Author: CoinDesk

As the crypto bull market gets started, Alex Pack of Hack VC dives into why he thinks crypto is still so early and how his firm believes crypto and AI will intersect.  

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Pandora, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.

In this episode of Unchained, Alex Pack, managing partner at Hack VC. Pack discusses the firm's recent $150 million fundraise, the challenges of raising capital in a bear market, and the firm's focus on early-stage Web3 infrastructure. He also shares his thoughts on the intersection of crypto and AI, the future of DeFi, and the importance of security in the crypto space. Pack believes that the current infrastructure of crypto is still in its early stages and needs significant improvement before it can reach mainstream adoption. He also sees potential in the development of more secure smart contracts and the integration of AI into decentralized applications.

Show highlights:

• How Hack VC was able to raise $150 million in a bear market, especially after the blowups of FTX, 3AC, and Terra
• Alex's interaction with SBF, whom he calls a "sociopath," and why he didn't invest in FTX
• Hack VC's philosophy to "back hackers" in crypto
• The goals behind Zuzalu, the new community that resembles Balaji Srinivasan's idea of a network state
• What the main focus of Hack VC's investments are, including scalability, AI, and DeFi
• Why Alex believes that "we are still so early"
• How Alex believes crypto and artificial intelligence will intersect 
• The role of AI agents and how to use them in decentralized applications
• Why he thinks that EigenLayer is a great solution for middleware applications
• Alex's opinion on the modular vs. monolithic approach for scaling blockchains
• How DeFi survived the last bear market, contrasted with the collapses of CeFi companies like Celsius, BlockFi and FTX
• Whether algorithmic stablecoins can ever work and what Alex thinks of Ethena's USDe
• How to improve security in crypto, according to Alex
• Why the outcome of the Bitcoin ETFs exceeded Alex's expectations
• What he believes the catalysts are for the next bull market
• 
  

Thank you to our sponsors!    Polkadot

Guest | 

Alex Pack, Managing partner at Hack VC

Previous appearances on Unchained:

Dragonfly Capital on Why Ethereum Is So Far in the Lead

‘The Last Big Whale’: Why the Crypto Contagion of 2022 Eventually Hit Genesis

Links | 

New fund

Bloomberg: Hack VC Raises $150 Million for Bets on Battered Crypto Industry 

Hack VC Closes $150M Venture Fund I, Bringing AUM to $425M

Stablecoins:

Unchained:

What Is Ethena’s USDe Synethic Dollar? A Beginner’s Guide

What Is Terra and Why Did It Fail?

Why It's so Hard to Keep Stablecoins Stable 

What Is Depegging in Crypto and Why Does It Occur?

What Is Real-World Asset (RWA) Tokenization? A Beginner's Guide

EigenLayer ecosystem

Unchained: What Is EigenLayer? A Guide to the Decentralized ETH Restaking Protocol

The Block: AltLayer closes $14.4 million strategic round co-led by Polychain and Hack VC

Modular vs. monolithic approach

Unchained: 

What Are Modular Blockchains? A Beginner's Guide

Three Crypto Pioneers on Crypto’s Monolithic vs. Modular Debate

Crypto x AI crossover

io.net and Ritual Collaborate to Boost Global AI Compute Landscape 

Ritual x EigenLayer: Restaking for AI

Unchained: 5 Use Cases of AI in Blockchain

Zuzalu

Decrypt: I Spent a Month Inside Vitalik Buterin’s Social Experiment—Here’s What It Was Really Like

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Unchained Podcast is Produced by Laura Shin Media, LLC.  Distributed by CoinDesk. Senior Producer is Michele Musso and Executive Producer is Jared Schwartz. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Host Jennifer Sanasie breaks down the latest news in the crypto industry. And, a conversation with Coachella Innovation Lead Sam Schoonover on their new partnership with OpenSea.

To get the show every day, follow the podcast here.

