How to Position for a New Crypto Bull Market | Ben Forman and Jason Kam

Gm! This week Miles Jennings and Eddy Lazzarin join Yano to dive into how a16z is approaching the current crypto landscape with a big focus on token design, designation, and how Founders can think pragmatically both along legal and engineering lines to execute their project.  -- Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts -- Follow Eddy: https://x.com/eddylazzarinFollow Miles: https://x.com/milesjenningsFollow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitzFollow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh -- SKALE is the next evolution in Layer 1 blockchains with a gas-free invisible user experience, instant finality, high speed, and robust security. SKALE is built different as it allows for limitless scalability and has already saved its 50 Million users over $11 Billion in gas fees.  SKALE is high-performance and cost-effective, making it ideal for compute-intensive applications like AI, gaming, and consumer-facing dApps. Learn more at https://skale.space and stay up to date with the gas-free invisible blockchain on X at @skalenetwork -- Katana is a DeFi-first chain built for deep liquidity and high yield. No empty emissions, just real yield and sequencer fees routed back to DeFi users.  Pre-deposit now: Earn high APRs with Turtle Club [https://app.turtle.club/campaigns/katana] or spin the wheel with Katana Krates [https://app.katana.network/krates] -- Ledn is the leading platform for Bitcoin-backed loans, offering a secure and transparent way to unlock liquidity without selling your Bitcoin. Ledn has issued over $9 billion in loans since 2018 and has never lost a single satoshi of client assets, earning a reputation as the name you can trust in the crypto space. Visit https://www.ledn.io to learn more. – Timestamps: (03:36) Progress In DC (05:42) Paul Atkins’ Onchain Declaration (13:55) End of Foundation Era In Crypto (27:31) Ads (Skale, Katana) (29:02) DUNAs & BORGs (40:12) Defining Tokens (54:54) Ads (Skale, Katana) (56:25) Token Transparency & Classifications (01:07:29) When Fees? (01:15:55) Ads (LEDN) (01:16:57) Balancing PortCos (01:19:44) Common Founder FAQs — Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

12 Elo 20251h 24min

Happy Friday! This week we livestreamed our Roundup and Yano, Santi and Rob got right into the topics of the week - DATs keep on keeping on, Coinbase’s convertible notes, Kraken and other upcoming crypto IPOs, Roman Storm’s guilty verdict, crypto and 401Ks, stablecoin growth continues, ChatGPT 5 launches and content recommendations.  -- Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross.  Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts -- Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh -- GEODNET is the world’s largest RTK network, delivering real-time, centimeter-level precision for drones, robots, farmers, and first responders. Recognized by the U.S. Congress, this blockchain-powered network supports mission-critical applications across a wide range of industries.  Discover how GEODNET is changing the world: [https://geodnet.com] --  Get up to speed on the biggest stories in crypto each week. In five minutes.  Get the Bitwise Weekly CIO Memo delivered directly to your inbox at bitwiseinvestments.com/ciomemo/empire  -- "Mantle is pioneering ""Blockchain for Banking"" as a revolutionary new category that sits at the intersection of TradFi and web3.   Key elements for Mantle as the ""Blockchain for Banking"":      - Transactions posted to the blockchain     - Compatibility with TradFi rails     - Integrated DeFi features UR, built by Mantle, is the first real-world example: an on-chain money app offering Swiss IBANs and unified access to fiat (EUR, CHF, USD, RMB) and crypto — bringing crypto into everyday finance. Mantle Network, the access layer — transforms Mantle Network into a purpose-built vertical platform — the blockchain for banking — that enables financial services on-chain. Mantle leads the establishment of Blockchain for Banking as the next frontier. Follow Mantle on X (@Mantle_Official) for the latest updates on Mantle as the 'Blockchain for Banking'." -- Citrea is the first zero-knowledge rollup to enhance the capabilities of Bitcoin blockspace and enable Bitcoin applications (₿apps). Citrea is optimistically verified by Bitcoin, offering the most Bitcoin-secured and native way to extend BTC’s utility to DeFi.  Learn more about Citrea: https://citrea.xyz/?utm_source=bellcurve&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=website_promo   Follow Citrea on X/Twitter for the latest on its journey to mainnet: https://x.com/citrea_xyz -- Timestamps: (03:11) DATs State Of The Union (12:45) Coinbase Convertible Notes (27:16) Ads (Geodnet, Bitwise) (28:44) Kraken IPO (37:46) Upcoming IPOs (39:39) Roman Storm Guilty (48:55) Crypto + 401ks (52:28) Ads (Geodnet, Bitwise) (53:49) Ads (Mantle,Citrea) (55:27) Ripple Acquisition (57:16) Stablecoins Growth (01:13:15) Content Recs + ChatGPT 5 — Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

