Ryan Selkis on the Existential Struggle for Crypto in the U.S.

This week, the Hivemind team breaks down the current state of markets as Bitcoin looks to stabalize around $90k. We deep dive into the path forward for Microstategy, is quantum actually a threat to Bitcoin, the rise of AI agents, prediciton markets & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Ceteris: ⁠https://x.com/ceterispar1bus⁠ Follow Jason: ⁠https://x.com/3xliquidated⁠ Follow Simon: https://x.com/simononchain Follow Yan: https://x.com/YanLiberman 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 (0:45) Have We Bottomed? (7:27) Microstrategy (11:37) Is Quantum A Threat To Bitcoin? (22:28) AI Agents (30:07) Hyperliquid Unlocks (37:52) Prediction Markets (48:03) Buying The Zcash Dip -- 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.

4 Des 52min

In this episode, we discuss why privacy is critical for TradFi adoption, crypto’s privacy solutions today, and how privacy unlocks institutional adoption of crypto, ultimately bringing quadrillions onchain.  -- Quadrillions brings together the voices defining the next era of finance. From institutional rails to stablecoins and privacy, the series dives into how traditional markets, crypto innovation, and regulatory frameworks are converging to bring the full force of capital markets onchain. Join hosts Jason Yanowitz, Yuval Rooz, and Eric Saraniecki for deep dives with special guests Shaul Kfir, Don Wilson, Mike Belshe, Justin Peterson, Acting Chair Caroline Pham, Eli Ben-Sasson, and more. Produced by Blockworks and Canton Network. For more information, check out https://quadrillionspod.com/ -- Follow Canton: https://x.com/CantonNetwork Follow Eli: https://x.com/EliBenSasson Follow: Eric: https://x.com/wesarn_real Follow Shaul: https://x.com/ShaulKfir Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (3:26) Defining Privacy In Crypto (7:11) Why Doesn't Privacy Exist Onchain Yet? (11:18) The Demand For Privacy (14:12) Is Privacy a Feature or a Product? (19:50) Can Privacy Be Bolted On? (23:06) zkRollups Are Not Zero Knowledge (31:12) Balancing Privacy With Regulatory Compliance (34:04) Starkware's Userbase (38:21) Privacy at the Application Layer (41:08) Privacy vs Anonymity (43:56) Crypto's Next Big Moment -- Disclaimer: “Quadrillions” is a mini-series produced by Blockworks, and is sponsored by Canton Network. Nothing on this show is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. It’s for informational purposes only, and the views expressed by anyone on the show are solely their opinions, not financial advice or necessarily the views of Blockworks. Our hosts, guests, and the Blockworks team may hold positions in companies, funds, or projects discussed, including those related to Canton Network.

3 Des 50min

This week, Keone Hon joins the show to discuss the recent launch of Monad. We deep dive into Monad's ICO, launching on Coinbase, the state of airdrops in crypto today, do we need another L1, whether public vs corporate chains are competitors and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Keone: https://x.com/keoneHD Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh -- Zcash is encrypted Bitcoin. Your digital bill of rights securing your freedom for the 21st century. Buy, store and spend ZEC privately using Zashi Wallet download today: https://electriccoin.co/zashi/ -- 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 Global Hackathon 2025 is live! Running from Oct 22 to Dec 31, Mantle invites builders to design the future of Real-World Assets (RWAs) on its modular L2 stack. Key Highlights: - $150,000 Prize Pool + Grants & Incubation opportunities - Access to Bybit's 7M+ verified users - Judges from Bybit Ventures, Spartan, Animoca Brands - 6 Tracks: RWA/RealFi, DeFi, AI, ZK, Infra, GameFi Join the Hackathon: https://www.hackquest.io/vi/hackathons/Mantle-Global-Hackathon-2025" -- Uniswap’s Trading API offers plug-and-play access to deep onchain and off-chain liquidity, delivering enterprise-grade crypto trading without the complexity - from one of the most trusted teams in DeFi. Click to get started with seamless, scalable access to Uniswap’s powerful onchain trading infrastructure. https://hub.uniswap.org/?utm_source=blockworks&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ww_web_bw_awa_trading-api_20251117_podcast_clicks -- Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (01:35) Behind The Monad Launch (06:42) Monad's Exchange Listing (13:20) Ads (Zashi, Katana) (14:37) Monad's Pre Deposit Strategy (22:10) Monad’s Airdrop (27:05) Ads (Zashi, Katana) (28:21) Launching On Coinbase (32:40) Launching Mainnet (38:33) Ads (Mantle, Uniswap) (40:35) Developing An App Ecosystem (46:30) Why Do We Need Another L1? (47:47) Public vs Corporate Chains (52:36) What’s Next For Monad In 2026? -- 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 Des 55min