Bitcoin (BTC) has retreated shortly after setting a record high, rising above $69,000 on crypto exchange Coinbase, a level first touched on Nov. 10, 2021. Plus, Coachella and OpenSea launch their partnership for Keepsakes, a series of collections that unlock IRL utilities at the California-based music festival.

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Consensus is where experts convene to talk about the ideas shaping our digital future. Join developers, investors, founders, brands, policymakers and more in Austin, Texas from May 29-31. The tenth annual Consensus is curated by CoinDesk to feature the industry’s most sought-after speakers, unparalleled networking opportunities and unforgettable experiences. Register now at consensus.coindesk.com.

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This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie. “First Mover” is produced by Jennifer Sanasie and Melissa Montañez and edited by Victor Chen.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The latest price moves and insights with Jennifer Sanasie and guest Tom Schmidt, partner at Dragonfly.

To get the show every day, follow the podcast here.

The moment crypto traders have been waiting for is here: bitcoin has reached a new all time high above $69,000, a level last seen in late 2021. On "Markets Daily," host Jennifer Sanasie is joined by Dragonfly Partner Tom Schmidt to discuss the price action.

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Consensus is where experts convene to talk about the ideas shaping our digital future. Join developers, investors, founders, brands, policymakers and more in Austin, Texas from May 29-31. The tenth annual Consensus is curated by CoinDesk to feature the industry’s most sought-after speakers, unparalleled networking opportunities and unforgettable experiences. Take 15% off registration with the code MD15. Register now at consensus.coindesk.com.

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This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie. “Markets Daily” is executive produced by Jared Schwartz and produced and edited by Eleanor Pahl, alongside Senior Booking Producer Melissa Montañez. All original music by Doc Blust and Colin Mealey.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We recorded at ETHDenver on the next generation of crypto mining ASICs: Zero-Knowledge (ZK) miners.

Follow along on your favorite podcast player of choice by clicking here.

Michael Gao of Fabric Crypto and Nazar Khan of TeraWulf join the show to discuss bleeding edge inquiry into ZK ASIC hardware, including how they could fit into a Bitcoin mining playbook.

Published twice weekly, "The Mining Pod" interviews the best builders and operators in the Bitcoin and Bitcoin mining landscape. Subscribe to get notifications when we publish interviews Tuesday and a news show on Friday! 

Check out our other shows and content by going to Blockspace.media today.

Follow our host on Twitter, @wsfoxley.

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Thank you to our sponsor, CleanSpark, America’s Bitcoin miner!

"The Mining Pod" is produced by Sunnyside Honey LLC and distributed by CoinDesk. Senior Producer is Damien Somerset.

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Host Jennifer Sanasie breaks down the latest news in the crypto industry. And, a conversation with CreateSafe co-founder and CEO Daouda on AI and music.

To get the show every day, follow the podcast here.

Bitcoin (BTC) crossed the $66,000 mark, inching closer to its lifetime peak of $69,000 set in November 2021. Plus, CreateSafe co-founder and CEO Daouda Leonard weighs in on the intersection between music and artificial intelligence (AI).

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Consensus is where experts convene to talk about the ideas shaping our digital future. Join developers, investors, founders, brands, policymakers and more in Austin, Texas from May 29-31. The tenth annual Consensus is curated by CoinDesk to feature the industry’s most sought-after speakers, unparalleled networking opportunities and unforgettable experiences. Register now at consensus.coindesk.com.

-

This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie. “First Mover” is produced by Jennifer Sanasie and Melissa Montañez and edited by Victor Chen.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week’s episode, LVMH's Nelly Mensah shares her insight on the luxury giant's foray into Web3, metaverse and immersive tech.

Nelly Mensah, VP of Digital Innovation at LVMH joins "Gen C" to discuss their approach to Web3, metaverse and immersive technologies. She discusses LVMH's early embrace of NFTs and the metaverse, the role of digital fashion and virtual worlds in enhancing customer experiences, and how AI is shaping the future of luxury branding.