8 Elo 20251h 21min

This week, the Hivemind team dives into the recent market pullback and whether it’s time to be bullish again. We explore the future of Ethena & USDe, why Galaxy Digital’s massive data center play may be the sleeper AI bet, Hyperliquid’s regulatory risk and future upside with HIP-3 & more. Enjoy! -- Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire  -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/3xLiquidated   Follow Jose: https://x.com/ZeMariaMacedo  Follow Yan: https://x.com/YanLiberman  Follow Duncan: https://x.com/FloodCapital  Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod  Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/4jYEkBx  Subscribe on Apple: https://bit.ly/3ECSmJ3  Subscribe on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4hzy9lH  -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/  -- Timestamps: (0:00) Market Too Frothy? (7:10) Are There Reasons to be Bullish? (13:21) Ethena & USDe (21:05) Galaxy Bull Thesis (32:07) Bonk/Pump.Fun Update (38:15) Hyperliquid Still A Buy? (49:51) Regulation & Bullish SEC Speech (52:59) Hyperliquid Regulation (55:01) Crypto’s Institutional Wet Dream (56:45) Crypto IPO Outlook (59:57) Base Token Incoming? -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, the Hivemind team, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

7 Elo 20251h 1min

Gm! This week, Duncan and Matt join Yano to dive into Galaxy the day before their quarterly earnings drop. In this episode, Duncan and Matt dive into Galaxy’s unique business model and how it’s perfectly positioned for the AI, crypto and datacenter narratives and how this will propel GLXY stock, as we move into the future.  -- Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts -- Follow Rittenhouse Research: https://x.com/RHouseResearch Follow Duncan: https://x.com/FloodCapital Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh -- SKALE is the next evolution in Layer 1 blockchains with a gas-free invisible user experience, instant finality, high speed, and robust security. SKALE is built different as it allows for limitless scalability and has already saved its 50 Million users over $11 Billion in gas fees. SKALE is high-performance and cost-effective, making it ideal for compute-intensive applications like AI, gaming, and consumer-facing dApps. Learn more at https://skale.space and stay up to date with the gas-free invisible blockchain on X at @skalenetwork -- Katana is a DeFi-first chain built for deep liquidity and high yield. No empty emissions, just real yield and sequencer fees routed back to DeFi users. Pre-deposit now: Earn high APRs with Turtle Club [https://app.turtle.club/campaigns/katana] or spin the wheel with Katana Krates [https://app.katana.network/krates] -- Ledn is the leading platform for Bitcoin-backed loans, offering a secure and transparent way to unlock liquidity without selling your Bitcoin. Ledn has issued over $9 billion in loans since 2018 and has never lost a single satoshi of client assets, earning a reputation as the name you can trust in the crypto space.Visit https://www.ledn.io to learn more. -- Chapters: (02:32) Unpacking Galaxy (06:35) Bitcoin Mining (14:01) Crypto Business (16:02) Ads (Skale, Katana) (17:32) Galaxy’s Products (24:43) Goldman Sachs’ Valuation (31:58) Data Center Business (42:39) Ads (Skale, Katana) (44:10) Galaxy’s Business Evolution (53:40) Economics Explored (01:01:06) Data Center Developments (01:13:05) Ads (LEDN) (01:14:06) Challenges (01:26:55) GLXY Stock Analysis — Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

