Unchained

In this week’s episode of Bits + Bips, the panel digs into why Tron’s rumored IPO is more than a headline, what Wall Street’s quiet shift into stablecoins signals, and how exchanges are racing to control token flow, even as regulation hangs in the balance. They also explore: What the Israel–Iran conflict means for global markets, oil prices, and crypto positioning Whether banks can adopt stablecoins without threatening their own deposits If regulatory clarity will come fast enough to shape the next crypto phase How to tell if ETH’s revival has staying power Sponsors: Bitwise Hosts: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Steve Ehrlich, Executive Editor at Unchained Guests: Christopher Perkins, President of CoinFund Vishal Gupta, Cofounder and CEO of True Markets. Links Tron and Justin Sun FT: Crypto group Tron to go public after US pauses probe into billionaire founder Unchained: Eric Trump Claims No Public Involvement in Tron’s Nasdaq Entity The Guardian: Crypto entrepreneur eats banana art he bought for $6.2m Israel - Iran WSJ:  Israel Takes Control of Iran’s Skies—a Feat That Still Eludes Russia in Ukraine How Israel’s Mossad Smuggled Drone Parts to Attack Iran From Within Stablecoins and TradFi Unchained:  JPMorgan Files ‘JPMD’ Trademark, Hints at Bigger Crypto Offering Coinbase and Amex Team Up on Bitcoin Card as Exchange Reveals Broad Expansion Plans Bloomberg: Bessent Says $2 Trillion Reasonable for Dollar Stablecoin Market. WSJ: Walmart and Amazon are considering launching U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoins  Reuters: French Societe Generale became the first major bank to launch a dollar-pegged stablecoin The Information: Financial markets giant DTCC is exploring a stablecoin, according to The Information Regulation Unchained: White House Rejects Ban on Conflicts of Interest in Crypto’s CLARITY Act Timestamps: 🎬 0:00 Intro 📰 4:18 Why Tron’s potential IPO creates a dilemma for investors, and how Justin Sun’s Trump ties play into it 🛡️ 15:58 Should exchanges like Coinbase let investors trade whatever they want? 🏦 20:47 The reason why crypto treasury companies even exist 📊 25:59 What is driving the fierce competition among exchanges 💵 34:18 Can JPMorgan, Bank of America, and other TradFi giants succeed with stablecoins? 🤔 37:58 Will stablecoins cannibalize banks’ own deposit bases? 🌍 45:51 How the Iran–Israel conflict could shake macro markets and crypto sentiment 🚀 55:37 Why Ram and Chris are calling for an ETH breakout 📜 57:47 What are the risks if crypto regulation fails? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arthur Hayes, CIO of Maelstrom and a crypto trading legend, joins Hanson Birringer, Head of US Sales at Flowdesk, to discuss the rise of Hyperliquid—a decentralized perpetual exchange that has gained a loyal user base without VCs. They delve into its user-first strategy, the challenges posed by competition from big players like Coinbase, and the implications of transparency in trading. The conversation also touches on a controversial saga involving James Wynn and innovative proposals critical for Hyperliquid's future in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Vicky Fu, co-founder at Yala and former engineering director at Circle, sheds light on the booming stablecoin market. She reveals how Circle was undervalued before its successful IPO and dives into Stripe's strategic moves in crypto, hinting at broader market implications. Fu argues that retail payments could be the breakout use case for stablecoins. She explains how Circle's network effects give it a competitive edge as banks enter the space, setting the stage for a possible $2 trillion market.

