The Breakdown
The Breakdown dives into the deepest topics in crypto, blockchain, and the macro forces shaping markets and power structures. Each episode breaks down complex ideas into clear, grounded analysis — separating signal from noise across crypto, finance, and geopolitics. Hosted by David Canellis, The Breakdown features explainers, interviews, and conversations with the people building, regulating, and challenging the financial system. A Blockworks podcast. Subscribe to The Breakdown newsletter: https://the-breakdown.carrd.co/
10
Mythos Leaks, Crypto in the Strait of Hormuz, and DoorDash Stablecoins | The Breakdown
<p>Someone guessed Anthropic’s Mythos URL, gained unauthorized access to the most hyped AI model in history, and used it to build websites.</p> <p><br></p> <p>David covers three stories from the week: the Mythos breach, a Tether scam in the Strait of Hormuz, and DoorDash’s stablecoin announcement.</p> <p><br></p> <p>We unpack why Project Glasswing looks like marketing by association, how scammers are demanding Bitcoin and Tether for Hormuz transit, and whether DoorDash + Tempo passes David’s three-prong crypto test. Enjoy!</p> <p>__</p> <p><br></p> <p>TIMESTAMPS:</p> <p>(00:00) Introduction</p> <p>(01...
Can AI Actually Trade Crypto? | The Breakdown
<p>Crypto might be the world’s best test bed for AI trading — and Virtuals Protocol is running the experiment live.</p> <p>Weekee Tiew, co-founder of Virtuals Protocol, joins us to explain Degen Claw, their AI Council judging system, and why agents will soon replace wallets.</p> <p>We unpack why pure P&L is the wrong benchmark, how the trench agent concept could reshape portfolio management, and what crypto’s role is in the future of finance. Enjoy!</p> <p><br></p> <p>TIMESTAMPS:</p> <p>(00:00) Introduction</p> <p>(05:29) Nexo Ad</p> <p>(06:03) Interview with WeeKee</p> <p>(09:28) Bot St...
Crypto Fed Chair, Polymarket Bots, and the Faketoshi Movie
<p>Trump's Fed pick has 30-plus crypto investments — and that's just what he could disclose. David walks through Warsh's filing, a Polymarket bot built on the theory that nothing ever happens, and Hollywood's Craig Wright blockbuster.</p> <p><br></p> <p>TIMESTAMPS:</p> <p>(00:00) Introduction</p> <p>(00:21) Trying Something New</p> <p>(02:47) Kevin Warsh</p> <p>(08:58) Nexo Ad</p> <p>(09:34) Nothing Ever Happens Polymarket Bot</p> <p>(18:47) Nexo Ad</p> <p>(19:38) Thoughts on Upcoming Craig Wright Bitcoin Thriller</p> <p><br></p> <p><br></p> <p>FOLLOW THE SHOW</p> <p>› David — https://x.com/dcanellis</p> <p>› The Breakdown — https://x...
Kevin O’Leary on AI, Data Centers, and Why He Sold 27 Crypto Positions | The Breakdown
<p>AI is reprogramming the social fabric — and nobody can agree whether that’s a good thing.</p> <p>Kevin O’Leary, investor and entrepreneur, joins us to share his framework for navigating the AI era across investing, data centers, and crypto.</p> <p><br></p> <p>TIMESTAMPS:</p> <p>(00:00) Introduction</p> <p>(01:33) One Shot, One Opportunity</p> <p>(03:20) Two Wolves</p> <p>(06:02) Nexo Ad</p> <p>(06:36) Interview with Kevin O’Leary</p> <p>(08:56) Datacenters as a Political Issue</p> <p>(12:13) How Kevin Uses AI</p> <p>(14:39) Nexo Ad</p> <p>(15:36) What Makes an AI Company Worth Investing In?</p> <p>(17:39...
The Three Layers of AI Agent Commerce with Jordan Liu | The Breakdown
<p>x402 just got a lot bigger. The Linux Foundation is now backing it — and maybe Amazon, Google, Stripe, Mastercard, and American Express along with them.</p> <p>In this episode, David sits down with Jordan Liu, co-founder of AIsa — one of earliest builders in the x402 ecosystem, with over 20 million microtransactions already processed.</p> <p><br></p> <p>TIMESTAMPS:</p> <p>(00:00) Introduction</p> <p>(01:42) What AISA Builds</p> <p>(02:55) X40 Goes Linux</p> <p>(07:30) Nexo Ad</p> <p>(08:07) Adoption and Micropayments</p> <p>(19:58) Nexo Ad and Blockworks IR Promo</p> <p>(21:38) Adoption and Micropayments (Con’t)</p> <p>(25:06) Protocols Roadbl...
