Unchained

In this discussion, Guy Young, the CEO and founder of Ethena Labs, dives into the turbulent waters of DeFi. He unpacks the USD0++ depeg crisis, revealing insights on risk transparency and the chaos it caused. Guy shares Ethena's ambitious vision for synthetic dollars and its rapid ascent in the DeFi landscape. They explore the appeal and risks of innovative yield strategies, and why centralized exchanges are crucial for scaling synthetic assets. Additionally, lessons from Luna’s downfall shape Ethena’s commitment to transparent communication.

Tom Dunleavy, Partner at Master Ventures, joins industry experts to dissect the future of crypto and macroeconomic policies. They explore the fading notion of a 'Fed pivot' and the ramifications of AI on job markets. Tom argues that Bitcoin isn't a reliable risk-off asset yet, while discussions emerge about nations possibly accumulating BTC. The moves of Tether to El Salvador stir debate about U.S. stablecoin regulations, and the recent Coinbase victory against the SEC signals potential shifts in the crypto regulatory landscape.

Zach Abrams, co-founder of stablecoin startup Bridge, shares his remarkable journey of securing a $1.1 billion acquisition by Stripe. He discusses the challenges of navigating the tumultuous crypto landscape and highlights how stablecoins can revolutionize traditional payment systems. With insights from his experience at Coinbase, Zach reveals the importance of compliance and fraud prevention in the industry. He also envisions a future with diverse stablecoins and suggests that the existing fiat infrastructure may pose the biggest competition for innovators like Bridge.

Travis Kling, Chief Investment Officer of Ikigai Asset Management, analyzes the recent turbulence in cryptocurrency markets, particularly the Bitcoin selloff. He argues that this dip may be 'abnormal' and discusses potential consequences like the DOJ's massive BTC liquidation. Kling emphatically highlights the explosive rise of AI agents and why crypto investors should take notice. He questions whether this boom is a bubble, while also examining how macroeconomic factors, including inflation and Fed policies, could influence the future of crypto.

Explore the FDIC's controversial actions against the crypto industry, including whistleblower revelations and transparency issues. Dive into the rise of the Echo crowdsale platform and its unique token distribution model, alongside the tension between VCs and community fairness. The hosts engage in playful banter, reflecting on pod stats for 2024 and their favorite cryptocurrencies. With a mix of serious insights and light-hearted commentary, they analyze the evolving regulatory landscape and the future of crypto fundraising.

This conversation features Charles Edwards, the founder of Capriole Investments, a quant fund specializing in Bitcoin strategies. They delve into Bitcoin's recent surge past $100K and the factors fueling its volatility. The discussion pivots to the economic implications of Trump’s presidency and the anticipated response from the Federal Reserve. Charles critiques the current state of AI agents in crypto and shares innovative possibilities for 2025, including potential supercycles and the future role of ETFs in the market.

Marc Zeller, founder of the Aave Chan Initiative, and Kain Warwick, founder of Infinex, analyze the fierce competition Ethereum faces from Solana and the evolving landscape of DeFi. They discuss the impact of AI agents on decentralized finance and speculate on whether these could rival traditional venture capitalists. Expect bold predictions for crypto in 2025 as they explore Ethereum's governance challenges and fragmentation issues. Will Ethereum reclaim its dominance, or will Solana continue to capture the spotlight?

In this engaging discussion, Jansen Teng, Co-founder and CEO of Virtuals Protocol, dives into the exciting world of AI agents and their intersection with blockchain. He reveals how Virtuals is leading the charge in tokenizing AI-driven agents and explores the explosive rise of projects like AIXBT. The conversation also highlights the contrasting dynamics of scarcity in crypto versus the abundance driven by AI, as well as the risks and implications of autonomous AI in finance. Tune in for insights into the future of decentralized economies!

Shaw Walters, founder of Eliza Labs, dives into the future of AI in finance. He shares his journey in launching the decentralized AI investment DAO, ai16z, and how the Eliza framework is changing crypto applications. Shaw discusses the evolution of AI agents from mere bots to powerful trading tools and their potential across blockchains. He explores the balance of trust between humans and AI, the impact on financial autonomy, and the vision of an empowered investment community. Exciting insights on how AI could redefine trading and enhance social media interactions await!

2024 was nothing short of transformative for the crypto world. From bitcoin’s relentless climb amidst macroeconomic shifts to Solana’s continued rise amidst meme coin mania, this year saw narratives unfold that no one could have predicted. In this special episode that has become a tradition at Unchained, Laura revisits the biggest moments of the year, featuring insightful clips from the standout guests who joined Unchained and Bits + Bips in 2024.Whether it was further institutional adoption, debates over decentralization, the victory over Gary Genser’s regulation by enforcement strategy, or the taking off of AI agents, this year marked a turning point for crypto. Tune in for a reflective journey through the year that was—and a glimpse of what lies ahead in 2025.Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.comThank you to our sponsors! Polkadot Robinhood & Arbitrum Highlights and Timestamps: 03:15 | Matt Hougan on the significance of spot bitcoin ETFs 04:31 | Jesse Pollak explains the impact of Ethereum’s Dencun upgrade 05:43 | Eric Balchunas on the rapid adoption of bitcoin ETFs 07:53 | Kyle Davies reflects on 3AC’s collapse 10:11 | Carlos Domingo discusses BlackRock’s BUIDL fund 11:13 | Sam Enzer on the reasoning behind SBF’s sentencing 13:04 | Arthur Hayes debates the potential of a bitcoin supercycle 15:44 | Ansem breaks down the memecoin craze 16:42 | Eric Balchunas and Matt Hougan on ether ETF approval 18:18 | James Seyffart on SEC politics and ETF decisions 19:51 | Laura Brookover on the end of the Ethereum 2.0 probe 21:08 | Bryan Pellegrino on tackling Sybil attacks with LayerZero 23:42 | Iggy Azalea on her fascination with memecoins 24:31 | Joe McCann on how the assassination attempt influenced Trump’s win 25:47 | Ro Khanna on the democratic party’s stance on crypto 26:44 | George Selgin critiques a U.S. bitcoin reserve proposal 28:35 | Nick Tomaino on the truth-finding power of prediction markets 29:50 | Jack Booth on TON’s viral growth strategies 31:58 | Jeff Dorman on why the ETH sell-off was a buying opportunity 32:29 | Caitlin Long and Michelle Kallen on their lawsuit against the Fed 33:52 | Justin Bons on why layer 2s might be parasitic to Ethereum 35:13 | Taylor Monahan on how North Koreans infiltrated crypto companies 36:42 | Taylor Monahan recounts a failed North Korean job interview 39:13 | Teng Yan on how truth terminal redefined AI and crypto 40:36 | Ryan Salame on DOJ dealings and his guilty plea 42:40 | Alex Kruger on Trump’s election and its crypto impact 43:44 | Jeff Park on Uniswap and Solana’s post-election gains 44:57 | Faryar Shirzad on the success of the FairShake PAC 46:15 | Eric Balchunas on the importance of bitcoin ETF options 47:26 | Cody Carbone on Paul Atkins’ nomination as SEC chair 48:19 | Mike Selig on David Sacks as crypto and AI czar 49:27 | French Hill on token standards under FIT21 50:33 | Maria Shen on Solana’s rise in new developer activity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices