Unchained

Mauricio di Bartolomeo, Co-founder and CSO of Ledn, shares his journey from Venezuela's hyperinflation to the forefront of crypto-backed loans. He discusses the explosive rally of Bitcoin and the effects of growing institutional interest, particularly from MicroStrategy. The panel dives into how Bitcoin facilitates capital flight amid global economic shifts and the implications for crypto dynamics as 2024 approaches. Mauricio also highlights the regulatory landscape and the increasing demand for Bitcoin loans, painting a vivid picture of the evolving financial ecosystem.

Guy Young, founder of Ethena Labs and creator of the USDe stablecoin, dives into the stunning success of USDe, now the largest decentralized stablecoin. He unpacks Ethena's game-changing strategies like 'Aavethena,' designed to boost yield for users. With ambitious plans to bridge DeFi and traditional finance, Guy discusses how Ethena is navigating complex regulations while generating billions in fees. He also addresses the risks of leveraging and the innovative potential of USDe in decentralized applications across the market.

The discussion kicks off with a deep dive into the resurgence of ICOs, now dubbed Echo sales, highlighting MegaEth's record-breaking $4.2M sale. The team debates the shift from airdrops to community pre-sales, questioning their sustainability. Google’s quantum computing advance with the Willow chip raises concerns about the future of cryptographic security in crypto. The viability of Decentralized Science is scrutinized, igniting a spirited exchange. Finally, insights from a developer report reveal Solana's growing dominance in India and evolving global trends in crypto development.

Maria Shen, General Partner at Electric Capital, dives into the shifting landscape of crypto development. For the first time in eight years, Solana has overtaken Ethereum in attracting new developers. The conversation highlights Asia's rise as the leading hub for crypto, with a notable developer migration trend. Shen discusses Ethereum's resilience amid high fees, the stability of the Bitcoin ecosystem, and the increasing fascination with zero-knowledge technologies. She also emphasizes the surprising surge in NFT minting and the differing usage of stablecoins across regions.

In this insightful discussion, Jamie Coutts, Chief Crypto Analyst at Real Vision, shares his expertise on the evolving macroeconomic landscape and its effects on cryptocurrencies. He delves into Ethereum's strong fundamentals and why it's likely to outperform the market. The changing liquidity landscape due to China's policies is highlighted, alongside the implications of a stronger U.S. dollar for crypto prices. Coutts also analyzes geopolitical views on Bitcoin from figures like Putin and the significance of regulatory shifts under SEC's Paul Atkins.

In this engaging discussion, Mike Selig, a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher who specializes in crypto law, and Jake Chervinsky, Chief Legal Officer at Variant, share their insights on the impending regulatory changes under SEC Chair Paul Atkins. They explore the potential easing of aggressive enforcement strategies and how this might foster innovation in the crypto space. The duo also delves into the future of significant court cases, potential settlements, and the collaboration between the SEC and CFTC, highlighting a pivotal time for cryptocurrency regulation.

Bitcoin has hit a historic milestone of $100K, stirring excitement and volatility. Legacy tokens like XRP and ADA are experiencing a surprising revival, prompting discussions about retail investors returning to these 'dino coins.' The evolving world of Ripple’s DeFi capabilities raises questions about decentralization. On the regulatory front, significant appointments hint at a potential shift in crypto policy under Trump’s administration. Plus, the NFT market is bouncing back, while memecoins continue to make waves in investment strategies.

Cody Carbone, President of The Digital Chamber, discusses the promising nomination of Paul Atkins as SEC chair. Atkins is viewed as a pro-crypto ally poised to shift agency approaches away from 'regulation by enforcement.' Cody highlights potential drops in ongoing lawsuits against crypto firms and suggests Atkins may ignite a reassessment of current policies. He speculates on Trump's surprising moves regarding commissioner appointments and the possibility of a dedicated 'crypto czar.' Expect clarity in regulations under Atkins' leadership!

Alex Thorn, Head of Firmwide Research at Galaxy Digital, joins the discussion to unpack XRP’s latest rally, labeled the 'most hated rally in crypto.' He offers insights on the new Treasury Secretary's potential impact on inflation and fiscal policy. They also dive into the contentious landscape shaped by Operation Chokepoint 2.0. Conversations shift to Thanksgiving gatherings, where digital assets became hot topics, and a light is shed on Ethereum's emerging patterns and MicroStrategy's role in traditional finance.

Paul Grewal, Chief Legal Officer at Coinbase, and Leah Bressack, VP of Legal at Coinbase, dive deep into the landmark lawsuit against Tornado Cash. They discuss how the federal appeals court struck down U.S. Treasury sanctions, arguing that immutable code isn't property and shouldn't be restricted. The conversation covers the potential future of privacy tools in crypto, the court's reasoning, and what this legal precedent means for developers and open-source software. Their insights shed light on the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency regulation.