Best Distributedledger Podcasts (2025)

1
Going Where the Trust Is 44:10

8m ago44:10

44:10

Continuing our NACUSO Reimagine coverage, Glen speaks with Silvur founder Rhian Horgan about the “social journey of retirement” and how credit unions can play to their strengths in transitioning their biggest borrowers into their biggest depositors. Also- more of John’s conversation with cybersecurity expert Emma Zaballos about DeepSeek’s rise and …

1
The Chopping Block [LIVE]: Bitcoin Arms Race, Content Coin Chaos, and Ethereum’s Crossroads - Ep. 825 48:46

1d 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…

1
Twenty One Aims to Buy as Much Bitcoin as Possible. Can It Succeed? - Ep. 824 49:08

4d 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…

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

5d 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…

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

6d 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 …

1
Big Ideas Cut Through the Chaos 35:14

7d ago35:14

35:14

Live from NACUSO’s Reimagine conference Glen speaks with the co-founders of Next Big Idea competition winner Goodbuy, Cara Oppenheimer and Cary Fortin. CUSO lawyer Brian Lauer shares his insights on the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape, and then as if on cue the tectonic plates shift…. Links related to this episode: Goodbuy: https://www.trygoo…

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

7d 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 …

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

11d 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…

1
The Chopping Block: OM’s Collapse, Vitalik’s Morality Test, & Tariff Chaos - Ep. 819 57:10

12d 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…

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

13d 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…

1
DeepSeek, ByteDance, and the AI Arms Race 37:40

14d ago37:40

37:40

In this week’s episode of the BIGcast, host John Best sits down with Emma Zaballos, cybersecurity expert and Product Marketing Manager at CyCognito, to unpack one of the biggest surprises in generative AI: the emergence of China's DeepSeek. Emma and John dive deep (pun intended) into the implications of DeepSeek’s rise, the broader cybersecurity co…

1
Bitcoin to $200K+ This Year? These 2 Crypto Investors Think So - Ep. 817 57:37

14d 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 …

1
Why CoinFund Believes There’s Still a Strong Bull Case for Bitcoin and Crypto - Ep. 816 39:22

18d 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…

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

19d 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…

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

20d 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…

1
No Day of Rest for Payments on Sunday 26:59

21d ago26:59

26:59

Glen speaks with Nacha’s Stephanie Prebish and Devon Marsh about the upcoming Smarter Faster Payments conference in New Orleans, as well as Same Day ACH’s remarkable sustained growth and the rising tide that lifts all riverboats. Also- First reflections on Americas Credit Unions’ leadership change, and… No Tariff Talk! Links related to this episode…

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

21d 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…

1
USDC's Circle Just Filed to IPO. Would It Make a Good Investment? - Ep. 812 43:06

25d 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…

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

26d 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…

1
The Chopping Block: Hester Peirce on Freedom, Fraud, & Fixing the SEC - Ep. 810 57:37

27d 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
All the News That’s Fit To Share (Draft) 34:09

28d ago34:09

34:09

Glen speaks with Frank Diekmann, Founder and Publisher of the newly minted The CU Daily, about his latest venture and the need for “hard news” reporting in the credit union space. Also- a ray of light for CDFIs, grandstanding against paper checks, and splitting hairs on CBDCs. Links related to this episode: The CU Daily: https://thecudaily.com/ The…

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

28d 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…

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

1M 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

1M 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 …

1
Bits + Bips: Why Traders Are Sanguine Before Trump’s Big Tariff Day - Ep. 806 57:19

1M 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

1M 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…

1
Defending and Debunking Credit Unions’ Tax Status 37:28

1M ago37:28

37:28

Glen connects with the Defense Credit Union Council’s Jason Stverak to discuss the dual threats- not-for-profit tax treatment and CDFI designation- facing the industry, and the bizarre misrepresentations surrounding each. Also- Klarna’s IPO parade, and an acclaimed entry in the Credit Union Film Festival. Links related to this episode: The Defense …

1
Ethena's L1 Shows Fat Apps Are on the Rise. Can They Beat Fat Protocols? - Ep. 804 46:05

1M ago46:05

46:05

Blockchains were supposed to capture the majority of the value in crypto. But what if that’s wrong? For years, the Fat Protocols Thesis argued that blockchains would be the biggest winners. But new data suggests that apps like Uniswap, Ethena, and others are now out-earning many networks. Are we watching the rise of “Fat Apps” instead? On this epis…

1
The Chopping Block: Solana’s Ad Disaster, AI Takes Over & the Great Blockchain Pivot - Ep. 803 59:25

1M ago59:25

59:25

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 unpacks Ethereum’s existential crisis and whether the rollup-centric roadmap is backfiring. Plus, AI is rapidly changing how crypto is built, traded, and secured—so what…

