Unchained

The 2024 elections have reshaped the future of crypto in Washington. With almost $200 million in donations, the Fairshake Super PAC not only backed pro-crypto candidates but also took bold risks by challenging entrenched incumbents. This strategic gamble appears to have paid off, leading to the most crypto-friendly Congress in U.S. history. In this episode, Coinbase’s Faryar Shirzad and Kara Calvert reveal the behind-the-scenes decisions that drove this unprecedented effort, discuss why crypto needs to transcend partisanship, and explain how this election could usher in long-awaited regulatory clarity. They also delve into the global stakes of blockchain adoption and whether the U.S. can reclaim its leadership as other nations surge ahead in Web3 innovation. Show highlights: 01:48 The journey of how crypto became so important in this election 04:16 The differences between Fairshake and Stand With Crypto 08:48 How Fairshake decided which candidates to support 12:48 How Washington reacted to the massive influx of money to support pro-crypto candidates 15:51 Why Fairshake stayed out of the Presidential race 18:23 How hard it was for Fairshake to handle its non-partisan stance with both parties 22:32 How the U.S.’s approach to crypto can be compared to how it lost on the cutting-edge technologies of 5G and semiconductors 26:41 What drove the decision to attempt to unseat Sherrod Brown, which ended up giving Sen. Warren more power on the Senate Banking Committee 32:54 Whether Sen. Warren’s anti-crypto stance has been diminished after the elections 35:28 How the industry got past the fiasco of Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX 42:07 Why Faryar believes that “anyone would be an upgrade” from Gary Gensler as Chair of the SEC 46:45 How blockchain technology allows for instant settlements, a feature so needed in capital markets 49:36 What could happen with the SEC’s legal actions against crypto companies now that Gensler will lose his position as SEC chair 53:22 What Faryar and Kara expect the new administration to do around crypto 56:47 How DeFi can be regulated in the U.S. and whether Trump will support the motto “code is free speech” 1:01:37 The perception of Washington insiders about Polymarket  1:04:28 Whether the technology sector will be on the Republican side from now on Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com Thank you to our sponsors! Polkadot Robinhood & Arbitrum iYield Guests: Faryar Shirzad, Coinbase Chief Policy Officer  Kara Calvert, Coinbase Head of US Policy Links Previous coverage of the elections on the podcast: Under Trump, the First Crypto President, Where Will Markets Go? Bits + Bips: Trump Won and the Question Is: Do You Have Enough Crypto? How Arthur Hayes Has Prepared His Portfolio for the Elections The Chopping Block: 2024 Election Debate feat. Mike Novogratz & Shaun Maguire It’s Not Just the Presidency. Congressional Races Matter a Lot for Crypto Unchained:  DeFi Tokens Jump on Hopes That Trump Will Provide Crypto Regulatory Clarity What Gary Gensler Could Still Do Against Crypto in His Remaining Days as SEC Chair Elizabeth Warren Will Be the Top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee Stand With Crypto Says These Races Are Crucial for Crypto. But Why? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner get together and give the industry insider's perspective on crypto. This week, Laura Shin joins the squad to help break down the aftermath of the 2024 U.S. presidential election and its impact on the crypto landscape. With a new pro-crypto administration on the horizon, they explore what Trump’s stance on blockchain regulation could mean for the industry, from ETFs and stablecoin legislation to the potential of a national Bitcoin reserve. They also dig into the power of prediction markets, which outperformed mainstream media in election coverage, signaling a shift in trust and transparency. From the populist appeal of crypto to the challenges facing a divided Democratic Party, this episode uncovers the political dynamics that could drive innovation or stifle growth in the U.S. crypto market. Expect insights on the forces shaping America’s crypto future and the role of policy in crypto’s place on the global stage. Show highlights 🔹 Prediction markets outpaced mainstream media in calling the 2024 election, marking a shift in how people track election outcomes. 🔹 Trump’s pro-crypto stance signals potential changes for the industry, from new ETFs to a possible federal Bitcoin reserve. 🔹 The Democratic Party’s anti-crypto stance highlights a disconnect between progressive values and blockchain innovation. 🔹 As prediction markets gain popularity, more Americans rely on them over traditional media for real-time election insights. 🔹 One high-stakes bettor’s multi-million-dollar wager on the election paid off, thanks to a unique strategy involving the "neighbor effect." 🔹 The Democratic Party’s focus on "woke" issues may have contributed to a historic loss, raising questions about the future of these policies. 🔹 With pro-crypto Republicans in control, sweeping legislative changes are expected, from stablecoin laws to crypto tax reforms. 🔹 Crypto’s anti-elite appeal is resonating with populist movements, indicating a potential path for mass adoption. 🔹 The idea of Bitcoin on the U.S. national balance sheet is gaining traction as a pro-crypto administration takes office. 🔹 Political choices could propel or stifle America’s standing as a global leader in blockchain innovation and technology. Hosts ⭐️Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly  ⭐️Tom Schmidt, General Partner at Dragonfly  ⭐️Robert Leshner, CEO & Co-founder of Superstate ⭐️Laura Shin, journalist, author of ‘The Cryptopians,’ founder and CEO of Unchained Disclosures Links Kamala Harris Shouldn’t Just Embrace Crypto. She Must Help It Flourish by Laura Shin: https://time.com/7111315/kamala-harris-crypto-laura-shin-essay/  How the Trump Whale Correctly Called the Election by Alexander Osipovich https://www.wsj.com/finance/how-the-trump-whale-correctly-called-the-election-cb7eef1d  Timestamps  00:00 Intro 01:17 Election Night Observations 04:32 Polymarket's Role 06:19 French Whale x Neighbor Effect 14:52 Mainstream Media vs. Prediction Markets 25:54 The Future of Prediction Markets 27:26 Crypto and the Democratic Party's Missteps 30:30 Democratic Party's Superiority Complex 31:38 Crypto's Global Impact and Legislation 43:23 Predictions for Crypto's Future in the U.S. 49:47 The Return of Crypto Companies to the U.S. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With a friendlier regulatory environment in sight, will crypto finally get its moment? Jeff Park, head of alpha strategies at Bitwise, joins Unchained to break down what a pro-crypto approach in Washington could mean for the industry, why DeFi tokens such as UNI are thriving, and whether Bitcoin has a place as a strategic national asset.  Plus, Park shares insights into how China will respond to Trump’s economic measures and explains what he means by the “radical portfolio” thesis.  Tune in to find out how this new political era could set the stage for crypto’s long-awaited breakout. Show highlights: Jeff’s main takeaways from the intersection of crypto and politics this cycle Whether crypto has become a partisan issue Why Jeff highlights the usefulness of Polymarket to track the chances of each candidate Why Uniswap’s token UNI outperformed the broader market What sectors of the industry could boom with more regulatory clarity Whether the idea of using bitcoin as a strategic reserve is feasible  How China will respond to Trump’s economic measures What is the “radical portfolio” thesis and what’s bitcoin’s role in it Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com Thank you to our sponsors! Polkadot Mantle’s FBTC Guest Jeff Park, Head of Alpha Strategies at Bitwise The Radical Portfolio Theory Links Unchained:  Ether Breaks Past $2,800 to 3-Month High Following Trump’s Victory DeFi Tokens Jump on Hopes That Trump Will Provide Crypto Regulatory Clarity Bitcoin Just Gained $100 Billion in Market Cap Overnight. Is it Time to Take Profits? Bitcoin Hits New All-Time High of $75,000 What Gary Gensler Could Still Do Against Crypto in His Remaining Days as SEC Chair Haralabos Voulgaris’s tweets on gambling: Expressing concern about gambling addiction Contrasting gambling now vs. when he started His opposition to how much gambling is promoted Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:13 Key takeaways on crypto’s role in politics 02:38 Has crypto become a partisan issue? 06:47 Why Polymarket is crucial for tracking election odds 09:29 Why UNI is outperforming the market 11:56 Which sectors could thrive with regulatory clarity? 15:07 Could Bitcoin become a national strategic reserve? 18:32 How might China respond to Trump’s economic policies? 20:17 What is the “radical portfolio” thesis? 29:57 Crypto News Recap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump is headed back to the White House, and the crypto markets are surging in response.  This episode of Bits + Bips dives into what the election means for crypto, the potential crypto IPOs coming soon, why DeFi tokens are outperforming, and what changes in U.S. regulation could mean for investors. Ram Ahluwalia and Noelle Acheson join to explore this unprecedented moment in crypto and how inflation and policy changes may boost Bitcoin and the broader ecosystem. Show highlights: Everyone’s initial reactions to Trump’s win How some crypto companies could have their IPO soon Whether it’s time to take profits after the substantial run Why DeFi tokens have been the biggest winners  What the next crypto spot ETF will be and whether we’ll see staking rewards for ETH Why mainstream media didn’t see the Trump win coming Why Ram and Alex believe that Kamala Harris was not the right candidate How Trump won the appeal of the lower class in the U.S. Whether immigration was key to sustaining the GDP and avoiding a “hard landing” Crypto’s massive win in Congress How much impact Elon Musk had in the outcome of the elections How Polymarket has become a “new source of truth,” according to Ram Why the Fed doesn’t have a need to accelerate rate cuts Whether Trump’s policies will be inflationary and whether he’ll go forward with tariffs Whether the 10-year bond will reach new highs Thanks to Gemini for sponsoring this episode of Bits + Bips. Hosts: James Seyffart, Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence Alex Kruger, Founder of Asgard Guests: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Noelle Acheson, Author of the “Crypto Is Macro Now” Newsletter  Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:57 Reactions to Trump’s election win 03:13 Which crypto companies might IPO soon? 09:28 Is it time to take profits in crypto? 17:30 Why are DeFi tokens surging? 20:31 What’s next for crypto ETFs and ETH staking rewards? 28:00 Why mainstream media missed Trump’s victory 33:44 Ram’s thoughts on Kamala Harris’s candidacy 43:52 How Trump gained appeal with lower-income voters 45:41 Did immigration help sustain GDP? 53:11 Crypto’s big win in Congress 56:53 Elon Musk’s influence on the election outcome 1:04:10 Is Polymarket becoming a “new source of truth”? 1:10:30 Why the Fed may not need faster rate cuts 1:13:26 Will Trump’s policies drive inflation? 1:17:08 Will the 10-year bond hit new highs? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices