Best Ugly Tech Guy Podcasts (2025)

1
Toxic Flow, Cancel Wars, and the Unstoppable Rise of Onchain Perps – The Chopping Block - Ep. 854 1:08:05

8h ago1:08:05

1:08:05

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 Hyperliquid founder Jeff Yan, the quiet powerhouse behind DeFi’s fastest-growing exchange. With 75% of onchain perp volume, no VC money, and a $1B airdrop, Hyperliquid …

1
Bits + Bips: Why Tron’s IPO Matters & How Crypto Exchanges Will Win - Ep. 853 1:08:41

1d ago1:08:41

1:08:41

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 cr…

1
Arthur Hayes and Hanson Birringer on Hyperliquid’s Success (And What Could Stop It) - Ep. 852 1:20:38

3d ago1:20:38

1:20:38

Hyperliquid is one of the most talked-about platforms in crypto right now. It’s an onchain perpetuals exchange that sidestepped VCs, built a deeply loyal user base, and launched with transparency most rivals avoid. But it’s also staring down some massive challenges—from incoming competitors like Coinbase and Robinhood, to the technical hurdles of d…

1
A Soon-to-Be $2 Trillion Stablecoin Market? Stripe, Shopify and Banks Want In - Ep. 851 48:16

6d ago48:16

48:16

Stablecoins are having a moment. From Stripe’s acquisition of crypto wallet startup Privy, to Shopify integrating USDC, to Plasma raising $500 million for its stablecoin-optimized sidechain, stablecoins are having a moment. And at the center of it all is Circle, which had one of the most successful IPOs in decades. But what’s really happening under…

1
The Rise of Public Crypto, ICOs Make a Comeback, and Coinbase Wins Again – The Chopping Block - Ep. 850 55:59

8d ago55:59

55:59

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…

1
Bits + Bips: Elon vs. Trump, Bitcoin Supply Shock Brewing, Circle’s Wild Valuation - Ep. 849 1:08:12

9d ago1:08:12

1:08:12

This week on Bits + Bips, the panel tackles the biggest themes driving crypto: Circle’s triumphant IPO, ETH’s institutional tailwinds, and the fast-shrinking Bitcoin supply on exchanges. Plus, what Gemini’s IPO ambitions tell us about the state of exchanges, and whether Ram’s call for a BTC breakout is about to hit. Also on the docket: Is Circle re…

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Jeff Park on Why Owning 1 Bitcoin Is Young People's American Dream - Ep. 848 1:10:16

10d ago1:10:16

1:10:16

In part 2 of Jeff Park’s interview with Unchained, he describes ways that both everyday investors and the U.S. government can use various crypto assets to come out on top as old models and strategies become outdated. He reveals the three personal stories that led him to develop his radical portfolio theory, puts himself in the shoes of Treasury Sec…

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Pump.fun’s $1 Billion ICO Has Caused Controversy. Can It Succeed? - Ep. 847 57:20

13d ago57:20

57:20

On Tuesday, a pseudonymous X account claimed that Pump.fun, Solana’s breakout memecoin launchpad, would raise $1 billion via an ICO at a $4 billion valuation. The potential deal? Multiple CEX listings, a 10% community airdrop, and maybe even a launch by the end of the month. The community reaction? Not great. In this episode, Syncracy Capital’s Rya…

1
James Wynn’s Fall, Ethereum’s Rise, and the Death of the Foundation Era – The Chopping Block - Ep. 846 1:02:59

15d ago1:02:59

1:02:59

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. In this episode, the crew tackles a triple-header of crypto’s growing pains: the bizarre saga of James Wynn—a memecoin gambler whose billion-dollar positions on Hyperliquid ended in public ruin; …

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Bits + Bips: How Bitcoin Treasuries Are and Aren't Like the SPAC Bubble - Ep. 845 1:20:40

15d ago1:20:40

1:20:40

The Bitcoin Conference in Vegas is getting more political. Crypto treasury companies are exploding across the globe. And macro markets are flashing mixed signals, with geopolitics entering the chat. In this episode of Bits + Bips, the panel dives into: Key takeaways from Bitcoin 2025 The possible bubble forming around Bitcoin treasuries How the SEC…

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Jeff Park Says the 60/40 Portfolio May Be Dead. Here’s His Radical Fix - Ep. 844 1:24:24