Links mentioned from the podcast: 

• The Rebooting Newsletter on the state of publishers
• Gab’s Racist AI Chatbots Have Been Instructed to Deny the Holocaust
• Roblox Game Developers Earned a Record $741 Million Last Year
• Nelly’s Twitter

Watch this episode on video:

• YouTube
• CoinDesk

Follow us on Twitter: 

• Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3

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Consensus is where experts convene to talk about the ideas shaping our digital future. Join developers, investors, founders, brands, policymakers and more in Austin, Texas from May 29-31. The tenth annual Consensus is curated by CoinDesk to feature the industry’s most sought-after speakers, unparalleled networking opportunities and unforgettable experiences. Take 15% off registration with the code GENC15. Register now at consensus.coindesk.com.

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Want to get three years of access to Consensus with the Microcosms NFT? For just 1ETH, you will gain entry to the conference and be eligible to receive randomized rewards including gift cards to local Austin spots, a hotel stay and VIP access to supercharge your event experience! In addition to three years of access to Consensus, you will also be the holder of a unique generative artwork, the Microcosms NFT, created by artist Fahad Karim. Mint now until March 14th at coindesk.com/consensusnft.

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"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by Jared Schwartz and produced by Uyen Truong, with additional production assistance from Eleanor Pahl. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The latest price moves and insights with Jennifer Sanasie and guest Ryan Grace, head of tastycrypto.

To get the show every day, follow the podcast here.

As bitcoin inches closer to an all-time high, Jennifer Sanasie is joined by Ryan Grace, head of tastycrypto, to discuss overbought conditions and ether's potential alongside bitcoin's rise.

-

Consensus is where experts convene to talk about the ideas shaping our digital future. Join developers, investors, founders, brands, policymakers and more in Austin, Texas from May 29-31. The tenth annual Consensus is curated by CoinDesk to feature the industry’s most sought-after speakers, unparalleled networking opportunities and unforgettable experiences. Take 15% off registration with the code MD15. Register now at consensus.coindesk.com.

-

This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie. “Markets Daily” is executive produced by Jared Schwartz and produced and edited by Eleanor Pahl, alongside Senior Booking Producer Melissa Montañez. All original music by Doc Blust and Colin Mealey.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Host Jennifer Sanasie breaks down the latest news in the crypto industry. And, a conversation with Commissioner Tung Chan on crypto regulation in the U.S.

To get the show every day, follow the podcast here.

Commissioner Tung Chan from the Colorado Division of Securities joins "First Mover" to discuss the state of crypto regulation in the U.S. and biggest challenges for a clear path forward. Plus, insights on the debate between innovation versus regulation as ETHDenver is taking place in Colorado. And, what you need to know about Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman.

-

Consensus is where experts convene to talk about the ideas shaping our digital future. Join developers, investors, founders, brands, policymakers and more in Austin, Texas from May 29-31. The tenth annual Consensus is curated by CoinDesk to feature the industry’s most sought-after speakers, unparalleled networking opportunities and unforgettable experiences. Register now at consensus.coindesk.com.

-

This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie. “First Mover” is produced by Jennifer Sanasie and Melissa Montañez and edited by Victor Chen.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

CoinDesk Indices presents notable data insights from the week, followed by additional analysis from an industry expert.

To get the show every day, follow the podcast here.

The CoinDesk Market Index (CMI) functions as a benchmark for the performance of the digital asset market, delivering institutional quality information to digital asset investors. Subsets of the CoinDesk Market Index (CMI) are investible CoinDesk Crypto Sectors and the CoinDesk 20 Index, designed to measure the performance of the top digital assets. Today’s takeaways are provided by Tracy Stephens, senior index manager at CoinDesk Indices with additional analysis from Connor Farley, co-founder and CEO of Truvius. For more on CoinDesk Indices, visit: coindeskmarkets.com.

