning Network infrastructure, gaming, Nostr/social media and ordinals. 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

Mar 17, 2023 • 17min
Apparently, U.S. Regulated Banks Are Riskier Than Stablecoins
Stablecoins have long been seen by U.S. policymakers as risky and a potential threat to U.S. financial stability. How ironic, then, that it was the failure of a U.S.-regulated bank in SVB that caused peril to USDC last weekend. NLW explains how USDC fell off and then recovered its peg, while also giving an update on Operation Choke Point 2.0. 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

Mar 16, 2023 • 15min
Is Credit Suisse the Next Banking Domino?
Following the failure of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature, markets are holding their breath for more trouble in the banking sector. Wednesday morning, comments from one of the biggest investors in Credit Suisse sent that company’s stock tumbling. Numerous European banking stocks followed Credit Suisse lower, leading some to wonder if the U.S. banking crisis was moving overseas. 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

Mar 15, 2023 • 16min
The Banking System Broke; Will That Force a Fed Pivot?
At this point, markets are racing to figure out what they believe the recent spate of U.S. bank failures means for monetary policy. Will the Federal Reserve stay the course? Will it be forced to pivot on raising interest rates? NLW brings you the debate as well as how the latest CPI inflation data affects the discussion.

Mar 14, 2023 • 21min
Even Barney Frank Thinks Signature Was Shut Down to Send an Anti-Crypto Message
On Sunday, as government authorities announced that Silicon Valley Bank depositors would be protected, they added that the New York Department of Financial Services would be shuttering Signature Bank. Little explanation was given but some, including Signature board member and bank regulation architect Barney Frank, think it was a calculated move to send an anti-crypto message. 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