16d ago1:24:24

1:24:24

Jeff Park thinks the most popular investing strategy of the last decades — the 60/40 portfolio — is dead. Jeff has spent his early career inside the traditional system. But now, after two years in finance, he’s calling for a full rethink of the modern portfolio: from what counts as “safe” to how inflation actually works to why Bitcoin may be the re…

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Bitcoin Treasury Companies Are Taking Off. Could They Eventually Crash? - Ep. 843 42:09

20d ago42:09

42:09

Public crypto treasury companies are in the news right now. Just this week, Sharplink Gaming announced a $425 million raise to create an Ethereum treasury vehicle, backed by Consensys. Meanwhile, Trump Media said it will buy $2.5 billion worth of bitcoin. And in a headline grab, GameStop revealed a $500 million Bitcoin purchase. There’s even a newl…

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Decentralization Used to Mean Something. Now It’s Just a Vibe. – The Chopping Block - Ep. 842 53:20

22d ago53:20

53:20

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. In this episode, the gang reunites to confront a troubling pattern: we’re making the same mistakes all over again. From the $223 million Sui hack and validator-led censorship to Coinbase’s inside…

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Does High REV Signal a Blockchain's Strength or Its User Exploitation? - Ep. 841 1:22:00

24d ago1:22:00

1:22:00

A debate has been heating up on crypto Twitter about Real Economic Value (REV) — a metric meant to measure the value blockchains accrue from user activity. REV includes transaction fees and MEV tips, but excludes issuance — the inflationary rewards paid to validators. Some say it’s the clearest window into genuine usage. Others argue it’s a flawed …

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Why a U.S. Ban on Yield-Bearing Stablecoins Would Help 'Too Big to Fail' Banks - Ep. 840 45:46

28d ago45:46

45:46

Yield-bearing stablecoins have had decent growth, now topping $6 billion in supply and paying out nearly $600 million to users, according to data from Stablewatch. But just as these products go mainstream, the U.S. Senate is moving forward with a stablecoin bill that could ban them outright in America. In this episode, NYU professor and Zero Knowle…

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Bits + Bips: Why Rate Cuts Are Less Likely This Year, but Crypto's Outlook Is Positive - Ep. 839 1:22:23

1M ago1:22:23

1:22:23

U.S. credit got downgraded. Fed policy expectations are flipping. And Coinbase hit the S&P 500 (while also being extorted). But what does all of this mean for crypto? On this week’s Bits + Bips, James Seyffart, Alex Kruger, Ram Ahluwalia, and Noelle Acheson break down: Why the Moody’s downgrade doesn’t mean much for markets Whether Fed rate cuts ar…

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Linda Xie on How Mini-Apps Are Helping Farcaster Take on Web2 Social Media - Ep. 838 1:00:28

1M ago1:00:28

1:00:28

Legacy social media platforms lock you in, control your audience, and exploit your data. Farcaster aims to fix those problems. But how can it attract developers and users in an already saturated media environment? Developer Ecosystem Lead Linda Xie joined the show to explain: How Farcaster addresses social media’s structural flaws How Farcaster’s m…

1
How the Attack on Coinbase Shows the Dangers of Centralized Exchanges - Ep. 837 47:01

1M ago47:01

47:01

Coinbase revealed on Thursday that cybercriminals bribed overseas customer support contractors to steal sensitive customer data as part of a $20 million extortion scheme. While no funds or private keys were compromised, customer names, addresses, and ID documents were exposed for nearly 1% of the company’s 8+ million “monthly transacting users,” ac…

1
The Chopping Block: Rugs, Incentives & Float Lies, Mosi Breaks It All Down - Ep. 836 57:25

1M ago57:25

57:25

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Robert Leshner, and Tarun Chitra break down the biggest stories in crypto. This week, we’re joined by one of the most iconic anons on Crypto Twitter: Mosi, aka @vanacharma. Known for calling out sketchy tokenomics and vaporware valuations, Mosi joins the crew for a r…

1
Bits + Bips: Are the U.S. and China About to Reshape the Global Economy? - Ep. 835 1:12:48

1M ago1:12:48

1:12:48

After the U.S. and China announced a 90-day pause on tariffs, signaling a massive de-escalation of the trade wars, markets rallied. In this week’s Bits + Bips, the panel covers the biggest macro and crypto forces in motion right now: Will US-China tariff reset reshape the global economy, or just kick the can down the road? America’s ballooning defi…

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Crypto Pump & Dumps Have Become the Ugly Norm. Can They Be Stopped? - Ep. 834 1:17:20