1
Bits + Bips: Why the Stock Market Wipeout Might Not Achieve What Trump Wanted - Ep. 802 1:19:19

1M ago1:19:19

1:19:19

The financial market is getting wrecked, inflation is still a problem, and bitcoin isn’t acting like the hedge that it’s supposed to be. Is this a real economic shift, or just noise? With tariffs, stagflation fears, and fiscal dominance taking center stage, hosts James Seyffart, Joe McCann, Ram Ahluwalia and Noelle Acheson break down: Why markets a…

1
Following the Smart Money at GAC 34:52

1M ago34:52

34:52

Our second wave of interviews from the recent Governmental Affairs Conference features Glen’s interviews with company founders Paul Fiore (CU WealthNext) and Kian Sarrashteh (InvestiFi), plus Candescent’s new Chief Product Officer Gareth Gaston on digital banking lessons to be gleaned from fields like travel. Links related to this episode: Candesce…

1
Joe McCann on Why Bitcoin Is the King and Memecoins Are Over—For Now - Ep. 801 1:12:37

1M ago1:12:37

1:12:37

The memecoin trade might be over. And Joe McCann says that’s just the beginning. The founder of Asymmetric has been at the intersection of crypto, macro, and tech for years. He called the $BONK trade early, made moves before most saw the opportunity, and now? He’s shifting his focus. Meanwhile, the crypto markets are a bloodbath, with bitcoin, ethe…

1
Solana Insiders Wanted to Reduce Inflation, but It Failed. Here’s What the Proposal’s Author Thinks - Ep. 800 46:24

2M ago46:24

46:24

The Solana ecosystem just completed a critical governance vote. SIMD-228, a proposal to tie Solana’s inflation rate to its staking participation rate, was put forward by Multicoin Capital and Anza, but despite a majority voting in favor, it failed to meet the required supermajority to pass. Tushar Jain, co-founder and managing partner at Multicoin …

1
The Chopping Block: The Macro Special – Trump’s Trade War, Bitcoin Reserve & Market Chaos - Ep. 799 58:32

2M ago58:32

58:32

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner break down the biggest stories in crypto. This week, we’re joined by special guest Quinn Thompson, Master of Macro at Lekker Capital, to dissect Trump’s Bitcoin Reserve. The US government is now officially hodling Bitcoin —Trump’s exe…

1
Bits + Bips: Trump Has Spread Uncertainty Across All Markets. What’s Next? - Ep. 798 1:31:55

2M ago1:31:55

1:31:55

The markets are a bloodbath. If you’re feeling lost in the markets right now, you’re not alone. Stocks are getting crushed, bonds are sliding, and crypto isn’t escaping the carnage. The question is: why is everything selling off—and where does it go from here? One thing is clear: the next market move is extremely hard to predict. Between Trump’s ec…

1
A Taxing Week in Washington 41:44

2M ago41:44

41:44

Glen recaps an action-packed Government Affairs Conference, featuring our annual interview with America’s Credit Unions’ Economics Team on the coming year’s outlook. An “existential threat” to the industry’s income tax exemption headlined a packed agenda, but the CFPB, NCUA and interchange legislation were also on the menu- not to mention tariff wh…

1
White House Crypto Summit: Two Attendees Share Why It Matters - Ep. 797 1:13:58

2M ago1:13:58

1:13:58

The election of Donald Trump marked a sea change for U.S. crypto policy. The symbolism of that transformation was on full display at the White House’s first-ever Crypto Summit, at which President Trump met with several crypto business leaders. But what was actually said behind closed doors? And does this mark the beginning of a truly pro-crypto shi…

1
Which Crypto Assets Belong in a Reserve? This VC Says Not XRP and ADA - Ep. 796 43:30

2M ago43:30

43:30

Trump’s latest crypto moves have sent the market on a rollercoaster. First, he posted on Truth Social that a U.S. crypto reserve would include XRP, Solana, and Cardano. A couple hours later, he had to clarify that Bitcoin and Ethereum would also be included. The market jumped 12%—only to crash the next day. Meanwhile, the White House crypto summit …

1
The Chopping Block: Crypto Strategic Reserve, Trump vs. Crypto, Bitcoin’s Future - Ep. 795 58:20

2M ago58:20

58:20

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner break down the biggest stories in crypto. This week, we’re joined by special guest Laura Shin to dissect Trump’s Strategic Crypto Reserve fiasco. Why did he name-drop XRP and Cardano first? Was this real policy or just a market pump? …