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest in crypto. This week, we’re joined by a special guest: Laura Shin, host of Unchained! The crew unpacks Circle’s explosive IPO, Tether’s threat to exit the U.S., and the meme-stock logic powering the rise of “crypto treasury companies.” From Coinbase’s grip on USDC to Wall Street’s sudden enthusiasm for stablecoins, we explore how public markets are reshaping crypto’s power centers. Is Circle overvalued—or the last compliant winner left? And are ICOs really back? We debate whether crypto’s just maturing—or if it’s being hijacked by the suits. Show highlights 🔹 Circle’s IPO Shocks Wall Street – One of the biggest two-day pops in IPO history: Did bankers misprice, or did crypto just break TradFi? 🔹 Stablecoin Season or Meme Stock Mania? – Circle hits 160x earnings, 15x revenue—Tarun calls it “CoreWeave for finance” 🔹 Tether Threatens U.S. Exit – New regulation looms: Will Circle rule America while Tether dominates abroad? 🔹 The Coinbase Cut – Why Coinbase might be the real winner behind USDC—and the hidden economics of stablecoin margins 🔹 Banking Consortium Incoming? – JPMorgan and Wells reportedly plotting their own stablecoin play. Is Circle racing against the banks? 🔹 The Rise of Treasury Tokens – From MicroStrategy to Solana clones: Are “crypto holding companies” the new ETF? 🔹 Copycats or Cult Leaders? – Why everyone wants to be Saylor—and why most won’t survive 🔹 Are These Companies Just Meme Stocks? – Laura and Tarun debate whether tradable crypto firms have real value—or just vibes 🔹 The Return of the ICO – Plasma raises $500M on Sonar, sparking a new wave of pre-token speculation 🔹 Is This Financial Innovation or Regulatory Theater? – Haseeb asks: Are we maturing—or just dressing TradFi in crypto clothes? ⭐️Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly ⭐️Robert Leshner, CEO & Co-founder of Superstate ⭐️Tarun Chitra, Managing Partner at Robot Ventures ⭐️Laura Shin, Journalist, Author of ‘The Cryptopians,’ Founder and CEO of Unchained Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:25 Circle's IPO: A Historic Event 03:16 Market Reactions & Implications 06:49 Stablecoin Legislation & Tether's Response 08:56 Circle's Market Position & Future 23:12 Crypto Treasury Companies: The New Trend 32:09 Understanding Convertible Arbitrage in Crypto 37:02 Potential Risks and Market Dynamics 41:36 The Influence of Michael Saylor 43:57 The Need for Charismatic Leaders in Crypto 50:07 The Rise of ICOs and Market Trends 55:04 Concluding Thoughts on ICOs HostsDisclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Ram Ahluwalia, CEO of Lumida, and Sal Ternullo from A100x Ventures dive into the buzzing world of crypto. They examine Circle's hefty IPO valuation and its implications for the stablecoin landscape amid market turmoil. The duo also discusses the intriguing dynamics of crypto exchanges like Gemini and the ongoing feud between Elon Musk and Donald Trump. With a potential Bitcoin supply shock on the horizon, they highlight key strategies for navigating these turbulent waters in digital assets.

Jeff Park, Head of Alpha Strategies at Bitwise, discusses the transformative future of finance, emphasizing that owning Bitcoin may become the new American dream. He shares personal stories that inform his radical portfolio strategy and highlights why younger generations are turning to crypto as an alternative to traditional investments. Park also addresses the U.S.'s advantages in leveraging stablecoins for global dominance and spotlights Japan’s pivotal role in the financial transition, suggesting we might already be 'living in a Bitcoin-only world.'

Ryan Watkins, Co-founder of Syncracy Capital and crypto asset specialist, dives into the fiery debate surrounding Pump.fun's $1 billion ICO at a $4 billion valuation. He explores the skepticism about whether Pump truly needs this massive funding and what it would accomplish. Watkins highlights the community's anger despite Pump's revenue growth and discusses the implications for Solana. Additionally, he questions the logic behind the airdrop decision and the validity of the valuation amid a challenging meme coin market.

Dive into the wild world of crypto as the hosts unravel James Wynn’s jaw-dropping crash from $1 billion to mere cents, sparking debates on market manipulation and trading ethics. They discuss Ethereum's controversial rebranding to 'Protocol,' questioning whether hierarchy is a necessary evil. Tensions rise as they dissect the future of crypto foundations, pondering radical transparency's role in the decentralized landscape. Can Ethereum evolve beyond its so-called 'vibes' era? And who's truly steering the crypto ship?

The Bitcoin Conference in Vegas is stirring political interests, with crypto treasury companies on the rise globally. Experts discuss the potential bubble forming around Bitcoin treasuries and the SEC's pushback against staking in ETFs. Ethereum might be closing the gap too! Geopolitical tensions, like the U.S.-China relations, influence financial markets, while AI's rapid growth prompts debates about job displacement and opportunities. And of course, one panelist shares his disdain for the flashy Vegas scene!

Jeff Park, Head of Alpha Strategies at Bitwise, argues that the traditional 60/40 portfolio is outdated and proposes a revolutionary approach to investing. He discusses the rise of 'resistance' assets like Bitcoin and how they impact trust in institutions. Jeff emphasizes the value of Bitcoin as a key anchor asset in today’s financial landscape. He also touches on the relevance of time as a concept in investment, highlighting how Bitcoin captures liquid energy, ultimately urging a radical rethink of modern portfolio strategies.