CoinDesk Podcast Network

Anthony Soohoo, CEO of MoneyGram, brings his expertise in financial technology to the fore as he discusses his bold vision for crypto adoption. He predicts that stablecoins will revolutionize cross-border payments, making financial services accessible to hundreds of millions. The conversation explores how MoneyGram's new app, featuring USDC and WhatsApp notifications, enhances user flexibility. Soohoo emphasizes that clarity in regulations will drive this financial transformation, positioning MoneyGram at the forefront of a monetary revolution.

In this discussion, Howard Fischer, a former SEC senior trial counsel, analyzes the looming appeal hearing for Sam Bankman-Fried. He delves into the complexities of the defense strategy, emphasizing the challenges of overturning trial judge decisions. Howard tackles the controversial notion that 'making customers whole' could negate criminal liability, firmly stating it doesn't erase fraudulent actions. The conversation also touches on judicial bias claims and the slim prospects for a presidential pardon, sparking critical insights in the legal landscape.

President Trump claims he doesn't know Binance founder CZ, defending his controversial pardon as a move to bolster U.S. crypto competitiveness. Meanwhile, Animoca Brands is making waves with a reverse merger to list on NASDAQ, aiming to enhance access to digital assets. The Federal Reserve's recent $29.4 billion repo operation sparks discussions on liquidity support for risk assets. Dive into these fascinating developments shaping the future of finance!

Gold is celebrating a significant victory as it outperforms Bitcoin in 2025. Baby boomer goldbugs are taking their well-deserved lap while discussing the geopolitical implications of China's gold accumulation. The hosts delve into the potential for gold to replace Treasuries and explore the connections between rare earth minerals and global power dynamics. Despite Bitcoin's struggle, there are arguments that gold's ascent could pave the way for Bitcoin's future. It's a riveting look at the shifting narratives in the battle between gold and digital assets.

Santiago Roel Santos, Founder and CEO of Inversion, discusses how crypto stays volatile despite institutional inflows. He emphasizes the market's fragility, noting that a single tweet can trigger significant price swings due to limited liquidity. Santiago advocates for integrating blockchain tech into traditional businesses to shift from speculative trading to real utility. He also addresses the importance of regulatory developments and institutional interest in shaping the future landscape of cryptocurrency.

Sam Bankman-Fried insists FTX was never insolvent, casting blame on bankruptcy lawyers for its downfall. He seeks to reshape his public image and possibly earn a presidential pardon. Meanwhile, Bitcoin faces a stalled rally, with a critical 200-week moving average indicating potential market shifts. MicroStrategy celebrates significant Q3 profits fueled by Bitcoin gains and continues expanding its impressive BTC holdings, now exceeding 640,000. The discussion highlights shifts in the crypto landscape and the ongoing evolution of digital finance.

Ethan Vera, CEO of Luxor and ASIC market expert, joins to discuss the fallout from Core Scientific's failed $9 billion acquisition by CoreWeave. He reveals surprising hash rate growth driven by China and Russia, despite a slowdown in U.S. mining. The conversation dives into CleanSpark’s new 285 MW AI site and TeraWulf's $9.5B deal with FluidStack. They also debate the future of mining pools amidst a controversial soft fork proposal, highlighting the tension between economic incentives and permissionless transactions.

Trump announced a drop in U.S. tariffs on China from 57% to 47% following a meeting with Xi Jinping, aiming to enhance trade relations. The rare earths issue has also been resolved, paving the way for smoother exchanges. Meanwhile, Powell's remarks shifted market expectations regarding interest rate cuts. In the payments world, MasterCard may acquire ZeroHash, reflecting a surge in interest for stablecoins, with projections indicating their transaction volume could hit $1 trillion by 2030.

A chaotic cheer erupted around the 'czstatue' token, which skyrocketed 27,000% before crashing down to near-zero value. Founder Changpeng Zhao expressed his disdain, urging followers to steer clear from such memecoins. Speculation arose over possible scam activity linked to the token. Meanwhile, Bitcoin approaches the $113,000 mark amid anticipation of a Fed rate cut. Plus, in crypto legal news, Heather Morgan's early release stirs interest, revealing tensions surrounding Bitfinex. It's a whirlwind of trends and market movements!

Rob Hamilton, a Bitcoin/node developer and contributor at AnchorWatch, dives into the controversial BIP 444 soft fork proposal. He discusses the implications of limiting OP_RETURN outputs and the push to censor inscriptions, along with legal pressures facing mining pools like F2Pool. Rob foresees potential chaos if the fork activates, highlighting the economic and game-theory dilemmas miners might face. He also explores the community's mixed reactions and predicts that this fork is likely to fail, stimulating ongoing debate within the Bitcoin ecosystem.