1M ago1:17:20

1:17:20

The Movement Labs scandal exposed more than just one bad deal – it pulled back the curtain on a widespread problem in crypto: how some market makers, founders, and VCs play games to make money — whether the project succeeds or not. In this episode, Laura speaks with José Macedo of Delphi Labs, Omar Shakeeb of SecondLane, and Taran Sabharwal of STIX…

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The Chopping Block: Can Crypto Clean Itself Up? Market Structure, Trust, and Regulation - Ep. 833 1:04:47

1M ago1:04:47

1:04:47

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Robert Leshner, and special guest Evgeny Gaevoy of Wintermute break down the biggest stories in crypto. This week: the $38M Move token dump exposes the shady side of market making, with shocking incentives that blurred the line between liquidity support and pure exit…

1
Why the Senate Stablecoin Bill Stalled & What It Means for Crypto - Ep.832 28:23

1M ago28:23

28:23

The crypto industry is fixated on the U.S. Senate. On Thursday, lawmakers failed to advance the GENIUS Act, the most significant federal stablecoin bill to date. But the story isn’t over. Behind the process is a drama about potential presidential conflicts, shifting political alliances, and unresolved policy questions. In this episode, Kristin Smit…

1
Coinbase Acquired Deribit for $2.9 Billion. Here’s Why It Matters - Ep. 831 42:41

1M ago42:41

42:41

On Thursday, Coinbase announced its acquisition of Deribit in a $2.9 billion deal, the largest merger in the crypto industry to date. In this episode, Owen Lau, executive director and senior analyst at Oppenheimer, delves into why Deribit was such a coveted prize, what this deal means for the global derivatives landscape, and how Coinbase is using …

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Bits + Bips: Why Warren Buffett's Strategy Would Lose Big Time in Crypto - Ep. 830 1:08:07

1M ago1:08:07

1:08:07

Crypto doesn’t reward fundamentals. It rewards attention. So what does that say about how investors, like Warren Buffett, would fare today? In this week’s Bits + Bips, the crew dissects what’s really behind this rally, why Ethereum’s sentiment problem may run deeper than roadmap delays, and how the stablecoin bill turned into a political tug of war…

1
Ethereum Gave Away Too Much for Too Long. Will Its Pivot Be Enough? - Ep. 829 1:28:27

1M ago1:28:27

1:28:27

After years of underperformance, Ethereum is trying to change course, from scaling the layer 1 to potentially dumping the EVM. In this episode, Tarun Chitra and Max Resnick break down each of these new changes, analyzing the good, the bad, and the ugly. Is this a reset that can save Ethereum’s market position and price? Or has the protocol given aw…

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How MOVE’s Contracts Put a Pump and Dump Into a Legal Agreement - Ep. 828 45:20

2M ago45:20

45:20

The MOVE token collapse sparked one of the most damning investigations in the industry this year. In this episode of Unchained, investigative journalist Sam Kessler joins Laura Shin to walk through the contracts, questionable market-making deals, and finger pointing inside Movement Labs. From Binance’s ban to a Trump-affiliated crypto deal, this st…

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Bits + Bips: Why It’s Time to Be More Bullish on Bitcoin - Ep. 827 1:26:45

2M ago1:26:45

1:26:45

While it’s been a calmer week in the markets (thank God!), there’s a lot to talk about! This week on Bits + Bips, hosts James Seyffart, Ram Ahluwalia, and Steven Ehrlich, along with guest Charles Edwards of Capriole Investments, dive into: Whether it’s time to be bullish on all crypto assets Whether a Trump put actually exists The risks behind bitc…

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Why Twenty One Capital Is More About Volatility Than Bitcoin - Ep. 826 1:15:14

2M ago1:15:14

1:15:14

The race for Bitcoin supremacy just got more complicated. Twenty One Capital, backed by Tether, SoftBank, and Cantor Fitzgerald, plans to stack as much BTC as it possibly can. But is this new venture really about Bitcoin … or about creating a hyper-volatile stock to play market cycles? This week on Unchained, Jeff Park of Bitwise and Mark Palmer of…

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The Chopping Block [LIVE]: Bitcoin Arms Race, Content Coin Chaos, and Ethereum’s Crossroads - Ep. 825 48:46

2M ago48:46

48:46

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and special guest David Hoffman break down the biggest stories in crypto. This week: MicroStrategy clones are popping up, with Bitcoin-backed SPACs trying to replay Saylor’s playbook. Meanwhile, Trump launches a memecoin for dinner invites, Zora kicks o…

