Unchained

In this discussion, Alex Gladstein, Chief Strategy Officer at the Human Rights Foundation, teams up with James McGinniss, CEO of David Energy, to tackle the environmental impacts of Bitcoin versus the petrodollar. They explore why Tesla halted Bitcoin payments, questioning corporate sustainability amidst financial practices. The conversation highlights Bitcoin's energy intensity as a potential 'feature,' analyzes the dollar's ties to fossil fuels, and speculates on Bitcoin's role in future economic independence and renewable energy integration.

Jeff Dorman, Chief Investment Officer at Arca, brings his macro perspective on the crypto market. He discusses how economic data influences digital asset performance and the classification of assets like cryptocurrencies and tokens. Dorman analyzes Ethereum's soaring value and the impact of EIP 1559. He shares insights on Dogecoin's market dynamics and Tesla's Bitcoin payment pause, while addressing environmental concerns surrounding crypto. Tune in for a deep dive into the forces shaping the future of digital currencies!

Vlad Tenev, Co-founder and CEO of Robinhood, teams up with Charles Cascarilla, Co-founder and CEO of Paxos, to dissect the financial chaos of the GameStop incident. They discuss the flaws in traditional financial infrastructure and advocate for a T+0 settlement system, arguing it could have changed the GameStop narrative. Vlad shares insights on Robinhood's crypto journey and operational strategies, while both leaders ponder the future balance between crypto and securities trading, emphasizing the need for innovation in financial technology.

Reshma Patel, a Democratic candidate for New York City Comptroller, proposes a bold plan to invest pension funds in cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. She outlines how these investments can boost NYC's economy and improve municipal governance. Reshma discusses the challenges in city contracting and how blockchain can enhance transparency. She shares insights on the need for NYC to compete in the crypto space and why she can't accept crypto donations for her campaign. It's an engaging conversation about the future of finance in the city!

Join Mia Deng, a partner at Dragonfly Capital, Amy Zhang from Fireblocks, Alexis Gauba of Opyn, and Annabelle Huang from Amber Group as they tackle the gender disparity in crypto. They share their unique journeys into this male-dominated industry, discuss obstacles women face, and how cultural differences impact participation rates. The conversation also dives into strategies for attracting more women into crypto, the importance of mentorship, and practical advice for aspiring female professionals, emphasizing a supportive community that champions diversity.

Dan Finlay, co-founder of MetaMask, shares insights into the wallet's remarkable growth, seeing a 5x increase in users largely driven by the NFT boom. He discusses how MetaMask evolved from a browser extension to a mobile wallet, improving accessibility for users in emerging markets. The conversation highlights the importance of grassroots education in crypto adoption and the necessity of enhancing wallet security. Finlay also teases upcoming features aimed at optimizing user experience and addressing challenges like onboarding new users.

Devin Finzer, co-founder and CEO of OpenSea, dives into the world of NFTs, exploring their growing popularity and impact on digital ownership. He discusses the challenges artists face while monetizing their work and how OpenSea plans to adapt in a competitive landscape. Finzer addresses the complexities of NFT royalties and unauthorized minting, emphasizing the need for solutions in the evolving market. Additionally, he shares insights on OpenSea's integration with various blockchains, highlighting their commitment to innovation and environmental considerations.

Robbie Ferguson, co-founder and president of Immutable, dives deep into the transformative power of Immutable X, a layer 2 solution tackling scalability for NFTs on Ethereum. He explains how this innovation solves high gas fees and enhances transaction speed in gaming. Ferguson also discusses the integration of ZK-rollups versus fraud proofs, the growing importance of liquidity for NFTs, and Immutable's unique business model. Plus, he shares why building on Ethereum is crucial for the future of NFT gaming.

Discover the journey of a journalist turned podcaster as they share insights on blending media with podcasting. The discussion highlights the importance of tough questioning and maintaining journalistic integrity while engaging diverse guests. Learn how a podcast can lead to lucrative book deals and the significance of retaining ownership rights. Tips for aspiring creators abound, especially on crafting compelling content and overcoming industry challenges. Plus, reflections on the unique hurdles faced by women in the podcasting landscape.

Gil Luria, Director of Research at D.A. Davidson, is a noted Wall Street analyst in the crypto space. In this conversation, he analyzes Coinbase's risky direct listing and its initial trading performance. The discussion includes his revised price target for COIN, the comparison of investing in it versus other companies like MicroStrategy, and predictions on its future revenue streams. Luria also addresses the relationship between Coinbase’s stock and Bitcoin prices, and the implications of competition on their fees and market cap.