4 Elo 20251h 35min

Happy Friday! On this Roundup, Rob is officially announced as the third host, Avichal join the pod to discuss DATs, and beyond DATs the White House Crypto Report is explored, Zora creator tokens, and the BIG news of the collaboration between Coinbase and Chase to push crypto into mass adoption orbit.  --Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts -- Follow Avichal: https://x.com/avichal Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh -- GEODNET is the world’s largest RTK network, delivering real-time, centimeter-level precision for drones, robots, farmers, and first responders. Recognized by the U.S. Congress, this blockchain-powered network supports mission-critical applications across a wide range of industries. Discover how GEODNET is changing the world: [https://geodnet.com] -- Get up to speed on the biggest stories in crypto each week. In five minutes. Get the Bitwise Weekly CIO Memo delivered directly to your inbox at bitwiseinvestments.com/ciomemo/empire -- "Mantle is pioneering ""Blockchain for Banking"" as a revolutionary new category that sits at the intersection of TradFi and web3. Key elements for Mantle as the ""Blockchain for Banking"": - Transactions posted to the blockchain - Compatibility with TradFi rails - Integrated DeFi featuresUR, built by Mantle, is the first real-world example: an on-chain money app offering Swiss IBANs and unified access to fiat (EUR, CHF, USD, RMB) and crypto — bringing crypto into everyday finance.Mantle Network, the access layer — transforms Mantle Network into a purpose-built vertical platform — the blockchain for banking — that enables financial services on-chain. Mantle leads the establishment of Blockchain for Banking as the next frontier.Follow Mantle on X (@Mantle_Official) for the latest updates on Mantle as the 'Blockchain for Banking'." -- Citrea is the first zero-knowledge rollup to enhance the capabilities of Bitcoin blockspace and enable Bitcoin applications (₿apps). Citrea is optimistically verified by Bitcoin, offering the most Bitcoin-secured and native way to extend BTC’s utility to DeFi. Learn more about Citrea: https://citrea.xyz/?utm_source=bellcurve&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=website_promo Follow Citrea on X/Twitter for the latest on its journey to mainnet: https://x.com/citrea_xyz -- Chapters: (02:14) DATs Explored (19:37) Ads (Geodnet, Bitwise) (21:11) ETHZilla (30:32) DAT KPIs (36:15) Ads (Geodnet, Bitwise) (37:49) DAT FUD (51:15) Ads (Mantle,Citrea) (52:54) Native Token or DAT (01:00:06) White House Crypto Report (01:07:29) Coinbase X Chase (01:11:17) Zora + Creator Tokens (01:19:21) Content Recs — Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

1 Elo 20251h 27min

Gm! This week, Charles Hoskinson joins Yano to dive into everything Cardano, weigh in on crypto’s overall progress, how politics and crypto are playing out stateside, the impact of crypto treasury vehicles, the evolution of the 4 year cycle, his ranch life in Wyoming, his alien expedition adventures, the need for personal security now in crypto and why ADA remains a better investment than BTC. -- Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts -- Follow Charles: https://x.com/IOHK_Charles Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh -- SKALE is the next evolution in Layer 1 blockchains with a gas-free invisible user experience, instant finality, high speed, and robust security. SKALE is built different as it allows for limitless scalability and has already saved its 50 Million users over $11 Billion in gas fees. SKALE is high-performance and cost-effective, making it ideal for compute-intensive applications like AI, gaming, and consumer-facing dApps. Learn more at https://skale.space and stay up to date with the gas-free invisible blockchain on X at @skalenetwork -- Katana is a DeFi-first chain built for deep liquidity and high yield. No empty emissions, just real yield and sequencer fees routed back to DeFi users. Pre-deposit now: Earn high APRs with Turtle Club [https://app.turtle.club/campaigns/katana] or spin the wheel with Katana Krates [https://app.katana.network/krates] -- Mantle is building the financial infrastructure for a tokenised future—bridging traditional finance and on-chain innovation through six integrated product pillars: Mantle Network, mETH Protocol, Function BTC, and the upcoming launches of MantleX, Mantle Banking, and the Mantle Index Four (MI4) Fund. Anchored by one of the largest community-governed treasuries in the industry, valued at over $4 billion, Mantle is delivering institutional-grade products designed for global capital markets. Follow Mantle on X: https://x.com/Mantle_Official -- Ledn is the leading platform for Bitcoin-backed loans, offering a secure and transparent way to unlock liquidity without selling your Bitcoin. Ledn has issued over $9 billion in loans since 2018 and has never lost a single satoshi of client assets, earning a reputation as the name you can trust in the crypto space. Visit https://www.ledn.io to learn more. — Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:42 What’s Charles Up To? 4:51 Crypto’s Progress 8:55 Ads (Skale & Katana) 10:42 Charles’ Building Principles 24:01 Ads (Skale & Katana) 25:48 Crypto & US Politics 36:14 Crypto Treasury Vehicles 43:24 Cardano Founder Story 51:08 Ranches & Helicopters 55:43 Ads (Mantle & LEDN) 57:35 Bison In Wyoming 59:02 Alien Research Expeditions 1:05:28 Mo Money Mo Problems 1:09:18 The 4 Year Cycle Has Evolved 1:13:59 Alternative Health Solutions 1:18:54 EUTXO.org 1:23:25 Who goes to Osaka? -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

