Weekly Roundup 04/21/23 (Harberger taxes, SEC v Bittrex, stablecoin hearing) (EP.419)

Cynthia Lo Bessette and Matt Horne of Fidelity Digital Asset Management join the show. In this episode we discuss: The history of digital asset innovation at Fidelity. The decision to operationalize a digital asset-management capability under Fidelity’s Asset Management business unit. The launch of the Fidelity Bitcoin ETF and the path to getting this product to market. How Bitcoin ETFs are currently being consumed and the distribution of these products to various investor types and platforms. How Fidelity is approaching the tokenization of real world assets. Broader views on the future of public blockchain assets and the types of opportunities for asset managers. Learn more about Fidelity's Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund

Matt and Nic return for another week of news and deals. In this episode: Our reactions to the CPI print The SEC announces its intention to sue Uniswap Sen Warren doesn’t like the stablecoin bill Howard Lutnick weighs in on stablecoins again Saylor’s core dev funding controversy Sponsor notes: An Introduction to the Solana Network In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 254, we provide a data-driven overview of the Solana blockchain, exploring its architecture, ecosystem, network usage and adoption metrics

Quinn Thompson, founder and CIO of Lekker Capital, joins the show. In this episode:  Launching Lekker Capital Quinn’s investment strategy with Lekker Using crypto instruments to take a view on macro trends The significance of the move in the 10year How unusual is it to cut rates when inflation is running hot Is inflation the lesser of two evils? Why an inflationary reset is the only way out of our fiscal position Is Bitcoin more analogous to gold or NASDAQ? What are memecoins telling us about the crypto cycle? Institutional participation in Bitcoin dampening volatility? Quinn’s views on the halving Will Microstrategy shares ever converge to the value of their BTC? Why it is often mechanically difficult to bring meme stocks back to earth Quinn’s views on GBTC selling and the US govt’s seized Silk Road coins Further reading:  Follow Quinn on Twitter Fortune on Lekker Capital

Matt and Nic are back with another week of news and deals. In this episode: How risky is Eigenlayer? The SEC is asking for public comment on ETH ETFs Is the US government about to liquidate $2b worth of Silk Road Bitcoin? Goldman wealth management CIO doesn’t like Bitcoin WSJ is back with a Tether hitpiece Fed Governor Chris Waller says crypto is good for the dollar Nic and David Hoffman are fighting at Karate Combat at Consensus Sponsor notes: State of the Network’s Q1 2024 Wrap-Up In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 253, we take a data-driven look at the most important events that impacted the digital assets industry in Q1 2024.

David Hoffman of Bankless and Bankless Ventures returns to the show. In this episode we discuss: What Bankless Ventures has been focusing on, including Bitcoin Layer Twos. Eigenlayer – what originally attracted David to the project.   The Eigenlayer value chain and the emerging categories of projects building in this ecosystem. Liquid Restaking Tokens, Actively Validated Services and how these primitives work in the Eigenlayer ecosystem. Views on risk management and leverage in the context of Eigenlayer. To learn more: Bankless Bankless Ventures Eigenlayer Risk FAQ  

Miller Whitehouse-Levine and Amanda Tuminelli of the DeFi Education Fund join the show. In this episode we discuss: Beba, an American apparel company based in Waco, TX and the DeFi Education fund have filed a complaint against the SEC, challenging the agency’s pattern of regulation via enforcement. The specific’s of Beba’s airdrop campaign. The Debt Box case and the pattern of behavior that the case highlights. The status of Congressional action on market structure, stablecoins and SAB 121. How the DeFi Education Fund prioritizes key initiatives. How to get involved in this case and support the broader mission of the organization.   To learn more about the Beba case: https://www.defieducationfund.org/post/it-s-our-time-def-goes-on-offense-against-the-sec   To learn more about the DeFi Education Fund: https://www.defieducationfund.org/  

Matt and Nic return for another week of news and deals. In this episode:  Was SBF’s 25-year sentence too lenient? Beba vs SEC Coinbase motion to dismiss is dismissed Coinbase notches a win vs the SEC over their Wallet product SDNY v Kucoin Ripple vs SEC Will MSTR ever converge to the fair value of their Bitcoin? North Korea allegedly hacks Blast’s Munchables farm How did Blast persuade the hackers to give the money back? What’s going on with ETH blobspace? Bitwise’s ETH vs ETH futs correlation analysis Content mentioned: Bitwise thread on ETH/futs correlation Sponsor notes: State of the Network’s Q1 2024 Mining Data Special In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 252, we zoom in on the impressive recovery of miner profitability amid improving market conditions

Matt and Nic are back for another week of news and deals. In this episode: Nic’s Columbia scandal Stablecoin growth ETH Foundation subpoena from the SEC ETH ETF prospects Blackrock releases their tokenized Treasury product with Securitize Are private blockchains obsolete? Fidelity amends their ETH ETF prospectus to add staking Japan's pension fund is learning about Bitcoin More GBTC outflows More bad boys Kyle Davies wants a debate Content mentioned:  Brian Armstrong, What is crypto good for, anyway? Bitwise, 12 Real-World Stories of How Millions of People Are Using Crypto Services Today Sponsor notes: Appraising Growth in Digital Asset Markets In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 251, we leverage market data and datonomy™ sector classification to understand recent shifts in digital asset markets.

Jeff Lunglhofer, the Chief Information Security Officer at Coinbase joins the show. In this episode we discuss: Jeff’s background and what attracted him to joining Coinbase. How Coinbase approaches cybersecurity risk. The impact of the Bitcoin ETF and the custodial business at Coinbase. How users should protect themselves via multi-factor authentication. Phishing and how to protect oneself from this attack vector. Passkeys and how this is improving the log-in flow at Coinbase. How Coinbase uses bug bounty programs. To learn more about cybersecurity at Coinbase visit coinbase.com/security

Matt and Nic are back for another week of ATHs. In this episode: ETH’s Dencun upgrade goes live Is ETH stuck between two different stakeholder groups? Is Traeger going to hold Bitcoin? Saylor is still buying Bitcoin Nigeria holds two Binance executives for a $10b ransom A UK judge in the COPA case has determined that Craig Wright is not Satoshi Why the COPA v CSW case matters Blackrock will buy Bitcoin ETFs in their global allocation fund Greyscale filed for a low-fee spinoff of GBTC, ticker BTC John Griffin of Griffin and Shams is back with another terrible paper A new paper alleges that crypto finances slavery Sponsor notes: Market Dynamics & Risks of Liquid Staking Tokens  In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 250, we explore the market dynamics and risks of liquid staking tokens (LST’s)