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Consensus is where experts convene to talk about the ideas shaping our digital future. Join developers, investors, founders, brands, policymakers and more in Austin, Texas from May 29-31. The tenth annual Consensus is curated by CoinDesk to feature the industry’s most sought-after speakers, unparalleled networking opportunities and unforgettable experiences. Take 15% off registration with the code MD15. Register now at consensus.coindesk.com.

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This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie and uses Wondercraft AI Voice. “Markets Daily” is executive produced by Jared Schwartz and produced and edited by Eleanor Pahl, alongside Senior Booking Producer Melissa Montañez. All original music by Doc Blust and Colin Mealey.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alex Thorn unpacks how ETFs, long-term holders, and the upcoming halving should push Bitcoin’s price to over $100,000 by the end of the year.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Pandora, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.

After a week in which Bitcoin nearly hit its all-time high, Alex Thorn, head of firmwide research at Galaxy, joins Unchained to discuss the pivotal role of ETF inflows in Bitcoin's recent price surge, the nuanced behaviors of long-term versus short-term holders, and the potential impacts of upcoming halvings and institutional involvement on the market's future trajectory. 

Alex offers deep insights into the market value to realized value Z-score, explaining its relevance in assessing Bitcoin's valuation. He also delves into the implications of major financial institutions like Merrill and Wells Fargo embracing Bitcoin ETFs for their clients. Furthermore, Thorn speculates on the timing and conditions for an "altcoin season" and shares his price predictions for Bitcoin by the end of the year.

Learn more: Bitcoin ETFs Explained: What Are They & How Do They Work?

Show highlights:

• The main drivers for Bitcoin's recent surge, according to Alex
• Whether long-term Bitcoin holders are selling due to the recent surge in price
• What the MVRV (market value to realized value) Z-score is and how Alex uses this metric to assess the Bitcoin market
• Why Alex believes this period in Bitcoin's history is distinct
• What the implications of Merrill and Wells Fargo offering Bitcoin ETFs to their customers are, and how this expands Bitcoin's institutional appeal
• How the upcoming halving could affect the price, especially since Bitcoin is already closer to all-time highs than previous times ahead of the halving
• Why Alex thinks this might be the first time that highs in bitcoin and ether do not lead to an "altcoin season"
• Alex's price prediction for Bitcoin by the end of the year
• 
  

Thank you to our sponsors!

Uniswap  |  iTrustCapital  |  Polkadot

Guest | 

Alex Thorn, Head of Firmwide Research at Galaxy

Previous appearance on Unchained: How Much Money Will Flow Into Bitcoin ETFs? Here’s One Projection

Links | 

Recent coverage on Unchained of Bitcoin’s surge: 

Should You Sell Bitcoin Now That It’s Nearing Its All-Time High?

Bitcoin Watchers React to BTC Returning to the $60,000 Mark

Coinbase App Crashes Amid Bitcoin’s Massive Rally

Bitcoin Price Surges Past $61,000

Others:

The Block: JPMorgan says bitcoin price could drop towards $42,000 post April halving

Bloomberg: BofA’s Merrill, Wells Fargo Offer Bitcoin ETFs to Wealth Clients

Previous coverage on Unchained of spot Bitcoin ETFs:

Why Some Brokerage Firms Are Blocking Access to Spot Bitcoin ETFs

Why Spot Bitcoin ETFs Are Likely to Finally Start Trading on Thursday 

Why the SEC May Want Cash Creation of Spot Bitcoin ETFs

Why It Looks Like BlackRock Could Win America’s First Spot Bitcoin ETF

Will a Spot Bitcoin ETF Finally Get Approved?

The 4 Factors That Will Determine Which Spot Bitcoin ETFs Win Market Share

How Much Money Will Flow Into Bitcoin ETFs? Here’s One Projection

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Unchained Podcast is Produced by Laura Shin Media, LLC.  Distributed by CoinDesk. Senior Producer is Michele Musso and Executive Producer is Jared Schwartz. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.