Empire

Tomasz Stańczak, Co-Executive Director at the Ethereum Foundation, shares his insights on Ethereum's evolving culture and product focus. He explores Ethereum's dominance in DeFi and real-world assets, emphasizing the need for innovation and adaptability in its ecosystem. The discussion includes groundbreaking advancements in real-time proving and scaling Layer 1, as well as strategies to bridge on-chain and off-chain economies. Tomasz highlights Ethereum's vision for a transformative future in finance, making it indispensable in today's digital landscape.

Ryan Berckmans, an ETH OG and community member, and Tom Dunleavy, Head of Venture at Varys Capital, delve into the bull case for Ethereum. They discuss Ethereum's notable pivot, value proposition, and the implications of Layer 1 and Layer 2 dynamics. The conversation highlights Ethereum's challenges and successes, as well as economic factors like block space pricing. They also explore future growth strategies and competition within the crypto landscape, offering insights into personal investment approaches in a rapidly evolving market.

This week dives into the fascinating dynamics of the cryptocurrency market. There’s a spotlight on Ethereum's recent surge and the cultural factors shaping trading strategies. The discussion also analyzes investment strategies, including Bitcoin’s role in portfolios and the anticipated rise of crypto mergers and acquisitions. With insights on navigating volatile markets and the impact of major firms like Coinbase, listeners gain a comprehensive view of investing in this rapidly evolving space.

The team dives into Ethereum's impressive surge, analyzing if it's fueled by real market demand or just speculative moves. They also spotlight Solana's potential as a hub for 'Internet Capital Markets' and discuss the fresh narratives surrounding real-world asset tokens. The conversation ventures into Celestia's challenges, the innovative landscape of tokenized equity fundraising, and the buzz around meme coins. Add a sprinkle of humor from personal parenting anecdotes, and you have a lively take on the ever-evolving crypto scene!

Christine Moy, a blockchain visionary at Apollo, Carlos Domingo from Securitize, and risk management expert Tarun Chitra of Gauntlet dive deep into the future of on-chain finance. They explore the launch of the industry's largest on-chain credit fund and what private credit means in this new landscape. Discussions highlight the transformative effects of tokenization, risk management mismatches with traditional finance, and the challenges and opportunities that come with integrating real-world assets into decentralized technologies.

Bitcoin has soared past $100k, signaling a bullish trend. Ethereum's Pectra upgrade marks a significant shift to proof of stake, reshaping the crypto landscape. Coinbase's blockbuster acquisition of Deribit for $2.9 billion sets new standards in crypto derivatives. Meanwhile, the launch of Stripe's stablecoin adds another layer to digital finance. Corporate giants like Meta and Robinhood are exploring tokenization, hinting at a future where traditional stocks meet blockchain innovations. Regulation, particularly the GENIUS Act, is also stirring the pot.

Join a vibrant discussion from Token2049 as key players share insights on the evolving crypto landscape. The excitement surrounding institutional interest is palpable, reflecting a promising future for mainstream adoption. Explore Ethereum’s new direction with an emphasis on scaling and relevance in a competitive market. Discover emerging trends and user adoption strategies, alongside the balance between infrastructure and application development. It's a deep dive into the transformative ideas reshaping the cryptocurrency world.

Jeff Dorman, CIO and co-founder of ARCA, dives into the complexities of Coinbase's business model and the looming competition from decentralized exchanges (DEXs). He shares insights from his recent tweet on Coinbase's sustainability and unpacks valuation metrics pivotal to crypto assets. The discussion also highlights the innovative potential of tokenization and the integration of traditional financial assets in the crypto space. Dorman explores how DeFi could alter the investment landscape, emphasizing the need for regulatory reform and innovative strategies for success.

This week, the Hivemind team discusses the crypto market rebound, Bitcoin’s outperformance, and whether the rally has more fuel for higher. They also explore Solana’s memecoin trading activity and DeFi growth, the Ethereum Foundations pivot, Hyperliquid’s strategy, and Galaxy Digital’s future Nasdaq uplisting. Enjoy! -- Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire Follow Ceteris: https://x.com/ceterispar1bus Follow Jose: https://x.com/ZeMariaMacedo Follow Yan: https://x.com/YanLiberman Follow Duncan: https://x.com/FloodCapital Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/4jYEkBx Subscribe on Apple: https://bit.ly/3ECSmJ3 Subscribe on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4hzy9lH Join us at Permissionless IV June 24th - 26th. Use code EMPIRE10 for 10% OFF! https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-iv  Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:25) Market Outlook (4:16) Does Bitcoin Have More Fuel to Run? (14:15) The Ethereum Foundation Pivots (23:23) Solana's Meme Activity & DeFi Growth (31:31) Potential Impact of a Solana ETF (38:26) Will Memes Continue to Outperform? (44:25) Hyperliquid's Staking Rollout (48:17) Thoughts on Metaplex and Sui (53:19) Galaxy Digital's Nasdaq Uplisting -- Check out Blockworks Research today! Research, data, governance, tokenomics, and models – now, all in one place Blockworks Research: https://www.blockworksresearch.com/ Free Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

This discussion features Samara Cohen, Chief Investment Officer at BlackRock, who delves into the firm's ambitious crypto strategy for 2025. She shares insights on the booming demand for Bitcoin ETPs and emphasizes the potential of tokenization in revolutionizing capital markets. Samara also explores the interplay between traditional and on-chain investments, providing a perspective on Bitcoin's role as a diversifier in volatile landscapes. Lastly, she highlights the importance of data and transparency in attracting new investors to the evolving crypto ecosystem.