Unchained

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

Join Jose Macedo, founder of Delphi Labs and expert in crypto market analysis, alongside Ari Paul, CIO of BlockTower Capital, as they tackle the complexities of token valuation. Discover the impact of token unlocks on market dynamics, the significance of unrealized gains, and how some projects manipulate circulating supply to shape perceptions. They also discuss strategies for everyday investors and explore the potential revival of ICOs within a compliant framework. Dive into the future of crypto with these seasoned experts!

Lily Liu, President of the Solana Foundation, and Mert Mumtaz, CEO of Helius, share insights on Solana's transformative growth in 2024. They discuss its burgeoning developer interest and ambitions to emerge as a 'decentralized Nasdaq.' The pair debate competition with Layer 2 solutions like Base and why they view it as a non-threat. Their conversation also delves into innovative approaches to network extensions and MEV challenges, as well as how the new Solana mobile phone aims to reshape user experiences in crypto.

In this discussion, Vlad Tenev, CEO of Robinhood, shares his insights into the company's rapid growth in crypto, particularly with products like Dogecoin. He dives into the role of stablecoins and staking in their strategy, emphasizing potential user benefits and backing them with his experiences of hyperinflation. Tenev also talks about the impact of regulatory changes in Europe and how Robinhood is adapting to the evolving crypto landscape. He hints at upcoming innovations, including a new cryptocurrency wallet and prediction markets, positioning Robinhood for the future.

The panel debates Bitcoin's potential surge to $180K and the chilling prospect of AI becoming a crypto scammer. They anticipate groundbreaking U.S. legislation reshaping the crypto landscape and predict significant mergers within crypto infrastructure. Viral blockchain games may capture mainstream culture, while the ongoing evolution of DeFi raises intriguing questions. Their lively banter reflects on past predictions and sets the stage for bold forecasts in the New Year.

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.