CoinDesk Podcast Network

Rune Christensen, co-founder of Sky and former MakerDAO founder, leads Sky's push to combine DeFi governance with AI-driven finance. He discusses Sky Agents for yield, partnering with institutions like BlackRock to scale collateral, and a massive stablecoin market opportunity. He also outlines Sky's 2026 growth forecast and the shift toward revenue-generating, institutionalized DeFi.

A heated critique of bitcoin and how its fall may be dragging tokenized gold and silver into forced liquidations. Discussion of market moves after a U.S. government reopening and sharp multi-year lows for major crypto assets. A note on an XRP-focused DeFi integration that adds lending and borrowing features.

Howard Lindzon, CEO of StockTwits and pioneer of social trading, explains the rise of the degenerate economy and 24/7 speculation. He discusses AI commoditizing research and why social sentiment is now a trader’s last edge. Lindzon outlines his Social Relative Strength approach and how retail investors are front-running debasement trades in gold, silver, and bitcoin.

Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the President's Council of Advisors on Digital Assets at the White House, gives a concise take on high-stakes stablecoin negotiations. He discusses disclosure and marketing limits, the tug-of-war over earning yield on exchanges, how banks might adopt stablecoin innovation, and why the market structure bill is framed as essential for U.S. leadership.

A major tech merger uncovers an 8,300 BTC treasury and raises questions about the future of that stash. A major investment firm quietly snapped up crypto-linked stocks during a Bitcoin dip. Washington talks about stablecoin yield policy but walks away without a clear agreement.

Rory Murray, VP of Digital Asset Management at CleanSpark and a trader specializing in Bitcoin macro, mining, and derivatives, breaks down macro shocks driving bitcoin's price. He discusses Japan's rate shock and the yen carry unwind. He explores how options activity can suppress price through dealer hedging. He ties AI-driven energy demand to mining and market structure shifts.

Bitcoin plunged toward $78,000 amid a massive market drawdown and hundreds of billions wiped from crypto valuations. Discussion covers geopolitical tensions and a $2.5 billion liquidation cascade as possible catalysts. Big players stepped in with large purchases and protection funds to stabilize prices. A Wall Street Journal report about a large UAE-Trump-linked transaction and political fallout is also highlighted.

Colin McLaren, Head of Government Relations at the Solana Policy Institute, works on crypto policy and tax advocacy. He discusses three tax hurdles: wash sale parity, de minimis rules for stablecoins and fees, and fair treatment of staking rewards. The conversation covers why tax clarity matters for U.S. blockchain innovation and how Congress is moving bipartisan proposals forward.

Taylor Monahan, MetaMask security lead and crypto researcher known for tracking Lazarus Group hacks. She walks through a $300M Telegram phishing scam, how hijacked accounts and fake Zoom calls deliver stealthy malware, which wallets are most at risk, and practical steps for recovery and stronger digital hygiene.

Matt Hougan, Bitwise Chief Investment Officer and crypto investment veteran, explains why he calls 2025 a bear market and what 2026 could bring. He discusses central banks eyeing Bitcoin over gold, Bitwise’s on-chain yield vaults as the next wave, and why he sees Solana mounting a real challenge to Ethereum.