1
Bits + Bips: Why a US Strategic Crypto Reserve Doesn’t Even Make Sense - Ep. 794 1:27:02

2M ago1:27:02

1:27:02

A strategic crypto reserve for the U.S. economy? That’s Trump’s latest proposal (or directive?)—and the reaction from the industry has been… let’s just say, mixed. Would it even work? And does it create more problems than it solves? Meanwhile, the White House is hosting a crypto roundtable—but not everyone is convinced it’s going to be productive. …

1
How Berachain Became One of the Most Popular Blockchains - Ep. 793 1:00:50

2M ago1:00:50

1:00:50

A new consensus model. A bear-themed brand. And one of the most debated token launches in recent memory. Berachain is trying something radically different. Instead of just rewarding validators, it pays liquidity providers—turning the traditional blockchain incentive model on its head. But not everyone is convinced. Some critics say too much of the …

1
The Sky’s the Limit for Credit Union Communication 27:03

2M ago27:03

27:03

Glen quizzes John about his initiative leveraging social media app BlueSky’s open source architecture to create a moderated, inclusive platform for credit union dialogue and experimentation. Also- threading the needle at the Governmental Affairs Conference. Links related to this episode: BlueSky: https://bsky.app/notifications Our Bluesky accounts …

1
The Chopping Block: ETH Denver, EF Silviculture Society, Lazarus Group Has Skills - Ep. 792 51:27

2M ago51:27

51:27

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner break down the biggest stories in crypto. This week: Recapping how Bybit lost $1.5B to North Korea’s Lazarus Group—how did it happen, and why did they use THORChain to launder the money? Meanwhile, Ethereum is facing an identity crisi…

1
How the $1.5 Billion Bybit Hack Could Have Been Prevented - Ep. 791 44:21

2M ago44:21

44:21

Crypto derivatives exchange Bybit just became the latest victim of North Korea’s elite hacking unit, the Lazarus Group. They didn’t brute-force their way in. They didn’t exploit some obscure vulnerability. Instead, they tricked a trusted developer, slipped in malicious code, and took off with a fortune. How did this happen? Why was $1.5 billion sit…

1
Bits + Bips: Markets Are Down Bad. When Will Crypto Recover? - Ep. 790 1:00:18

2M ago1:00:18

1:00:18

Crypto markets are down bad—but is this just a rough patch, or are we looking at something bigger? After a brutal sell-off in Solana, the $1.5 billion Bybit hack, and macro uncertainty weighing on Bitcoin, investors are searching for answers. Some think the worst is over, while others believe more pain is coming before the market turns around. In t…

1
Bringing Loans out of the Lab 34:26

2M ago34:26

34:26

Glen speaks with DePaul University professor and financial innovation expert Lamont Black about his recent work on a blockchain-based secondary loan market to unlock credit union liquidity and reduce costs. Also- Chase tries to keep Zelle in the “friends and family,” and 2024 payment stats beg the question “how fast is fast enough?” Links related t…

1
North Korean Hackers Are Winning. Is the Crypto Industry Ready to Stop Them? - Ep. 789 1:27:05

2M ago1:27:05

1:27:05

$1.5 billion gone in an instant. And what’s worse, to fund a nuclear weapons program. The largest crypto hack in history just hit Bybit, and the culprit is the infamous North Korean hacking group, Lazarus. Known for some of the most sophisticated cyber heists ever, they often use social engineering tactics and start by tricking low level employees.…

1
The Chopping Block: Crypto’s Worst Week? Bybit Hack, Libra Scandal, & The Memecoin Reckoning - Ep. 788 58:11

2M ago58:11

58:11

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner break down the biggest stories in crypto. This week: Bybit’s $1.5B hack, likely by North Korea’s Lazarus Group, and the Libra scandal, where Hayden Davis exposes the memecoin playbook. Meanwhile, Dave Portnoy rugs Greed and Greed 2, K…

1
Why Would Argentine President Javier Milei Protect Kelsier's Hayden Davis? - Ep. 787 52:59

2M ago52:59

52:59

What started as another scammy memecoin launch has spiraled into one of Argentina’s biggest political scandals. The $LIBRA token, promoted by President Javier Milei and tied to Hayden Davis of Kelsier Ventures, is now at the center of multiple investigations—with allegations of bribery, insider trading, and political corruption. Some are calling it…

1
Bits + Bips: Could the LIBRA Scandal End the Memecoin Craze? - Ep. 786 1:12:42

2M ago1:12:42

1:12:42

The $LIBRA token launch was a disaster—insider trading, price manipulation, and yet another memecoin scandal. But does this mean the memecoin era is over? This week, James Seyffart, Joe McCann, Ram Ahluwalia, and Noelle Acheson break down the fallout from the $LIBRA launch, what it means for Solana and the broader market, and whether the crypto com…

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Distributedledger Podcasts

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