Weekly Roundup 08/30/24 (Durov arrested, Trump’s DeFi thing, the EU vs Tech Companies) (EP. 556)

Matt and Nic return for another week of news and deals. In this episode: We check in on the presidential odds State races to watch As part of their quarterly earnings release, Microstrategy announced a plan to raise $42 billion in the next 3 years in order to buy more Bitcoin. The raise will be evenly split between equity offerings and sales of fixed-income securities. Coinbase pledged a future donation of $25 million to Fairshake to be used for the 2026 midterm elections. Nishad Singh, the former director of engineering for FTX, avoided prison time following his guilty plea and cooperation in the investigation into the exchange's collapse. Blackrock's IBIT Bitcoin ETF saw $872 million of net inflows on Wednesday, which marked a new record for the fund since the launch in January. The US Treasury released a quarterly fiscal report this week that had a section dedicated to digital assets, noting stablecoins growth has caused "a modest increase in demand for short-dated treasuries." The Bank for International Settlements announced they are no longer working on Project mBridge, a cross-border payment network for CBDCs backed by China, Hong Kong, UAE, Saudia Arabia, among others. Content mentioned: Treasury Presentation to TBAC Fortune, Wash Trading on Polymarket Blockchain Association, Regulation by Enforcement Sponsor notes: Polymarket and the Power of Collective Intelligence: In Coin Metrics' State of the Network issue 283, we dive into how Polymarket’s prediction markets operate on Polygon and analyze data behind the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election Withum’s Digital Currency and Blockchain Technology Team specializes in crypto-assets, offering accounting, tax and advisory solutions to fortify trust in a dynamic industry. Contact them today to get started. - withum.com/crypto

Pat Larsen, the founder and CEO of Zenledger joins the show. In this episode we discuss: The latest developments in the tax and compliance categories within digital assets. How asset managers and large financial institutions are increasingly adopting digital assets. The compliance obligations of financial services firms as it relates to digital asset trading. The venture capital landscape for digital asset startups. The use cases that are currently driving adoption in the blockchain industry. To learn more about Zenledger, visit www.zenledger.io

Matt and Nic are back for more news and deals. In this episode: The Polymarket whale is identified BTCUSD predictions for the election Election models versus prediction markets Stripe acquires Bridge for $1.1b Did the Bridge deal make sense for Stripe? Stablecoins as Fintech 3.0 Nigeria frees Tigran Gambaryan Kraken is launching the Ink blockchain Buenos Aires is launching a blockchain-based identity solution Opera launches the minipay wallet A new paper from the Fed gives us new insight into the 2023 bank run Coinbase FOIAs the regulators behind OCP 2.0 Content mentioned in this episode: NY Fed, Tracing Bank Runs in Real Time Sponsor notes: Introducing Exchange Flow Metrics: In Coin Metrics' State of the Network issue 282, we introduce Coin Metrics’ new exchange flow metrics for BTC & ETH Withum’s Digital Currency and Blockchain Technology Team specializes in crypto-assets, offering accounting, tax and advisory solutions to fortify trust in a dynamic industry. Contact them today to get started. - withum.com/crypto

Matt and Nic are back for another week of news and deals. In this episode: Nic’s Dutch misadventures Federal versus State regulation of Stablecoins TD Bank filed $3b for money laundering Are stake rewards property or income? Italy hikes capital gains taxes on Bitcoin Is Polymarket manipulated? Has the first AI bot millionaire been minted? The World Liberty Financial tokensale flopped Sponsor notes:  Withum’s Digital Currency and Blockchain Technology Team specializes in crypto-assets, offering accounting, tax and advisory solutions to fortify trust in a dynamic industry. Contact them today to get started. - withum.com/crypto An Overview of the Flow Blockchain: In Coin Metrics' State of the Network issue 281, we provide an overview of the Flow Blockchain