This week, we're back to discuss the top stories of the week. We deep dive into Klarna's stablecoin launch, the state of crypto VC, Hyperliquid's launch of equity perps & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- Referenced In The Show: Jeff Yass - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU9N75Fe1yU Part 1: My Life Is a Lie - https://www.yesigiveafig.com/p/part-1-my-life-is-a-lie?publication_id=1272022&post_id=179492574&isFreemail=false&r=5205r&triedRedirect=true Competition is for Losers with Peter Thiel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Fx5Q8xGU8k -- Zcash is encrypted Bitcoin. Your digital bill of rights securing your freedom for the 21st century. Buy, store and spend ZEC privately using Zashi Wallet download today: https://electriccoin.co/zashi/ -- 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] -- This Empire episode is brought to you by VanEck. Learn more about the VanEck Onchain Economy ETF (NODE): http://vaneck.com/EmpireNODE An investment in the Fund involves a substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors. It is possible to lose your entire principal investment. The Fund may invest nearly all of its net assets in either Digital Transformation Companies and/or Digital Asset Instruments. The Fund does not invest in digital assets or commodities directly. Digital asset instruments may be subject to risks associated with investing in digital asset exchange-traded products (“ETPs”), which include the historical extreme volatility of the digital asset and cryptocurrency market, as well as less regulation and thus fewer investor protections, as these ETPs are not investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”) or commodity pools for the purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”). Investing involves substantial risk and high volatility, including possible loss of principal. Visit vaneck.com to read and consider the prospectus, containing the investment objective, risks, and fees of the fund, carefully before investing. © Van Eck Securities Corporation, Distributor, a wholly owned subsidiary of Van Eck Associates Corporation. -- 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] -- Uniswap’s Trading API offers plug-and-play access to deep onchain and off-chain liquidity, delivering enterprise-grade crypto trading without the complexity - from one of the most trusted teams in DeFi. Click to get started with seamless, scalable access to Uniswap’s powerful onchain trading infrastructure. https://hub.uniswap.org/?utm_source=blockworks&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ww_web_bw_awa_trading-api_20251117_podcast_clicks -- (00:00) Intro (07:14) Klarna Launches KlarnaUSD (17:25) Ads (Zcash, Katana) (41:12) The State of Crypto VC (44:16) Ads (Zcash, Katana) (45:32) The Prediction Market Wars (57:28) Ads (VanEck, Geodnet, Uniswap) (59:50) Hyperliquid Launches Equity Perps (01:07:21) Coinbase To Acquire Vector.fun (01:18:00) Berachain & Nova Digital’s $25 Million Refund Right (01:26:41) 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.

28 Nov 1h 30min

This week, Raoul Pal joins the show to discuss the current state of markets. As crypto & equities face their first significant sell off since the April lows, we deep dive into what's next for markets. Raoul discusses why he believes there's a wave of liquidity coming in 2026, how to trade crypto cycles, valuing crypto networks, has the DAT bubble burst, Raoul's AI thesis & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Raoul: https://x.com/RaoulGMI Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod -- Zcash is encrypted Bitcoin. Your digital bill of rights securing your freedom for the 21st century. Buy, store and spend ZEC privately using Zashi Wallet download today: https://electriccoin.co/zashi/ -- 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] -- This Empire episode is brought to you by VanEck. Learn more about the VanEck Onchain Economy ETF (NODE): http://vaneck.com/EmpireNODE An investment in the Fund involves a substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors. It is possible to lose your entire principal investment. The Fund may invest nearly all of its net assets in either Digital Transformation Companies and/or Digital Asset Instruments. The Fund does not invest in digital assets or commodities directly. Digital asset instruments may be subject to risks associated with investing in digital asset exchange-traded products (“ETPs”), which include the historical extreme volatility of the digital asset and cryptocurrency market, as well as less regulation and thus fewer investor protections, as these ETPs are not investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”) or commodity pools for the purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”). Investing involves substantial risk and high volatility, including possible loss of principal. Visit vaneck.com to read and consider the prospectus, containing the investment objective, risks, and fees of the fund, carefully before investing. © Van Eck Securities Corporation, Distributor, a wholly owned subsidiary of Van Eck Associates Corporation. -- Uniswap’s Trading API offers plug-and-play access to deep onchain and off-chain liquidity, delivering enterprise-grade crypto trading without the complexity - from one of the most trusted teams in DeFi. Click to get started with seamless, scalable access to Uniswap’s powerful onchain trading infrastructure. https://hub.uniswap.org/?utm_source=blockworks&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ww_web_bw_awa_trading-api_20251117_podcast_clicks -- (00:00) Intro (01:25) Where Are We In The Macro Cycle? (10:11) How To Value Crypto Networks? (20:58) Ads (Zcash, Katana) (22:14) The K-Shaped Economy (25:31) Has The DAT Bubble Burst? (28:24) Why Liquidity Drives Markets (38:19) Ads (Zcash, Katana) (39:35) How To Trade Crypto Cycles (49:57) Ads (VanEck, Uniswap) (51:39) Raoul's AI Thesis -- 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.

