
Empire
Empire features interviews with top crypto founders to get the real stories that aren’t shared elsewhere. Empire is your look behind the curtain of the crypto industry. We release two episodes per week: guest interviews on Monday and a weekly roundup on Friday.
Latest episodes

7 snips
Feb 15, 2025 • 1h 16min
Hivemind: Fate of ETH, Initia with Zon, & OpenAI's Deep Research
Zon, Co-founder and CSO of Initia, discusses the project's promising evolution in the competitive crypto landscape. The conversation dives into whether Ethereum can bounce back from its challenges while highlighting Solana's position. Zon and the hosts analyze user behavior, the significance of app chains, and how blockchain standards are adapting. They also reflect on the market's mood and potential opportunities in decentralized finance, alongside OpenAI's transformative AI role in enhancing productivity. It's a lively exploration of tech, innovation, and market dynamics!

30 snips
Feb 14, 2025 • 1h 20min
Why Santi Is Launching An L1 | Weekly Roundup
This week, a major announcement revolves around Santi's upcoming launch of a Layer 1 blockchain. The discussion dives into the strategic advantages of launching your own chain and the focus on retaining capital within the ecosystem. Insights on the evolving landscape of DeFi highlight user acquisition strategies and the integration of telecom services with banking. The potential of tokenization and its role in enhancing market integrity also surfaces, coupled with predictions about the future of blockchain technology in traditional finance.

8 snips
Feb 11, 2025 • 54min
Why It's Time To Be Bullish
Dive into the current volatile landscape of cryptocurrencies as market sentiment hits a low point. Explore Bitcoin's resilience and the significant influence of ETF inflows on its dynamics. The discussion unpacks altcoin performances and the cautious investor sentiment surrounding them. Get insights on how political factors and macroeconomic shifts could reshape the market, alongside a push for a more optimistic trading outlook. Finally, learn about innovative AI tools that could assist traders in navigating this uncertain terrain.

Feb 10, 2025 • 46min
Crypto's Ultimate End State With Avery Ching
Avery Ching, Co-founder and CEO of Aptos Labs, shares insights on the future of blockchain technology and the Aptos 2.0 roadmap. He discusses the evolution of Aptos as a high-performance L1 and the significance of user adoption in Web3. The conversation explores misconceptions around Aptos, the impact of AI, and how enterprise integrations can enhance blockchain applications. Ching also evaluates Solana's achievements and emphasizes the need for multi-chain interoperability to drive crypto's ultimate end state.

8 snips
Feb 7, 2025 • 1h 6min
Where Are We In The Cycle? | Weekly Roundup
Explore the ever-evolving landscape of crypto and discover the recent revival of marketing budgets as the market stabilizes. Delve into the effects of global trade turmoil on crypto volatility, and understand key banking practices that influence investor decisions. The discussion also highlights innovative projects like Geonet and the exciting advancements of Uniswap V4. With a focus on fundamentals over speculation, the speakers share insights on navigating risks and opportunities within this dynamic financial environment.

37 snips
Feb 4, 2025 • 60min
Trading Crypto's Weekend Meltdown | 1000x
The podcast dives into the weekend's crypto liquidation event, examining altcoin declines and Bitcoin's stabilizing role. Strategies like short selling and the 'inverse alt season' are explored, offering insights into potential trading opportunities. Listeners learn about the impact of geopolitical shifts on cryptocurrencies, alongside the role of AI in enhancing trading decisions. With a focus on navigating downturns, the discussion emphasizes quality investments and the evolving dynamics in global power and currency.

Feb 3, 2025 • 1h 4min
Making Nuclear Markets Work Onchain | Alex Dolesky, Uranium Digital
Alex Dolesky, Founder of Uranium Digital, is revolutionizing uranium trading by building the first institutional-grade spot market on Solana. He discusses why uranium, a vital power source for 10% of global electricity, remains bound by outdated trading methods. The conversation highlights the surge in nuclear energy’s demand, the potential for blockchain to modernize the market, and the exciting prospects for small modular reactors. Dolesky emphasizes the importance of transparency and financialization in transforming the uranium landscape.

Jan 31, 2025 • 59min
Why DeepSeek Disrupted Markets & How Tokens Are The New GTM | Roundup
This discussion kicks off with DeepSeek's significant market disruption and NVIDIA's stock challenges. Insights into cryptocurrency regulations emerge, highlighting the Federal Reserve's moves toward banks supporting crypto. Founders are increasingly adopting tokens as a strategy, with personal portfolio adjustments shared. We also explore Kraken's innovative payment solutions, showcasing how traditional finance is beginning to embrace crypto tools. Discover how evolving dynamics in AI and market strategies are shaping the future of finance.

Jan 30, 2025 • 59min
Hivemind: Finding Crypto's Top, AI Selloff, and Navigating SOL's Unlock
The discussion kicks off with China's DeepSeek technology and its influence on AI token valuations. The hosts delve into Solana's upcoming unlocks, examining potential market impacts. They also question whether the current crypto cycle has peaked, referencing bubble indicators. Insights into the rise of fundamentals-driven tokens are shared, along with thoughts on BlackRock's asset tokenization and its implications for the broader cryptocurrency landscape. The conversation highlights market sentiment and strategic investment opportunities.

39 snips
Jan 28, 2025 • 56min
Why There Wont Be An Alt Season This Cycle | 1000x
The conversation kicks off with a critical look at the lack of an alt season this cycle, along with the rise of sector-specific trends. There's deep insight into the fluctuating sentiments surrounding Bitcoin and notable companies like NVIDIA. As Ethereum's future remains uncertain, discussions point to strategies for navigating this tumultuous market. The speakers contrast Bitcoin's growing acceptance at the state level with skepticism around altcoins, mixing humor and serious reflections on the cultural landscape of cryptocurrency.