Are AI Agents Actually Using Crypto? | The Breakdown
<p>AI agents are coming online fast — and the payment rails for that world are being built right now.</p> <p>David breaks down the race between Coinbase’s x402 and Stripe’s Machine Payments Protocol, the rise of agentic commerce, and why crypto may have a natural edge, before sitting down with Jordan Liu of AIsa.</p> <p>__</p> <p><br></p> <p>TIMESTAMPS:</p> <p>(00:00) Intro</p> <p>(01:30) Tool Time</p> <p>(03:45) AI-doption</p> <p>(05:48) Nexo Ad</p> <p>(06:30) When in Doubt, Incentivize</p> <p>(07:36) Interview with Jordan Liu</p> <p>(12:24) Nexo Ad and Blockworks IR Promo</p> <p>(14...
Fed Governor Miran on Why Inflation Fears Are Overstated | Forward Guidance
<p>While The Breakdown is between seasons, we’re bringing some of our favorite conversations from across Blockworks onto the feed.</p> <p><br></p> <p>In this episode of Forward Guidance, Felix Jauvin sits down with Fed Governor Stephen Miran at DAS to discuss why he believes inflation fears are overstated, why the Fed may still be too restrictive, and how AI, deregulation, and stablecoins could all shape the future of monetary policy.</p> <p><br></p> <p>FOLLOW GUEST</p> <p>› Federal Reserve – https://x.com/federalreserve</p> <p><br></p> <p><br></p> <p>FOLLOW THE SHOW</p> <p>...
The Crypto-TradFi Convergence | Inflection Point
<p>While The Breakdown is between seasons, we’re sharing a panel from Digital Assets Summit featuring the team behind Inflection Point. The conversation explores how investors should think about crypto valuations, what gives L1s value, and why there’s still no shared framework for pricing blockchain networks.</p> <p><br></p> <p>–</p> <p><br></p> <p>Follow Blockworks Research: https://x.com/blockworksres</p> <p>Follow Inflection Point: inflectionpoint.carrd.co</p> <p>Follow Matt: https://x.com/Matt_Hougan</p> <p>David: https://x.com/dlawant</p> <p>Michael: https://x.com/marcryptonio</p> <p>Marc: https...
![Privacy & Institutional Crypto's [Redacted] Future | The Breakdown](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmegaphone.imgix.net%2Fpodcasts%2Fcea8cb26-28b7-11f1-a44c-634a331296ef%2Fimage%2F5fe58712cc3b91ba192c2cc0748ba75a.png%3Fixlib%3Drails-4.3.1%26max-w%3D3000%26max-h%3D3000%26fit%3Dcrop%26auto%3Dformat%2Ccompress&w=256&q=75)
Privacy & Institutional Crypto's [Redacted] Future | The Breakdown
<p>While The Breakdown is between seasons, we’re sharing a panel from Digital Asset Summit hosted by David. The discussion explores how institutions think about on-chain privacy, the tradeoffs involved, and what it takes to bring financial systems onto blockchain infrastructure.</p> <p><br></p> <p>–</p> <p><br></p> <p>Follow Blockworks Research: https://x.com/blockworksres</p> <p>Follow Patrick: https://x.com/_patrickogrady</p> <p>Follow Yannik: https://x.com/yrschrade</p> <p>Follow Catherine: https://x.com/catgu_</p> <p>Follow Eric: https://x.com/wesarn_real</p> <p><br></p> <p>Follow David: https://x.co...
Investor Relations in the Onchain Era
<p>In this special episode, we introduce Blockworks’ new investor relations platform for onchain businesses.</p> <p><br></p> <p>As institutional capital continues to enter crypto markets, expectations around transparency, standardization, and professionalism are rising. But instead of replicating legacy systems, Blockworks IR takes a different approach, leveraging real-time, onchain data to create a more transparent, data-driven, and low-friction investor relations model.</p> <p><br></p> <p>The platform combines curated analytics, branded investor portals, and white-glove advisory support into a single solution, helping teams tell a clearer, more credible story while giving investors a more efficient way to ev...