24 Nov 1h 3min

This week, Rob & Santi are back to discuss the top stories of the week. We deep dive into the recent panic in markets, Santi's piece on crypto valuations, the state of crypto venture, Aave's app launch & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh -- Referenced In The Show: https://x.com/santiagoroel/status/1990430092997050753 -- Zcash is encrypted Bitcoin. Your digital bill of rights securing your freedom for the 21st century. Buy, store and spend ZEC privately using Zashi Wallet download today: https://electriccoin.co/zashi/ -- 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] -- This Empire episode is brought to you by VanEck. Learn more about the VanEck Onchain Economy ETF (NODE): http://vaneck.com/EmpireNODE An investment in the Fund involves a substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors. It is possible to lose your entire principal investment. The Fund may invest nearly all of its net assets in either Digital Transformation Companies and/or Digital Asset Instruments. The Fund does not invest in digital assets or commodities directly. Digital asset instruments may be subject to risks associated with investing in digital asset exchange-traded products (“ETPs”), which include the historical extreme volatility of the digital asset and cryptocurrency market, as well as less regulation and thus fewer investor protections, as these ETPs are not investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”) or commodity pools for the purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”). Investing involves substantial risk and high volatility, including possible loss of principal. Visit vaneck.com to read and consider the prospectus, containing the investment objective, risks, and fees of the fund, carefully before investing. © Van Eck Securities Corporation, Distributor, a wholly owned subsidiary of Van Eck Associates Corporation. -- Uniswap’s Trading API offers plug-and-play access to deep onchain and off-chain liquidity, delivering enterprise-grade crypto trading without the complexity - from one of the most trusted teams in DeFi. Click to get started with seamless, scalable access to Uniswap’s powerful onchain trading infrastructure. https://hub.uniswap.org/?utm_source=blockworks&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ww_web_bw_awa_trading-api_20251117_podcast_clicks -- (00:00) Intro (02:21) Why Your Coin Isn’t Pumping (21:15) Ads (Zashi, Katana) (22:32) Where Are We In The Cycle? (27:29) The State of Crypto Venture (35:54) Ads (Zashi, Katana) (37:10) What Will Outperform In The Next 5 Years? (42:34) Aave Launches Aave App (50:35) Ads (VanEck, Uniswap) (52:17) Monad’s ICO (01:03:09) 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.

21 Nov 1h 5min

This week, the Hivemind team breaks down the recent market price action as BTC struggles to regain $95k. We then deep dive into why is Zcash ripping, the 10/10 leverage hangover, the perps opportunity, crypto's onboarding problem & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Ceteris: ⁠https://x.com/ceterispar1bus⁠ Follow LTR: https://x.com/0xLTR Follow Jason: ⁠https://x.com/3xliquidated⁠ Follow Flip: ⁠https://x.com/trevor_flipper⁠ 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 (1:12) State of The Market (12:14) Why Is Zcash Ripping? (17:22) The 10/10 Leverage Hangover (18:25) MetaDAO (24:06) Perp Aggregators (34:36) Takeaways From Singapore (40:29) Monad's ICO (45:19) Crypto’s Onboarding Problem (52:53) Pay Attention During Bear Markets -- 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.

20 Nov 56min

In this episode, we cover institutional crypto adoption, stablecoins’ interplay with treasuries and 24/7 repo financing on Canton, the risks associated with wrapped assets and stablecoin fragmentation, and 2026 expectations for broader, client-driven OTC and onchain activity.   -- Quadrillions brings together the voices defining the next era of finance. From institutional rails to stablecoins and privacy, the series dives into how traditional markets, crypto innovation, and regulatory frameworks are converging to bring the full force of capital markets onchain. Join hosts Jason Yanowitz, Yuval Rooz, and Eric Saraniecki for deep dives with special guests Shaul Kfir, Don Wilson, Mike Belshe, Justin Peterson, Acting Chair Caroline Pham, Eli Ben-Sasson, and more. Produced by Blockworks and Canton Network. For more information, check out https://quadrillionspod.com/ -- Follow Canton: https://x.com/CantonNetwork Follow Tradeweb: https://x.com/Tradeweb Follow Mike: https://x.com/mikebelshe Follow Eric: https://x.com/wesarn_real Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:38) Tradeweb's Origin Story (3:58) The State of Institutional Crypto Adoption (8:23) Where is the Most Growth Right Now? (10:26) Consolidating Stablecoins (15:23) Tradeweb's Crypto Strategy (18:32) What Does Crypto Solve Today? (23:37) The Next 100x Growth Opportunity (27:56) Bringing RWAs Onchain (31:25) The Role of Custodians (35:03) Canton's Go-to-market Strategy (38:31) Tokenized Equities (44:02) The Need For Privacy (49:23) Crypto Adoption Going Forward -- Disclaimer: “Quadrillions” is a mini-series produced by Blockworks, and is sponsored by Canton Network. Nothing on this show is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. It’s for informational purposes only, and the views expressed by anyone on the show are solely their opinions, not financial advice or necessarily the views of Blockworks. Our hosts, guests, and the Blockworks team may hold positions in companies, funds, or projects discussed, including those related to Canton Network.

19 Nov 56min