Matt and Nic are back for another week of news and deals. In this episode: Are shipping regulations making the oceans hotter? Is Satoshi Peter Todd? Is the identity of Satoshi the best mystery of all time? The SEC comes after Cumberland Crypto.com sues the SEC World Liberty Financial is doing a tokensale Uniswap announces Unichain Is Polymarket manipulated? Ryan Salame appears on Tucker Sponsor notes: Coin Metrics, State of the Network’s Q3 2024 Mining Data Special: In Coin Metrics' State of the Network issue 280, we provide our quarterly update on Bitcoin mining. Withum’s Digital Currency and Blockchain Technology Team specializes in crypto-assets, offering accounting, tax and advisory solutions to fortify trust in a dynamic industry. Contact them today to get started. - withum.com/crypto

Matt and Nic return for another week of news and deals. In this episode: Monad Madness CZ is released from jail Roman Storm’s motion to dismiss is denied Mango settles with the SEC Swift is piloting digital asset transactions Bitwise submits and S-1 for a Ripple ETF Visa announces their Tokenized Assets Platform Franklin moves to Aptos The SEC’s Gurbir Grewal steps down Sponsor notes Coin Metrics, State of the Network’s Q3 2024 Wrap-Up: A data-driven overview of events shaping crypto markets in Q3–2024 Withum’s Digital Currency and Blockchain Technology Team specializes in crypto-assets, offering accounting, tax and advisory solutions to fortify trust in a dynamic industry. Contact them today to get started. - withum.com/crypto

Stephen Novenstern, the founder of Kintsu joins the show. In this episode we discuss: Stephen’s path to the cryptocurrency industry and the vision for Kintsu, a liquid staking project in the Monad ecosystem. The history of DeFi and the LST category. Why Monad and views on the net new primitives that are enabled by this new layer one blockchain. The future of layer one blockchains. Central limit orderbooks in decentralized finance. To learn more about Kintsu visit their website and follow the project on X.  

Matt and Nic are back with another week of news and deals. In this episode: Gensler denies knowledge of Operation Choke Point 2.0 We recap the Silvergate collapse Why did the MSM ignore the new Silvergate revelations? Trump’s fair banking access rule Looking back at the Signature closure Gensler appears in front of the House Caroline Ellison sentenced to 2 years in prison Options approved for Bitcoin ETFs SEC versus TUSD What’s going on with the port strike? Nic’s panda moon moon situation Sponsor notes: Coin Metrics, Real World Assets (RWAs) & Tokenization Report. Exploring the RWA landscape, sectors and networks gaining adoption, regulatory implications and market opportunities. Withum’s Digital Currency and Blockchain Technology Team specializes in crypto-assets, offering accounting, tax and advisory solutions to fortify trust in a dynamic industry. Contact them today to get started. - withum.com/crypto Content mentioned: Ross Stevens, Bitcoin's Protection under the First Amendment

Matt and Nic are back for another week of news and deals. In this episode: Nic’s Singapore Zyn problem Nic’s Token 2049 keynote The Iggy Azalea Eric Wall debate Trump make an appearance at Pubkey in NYC World Liberty Financial continues to be insane SEC versus Flyfish club Are airdrops done for? Is JPM really the “largest user of blockchain”? Bhutan has a ton of Bitcoin Listening to podcasts with AI Interest rates fell The exploding pagers and what it means for crypto Sponsor notes: Coin Metrics, The Crypto Universe Through the Lens of datonomy™ Withum’s Digital Currency and Blockchain Technology Team specializes in crypto-assets, offering accounting, tax and advisory solutions to fortify trust in a dynamic industry. Contact them today to get started. - withum.com/crypto

Alex Leishman, founder and CEO of River, joins us to talk about River's Proof of Reserve initiative. In this episode:  River business update Building their own custodian Why Alex decided to do PoR now? River’s PoR mechanics Proof of Reserve versus traditional audit What kind of assurances PoR gives users How does River handle privacy for PoR? Responding to various PoR critiques Boxing What’s on the horizon for River Content mentioned: Alex’s previous appearance on OTB River PoR on Github River PoR: river.com/reserves