Being Defiant With Bitcoin: Peter McCormack, Host of the “What Bitcoin Did Podcast”

The Crypto Town Hall kicked off 2026 with host Scott Melker and panelists discussing Bitcoin's sideways action amid fading year-end selling pressure, whale accumulation in BTC/ETH, massive ETF inflows, and renewed altcoin strength (ETH, SOL, XRP flipping key MAs). Topics included Morgan Stanley's new Bitcoin and Solana trust filings, Venezuela's political shift and rumored Bitcoin reserve, Ledger's latest data breach risks, self-custody warnings, government fraud/waste, and California's billionaire tax proposal. The panel highlighted institutional adoption, geopolitical tailwinds, and building market optimism as key drivers for 2026 growth.

6 Tammi 54min

Bitcoin ripped higher as spot ETF inflows surged (the biggest daily haul since October), with traders pointing to a fresh “risk-on” bid and a geopolitical catalyst out of Venezuela. We break down the rumor that Venezuela may be sitting on a massive, unconfirmed “shadow” Bitcoin reserve and why that narrative (plus the flow data) is adding fuel to the push toward the next major psychological levels.

6 Tammi 58min

The Crypto Town Hall discussed Bitcoin’s current sideways trading amid year-end holiday slowdowns, highlighting whale buying and short squeezes but cautioning on potential retracements. The panel emphasized the need for major catalysts like regulatory clarity (e.g., the Clarity Act) and Layer 2 solutions to drive adoption. Privacy enhancements and institutional involvement were noted as key for future growth. Quantum computing fears were largely dismissed as overblown, with AI-driven risks seen as more immediate. The conversation concluded with an introduction to Bob, a Bitcoin-native DeFi platform aiming to unlock Bitcoin’s utility by enabling decentralized, trustless financial services, bridging Bitcoin and Ethereum ecosystems, and promoting broader adoption in the coming years.

5 Tammi 1h

Bitcoin surges toward $100K as Venezuela headlines and U.S. action/capture news sparked a shock-driven rally and short squeeze, while traders watched key levels for a continuation. We also covered why the move may have been reinforced by returning spot Bitcoin ETF inflows, alongside a broader “risk-off” bid that pushed gold and silver higher. From there we zoomed out to the macro/policy setup—Fed rate-cut debate, Tom Lee’s warning of a 10–15% pullback early in 2026—and the regulatory backdrop, including Lummis retiring, Arizona’s crypto tax push, and the growing “Bitcoin-only” narrative.

5 Tammi 1h 4min

Dante Disparte is recognized as one of the most influential voices in the realm of stablecoin policy, regulation, and global adoption. With deep expertise in the evolution of digital currency, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the regulatory frameworks that underpin stablecoins, particularly in the context of the United States’ groundbreaking Genius Act. Dante’s insights illuminate the rapid transformation of stablecoins from crypto experiments into foundational components of the modern financial system, embraced by banks, governments, and payment institutions worldwide. His experience spans critical discussions about interoperability, regulatory clarity, and the integration of stablecoins with traditional finance, making him a key thought leader in the ongoing digital currency revolution.

3 Tammi 1h 1min

This end-of-year episode of Crypto Town Hall brings together a panel of crypto experts to dissect Bitcoin's underwhelming Q4 performance—the worst in seven years—while reflecting on 2025, navigating tricky price action, and considering the evolving role of Bitcoin and its market structure. The discussion aims to demystify what's driving capitulation, why Bitcoin lags behind assets like gold and silver, and how new financial products, like advanced options, are shaping liquidity and volatility. The panel covers institutional behavior, changing investor demographics, altcoins, DeFi, AI's role, and future adoption themes, all with the goal to frame what's next for crypto in 2026.

23 Joulu 20251h 1min

Markets are sending mixed signals heading into 2026 and crypto is caught right in the middle. In today’s livestream we break down the “major crisis ahead” narrative: why the Fed could be risking recession without more rate cuts, what Sen. Cynthia Lummis’ retirement means for crypto’s biggest allies in Washington, how Arizona is advancing a bill that could exempt Bitcoin and crypto from property taxes, and why Charles Hoskinson says the TRUMP token controversy helped fuel a “Bitcoin-only” shift while weakening bipartisan momentum for broader market-structure legislation. Nothing here is financial advice do your own research.

23 Joulu 202537min

Crypto Town Hall's live stream focused on the current state and outlook of crypto ETFs, particularly the contrasting inflows and outflows among Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana funds. Speakers discussed the implications of these ETF trends, the evolving regulatory landscape, the impact of quantum risk narratives, and the potential disruption from projects like Coinbase aspiring to become an 'everything exchange.' The session provided analysis on how increased institutional adoption, regulatory clarity, and new financial products are setting the path for broader crypto market maturation, even while short-term price action remains tightly constrained. The discussion was punctuated by questions about the longer-term relevance of ETFs, tokenization of real-world assets, and the ongoing evolution of tradfi and defi.

22 Joulu 202544min