Have We Topped, Aster vs Hyperliquid & Tether's $500B Valuation | Weekly Roundup

This week we're back to discuss the top stories of the week. We deep dive into the state of markets, Tether looking to raise $20B at a $500B valuation, Aster vs Hyperliquid, crypto IPOs in 2025-26 & more. Enjoy! -- 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 Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts -- Ansem's outlook on markets: https://x.com/blknoiz06/status/1970107553079079341 -- Crypto’s premiere institutional conference returns to London in October 2025. Use code EMPIRE100 for £100 off at checkout: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2025-london -- Crypto-native institutions and developers demand institutional-grade infrastructure with regulatory clarity and full asset control. Blockdaemon's Earn Stack is a non-custodial platform combining high-performance staking rewards and seamless DeFi integration with no intermediate smart contract or vaults. Programmatically access leading Ethereum & Solana staking rewards, plus DeFi opportunities across lending protocols, DEXs, and AMMs. Book a Demo! -- peaq, the Machine Economy Computer, proudly sponsors the Empire podcast. peaq is home to 60+ apps across 20+ industries and millions of devices, machines, and onchain robots. It powers the world’s first tokenized robo-farm, launching soon in Hong Kong, and has launched the Machine Economy Free Zone in Dubai as a Web3 x Robotics x AI innovation hub. For more about peaq, check out www.peaq.xyz -- Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (02:32) Are Markets A Little Too Frothy? (06:43) The Stablecoin Thesis (10:43) Takeaways From The Origin Summit (13:53) Ansem’s Outlook On Markets (22:49) Tether Raising $20B at $500B Valuation (26:26) Ads (Blockdaemon, Peaq) (27:26) Aster vs Hyperliquid (39:23) BitGo Files Their S-1 (50:28) Ads (Blockdaemon, Peaq) (51:36) Crypto IPOs In 2026 (55:02) Cloudflare Issuing A Stablecoin (59:06) Zerohash Raises $100M At $1B Valuation (01:01:48) Content Of The Week -- 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.