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Twenty One Aims to Buy as Much Bitcoin as Possible. Can It Succeed? - Ep. 824 49:08

2M ago49:08

49:08

A new company called Twenty One is making waves—with a launch strategy that echoes Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), a cap table that includes Tether, SoftBank, and Cantor Fitzgerald, and a plan to acquire more Bitcoin than anyone else. They’re starting with 42,000 BTC, worth nearly $4 billion, and they’ve hinted they’ll use convertible debt, equi…

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Is Bitcoin a Safe Haven? Market Correlation, Gold, and Macro Chaos – The Chopping Block - Ep. 823 1:07:45

2M ago1:07:45

1:07:45

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. In this episode, the crew is joined by special guest Joe Weisenthal, co-host of Bloomberg’s Odd Lots podcast, for a wide-ranging, unfiltered conversation. They dive into whether Bitcoin is becomi…

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Bits + Bips: Why a Trump vs. Fed Showdown Would Crush the U.S. Dollar - Ep. 822 1:10:17

2M ago1:10:17

1:10:17

An independent Federal Reserve has long been the cornerstone of U.S. economic stability, but what happens when that foundation is shaken? In this week’s episode of Bits + Bips, the panel digs into one of the most dramatic threats yet to financial markets: Donald Trump’s suggestion that he could fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell. It’s not just political …

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How Asia's Crypto Communities View the Tariffs and Trump's Embrace of Crypto 1:21:44

2M ago1:21:44

1:21:44

The U.S. is rattled by tariffs, economic uncertainty, and political U-turns on crypto. But across Asia, the response has been … different. In this episode of Unchained, we check in with two of the sharpest observers of Asia’s crypto landscape: Emily Parker, China and Japan advisor of the Global Blockchain Business Council, and Yat Siu, chairman of …

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Jesse Pollak on ‘Base Is for Everyone’ + Guy Young and Carlos Domingo on Converge - Ep. 820 1:16:27

2M ago1:16:27

1:16:27

This week on Unchained: two big stories, one episode. First, Jesse Pollak, head of Coinbase’s L2 Base, joins to unpack the chaos behind the viral “Coined It” memecoin moment, a tweet-turned-token that hit $17M in an hour, crashed, then rebounded, igniting a firestorm on Crypto Twitter. Was it a media experiment or a botched launch? Was there inside…

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The Chopping Block: OM’s Collapse, Vitalik’s Morality Test, & Tariff Chaos - Ep. 819 57:10

2M ago57:10

57:10

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. In this episode, the crew dives into the drama surrounding the OM token crash, the murky world of fake market caps, and Binance’s role in fueling questionable projects. They unpack Trump’s tariff…

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Bits + Bips: How to Reignite Market Confidence Amid Tariff Turmoil - Ep. 818 1:17:53

2M ago1:17:53

1:17:53

Markets are nervous, liquidity is drying up, and political messaging is inconsistent at best. In this week’s Bits + Bips, the crew unpacks the shifting mood across capital markets and what it will take to bring back the risk-on energy. From Trump’s high-stakes tariff strategy to whispers of deregulation, tax cuts, and even capital flooding, the sta…

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Bitcoin to $200K+ This Year? These 2 Crypto Investors Think So - Ep. 817 57:37

2M ago57:37

57:37

The crypto markets are at a crossroads. While macro chaos — tariff whiplash, rising yields, and inflation fears — continues to dominate headlines, bitcoin has barely budged. And some say that’s exactly the signal. In this episode, Matt Hougan of Bitwise and Matthew Sheffield of FalconX join Laura to unpack the tension between short-term volatility …

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Why CoinFund Believes There’s Still a Strong Bull Case for Bitcoin and Crypto - Ep. 816 39:22

2M ago39:22

39:22

Tariffs were back on the table, and then they weren’t. Last week, the Trump administration stunned markets with an announcement of sweeping new tariffs, including a 10% blanket rate and a 125% tariff on Chinese imports. But within days, most of those tariffs were put on a 90-day pause. The result? A rollercoaster in equities, credit, and crypto… an…

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The Chopping Block: Bitcoin’s 200K Dream, Tariff Nightmares, & the Altcoin Exodus - Ep. 815 1:05:19

2M ago1:05:19

1:05:19

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. In this episode, the crew is joined by Jeff Park, Alpha Liaison at Bitwise, for a deep dive into the chaos gripping global markets and what it all means for crypto. With tariffs ripping through e…