28 Heinä 20251h 25min

This week, the Hivemind team is joined by Guy Young, founder of Ethena, to discuss the launch of their $360M ENA vehicle, the structural challenges in altcoin market flows, the evolving use cases for stablecoins, and why Athena’s yield-based model positions it as a more scalable solution than USDC. They also unpack the impact of the Genius Act on U.S. stablecoin regulation, the long-term overvaluation of L1s like ETH and SOL, and how the market structure is shifting toward revenue-generating apps like Hyperliquid. Enjoy! -- Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire  -- Follow Guy: https://x.com/gdog97_  Follow Ceteris: https://x.com/ceterispar1bus  Follow Jose: https://x.com/ZeMariaMacedo  Follow Yan: https://x.com/YanLiberman  Follow Duncan: https://x.com/FloodCapital  Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod  Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/4jYEkBx  Subscribe on Apple: https://bit.ly/3ECSmJ3  Subscribe on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4hzy9lH  -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/  -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:27) Ethena & its New Treasury Vehicle (8:26) Competing with Other Stables (18:38) The Genius Act & Its Implications (35:18) ETH & Treasury Vehicles (40:20) The Future of Altcoins & L1s (42:24) Ethena & the Futures Market (44:16) L1 Valuations (52:17) Pump.Fun ICO (1:10:10) Final Thoughts -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, the Hivemind team, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

26 Heinä 20251h 10min

Happy Friday! Rob and Yano are back to talk the markets, PNC’s collab with Coinbase, Hyperliquid being disrupted by Coinbase’s new Perps launch, NFTs return, Pump’s slump and the continued rise of the Crypto Treasury Companies. -- Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts -- Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh -- GEODNET is the world’s largest RTK network, delivering real-time, centimeter-level precision for drones, robots, farmers, and first responders. Recognized by the U.S. Congress, this blockchain-powered network supports mission-critical applications across a wide range of industries. Discover how GEODNET is changing the world: [https://geodnet.com] -- Get up to speed on the biggest stories in crypto each week. In five minutes. Get the Bitwise Weekly CIO Memo delivered directly to your inbox at bitwiseinvestments.com/ciomemo/empire -- "Mantle is pioneering ""Blockchain for Banking"" as a revolutionary new category that sits at the intersection of TradFi and web3. Key elements for Mantle as the ""Blockchain for Banking"": - Transactions posted to the blockchain - Compatibility with TradFi rails - Integrated DeFi features UR, built by Mantle, is the first real-world example: an on-chain money app offering Swiss IBANs and unified access to fiat (EUR, CHF, USD, RMB) and crypto — bringing crypto into everyday finance. Mantle Network, the access layer — transforms Mantle Network into a purpose-built vertical platform — the blockchain for banking — that enables financial services on-chain. Mantle leads the establishment of Blockchain for Banking as the next frontier. Follow Mantle on X (@Mantle_Official) for the latest updates on Mantle as the 'Blockchain for Banking'." -- Zenrock is a permissionless, decentralized custody network backed by 1RoundTable Partners, 10T, Maven11, and Spartan. Live on Jupiter, $ROCK is the native token for transactions within the Zenrock ecosystem and secures Zenrock’s decentralized custody network. The first application launching on Zenrock is zenBTC – yield-bearing Bitcoin on Solana. zenBTC is now live. -- Citrea is the first zero-knowledge rollup to enhance the capabilities of Bitcoin blockspace and enable Bitcoin applications (₿apps). Citrea is optimistically verified by Bitcoin, offering the most Bitcoin-secured and native way to extend BTC’s utility to DeFi. Learn more about Citrea: https://citrea.xyz/?utm_source=bellcurve&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=website_promo Follow Citrea on X/Twitter for the latest on its journey to mainnet: https://x.com/citrea_xyz -- Chapters: (0:00) Introduction (1:53) Comment Roasts (2:52) Market Updates (13:20) Ads (Geodnet & Bitwise) (14:57) Digital Asset Treasury Companies (31:16) Ads (Geodnet & Bitwise) (32:53) Pump Analysis (38:11) Hyperliquid & Coinbase’s Perps (45:51) Ads (Mantle, Zenrock & Citrea) (48:05) NFTs Are Back (52:01) PNC x Coinbase -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

25 Heinä 20251h 2min