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Bits + Bips: Why a U.S. Recession May Be Coming — And Still Isn’t Priced In - Ep. 814 1:13:43

2M ago1:13:43

1:13:43

The markets are rattled. Tariffs are rising. Investors are pulling back. In this week’s Bits + Bips, the panel digs into what’s really driving the selloff, why the Fed may be stuck, and how Trump’s tariff logic could trigger deeper economic shocks than anyone expects. Plus: Whether Bitcoin becomes a safe haven What makes this downturn different fro…

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Arthur Hayes on Why Tariffs Will Be Good for Bitcoin and Crypto - Ep. 813 1:06:55

2M ago1:06:55

1:06:55

TradFi and DeFi markets are in motion, responding to Trump’s tariffs, but a giant injection of liquidity could be on the way. Maelstrom CIO Arthur Hayes provides his expertise on economic policy, macro movements, and political implications, delving into a variety of topics, including: Trump’s rationale for tariffs The possibility of a “fiat liquidi…

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USDC's Circle Just Filed to IPO. Would It Make a Good Investment? - Ep. 812 43:06

3M ago43:06

43:06

USDC stablecoin issuer Circle has filed for an initial public offering with the SEC, as Trump’s tariffs cause turmoil in the markets and stablecoin bills make their way through Congress, promising to upend competition. The information in its prospectus shows a company that has few aces up its sleeve, a lot of business deals to make and a perhaps lo…

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Bits + Bips: Trump’s Tariffs Are Causing Mayhem, But Will They Revive U.S. Manufacturing? - Ep. 811 1:12:05

3M ago1:12:05

1:12:05

After President Donald Trump’s proud announcement of ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs, markets worldwide took a tumble. Shortly after Trump’s Rose Garden announcement concluded, James Seyffart, Steven Ehrlich, Ram Ahluwalia, and guest Quinn Thompson discussed: How markets reacted Whether tariffs can bring middle-class jobs back to America Who will end up p…

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The Chopping Block: Hester Peirce on Freedom, Fraud, & Fixing the SEC - Ep. 810 57:37

3M ago57:37

57:37

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. In this episode, the crew is joined by SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce—aka “CryptoMom”—for a rare, candid conversation. They unpack the SEC’s vibe shift, why airdrops might be doomed, and whether …

1
At What Price Freedom? Stopping ‘All-Out Crime’ in Crypto Market Making - Ep. 809 59:43

3M ago59:43

59:43

As DeFi continues to evolve, the challenge of finding a balance between decentralization and protection from all manner of exploits persists. The founder of Infinex, Kain Warwick, joined the show to talk about: How crypto market makers have at times veered into “all-out crime” What market making looks like today Playing chart games with token alloc…

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The Chopping Block: Hyperliquid’s Not-So-DeFi Moment, 23andMe, & STABLE Act - Ep. 808 1:02:00

3M ago1:02:00

1:02:00

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. In this episode, the crew dives into the Hyperliquid controversy and what it reveals about decentralization theater in DeFi. Then, things get weirder: the Say Foundation wants to buy 23andMe and …

1
Hyperliquid Saved Itself a $15 Million Loss, but Sparked Criticism - Ep. 807 43:37

3M ago43:37

43:37

Perpetual swap DEX Hyperliquid suffered a whale attack and was on the brink of losing $15 million. It promptly responded in a way that generated a fair amount of controversy. The founder and CEO of Ambient Finance Doug Colkitt joined the show to explain: How perp swaps work How a whale used the low-liquidity memecoin $JELLY to attack Hyperliquid’s …

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Bits + Bips: Why Traders Are Sanguine Before Trump’s Big Tariff Day - Ep. 806 57:19

3M ago57:19

57:19

Investors are still licking their wounds from this month’s corrections. But just as Trump’s tariffs are about to move into full-force, our experts are seeing silver linings and causes for optimism. With conflicting signals coming from all corners of the map, hosts Noelle Acheson, Ram Ahluwalia, Alex Kruger, and Felix Jauvin break down: What to expe…

1
How Ethereum's Sprawling Pectra Upgrade Will Boost Its Ability to Compete - Ep. 805 1:12:32

3M ago1:12:32

1:12:32

As Ethereum deploys Pectra, it faces stiff competition and community criticism. Ethereum Foundation Research co-leads Alex Stokes and Barnabe Monnot map out the chain’s direction. Ethereum is well on its way to some major upgrades, with Pectra and Fusaka introducing a number of performance improvements in the near future. But will it be enough to s…

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