Author: CoinDesk

A new survey from Mizuho Securities sees bitcoin as the most popular stimulus investment avenue. 

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Casper, and this week’s special product launch, NEM.

Today on the Brief:

• Bitcoin’s $60,000 weekend price brings out the angry bears
• India’s mixed signals on a crypto ban
• Tesla’s new Master of Coin

Our main discussion: 

A new $1.9 trillion stimulus package is on the books, of which about $400 billion is going to Americans in the form of direct payments. In this episode, NLW looks at what percentage of that might find its way into investments like bitcoin, specifically looking at a just-released survey from Mizuho with some juicy results. 

-

Nexo.io lets you borrow against your crypto at 5.9% APR, earn up to 12% on your idle assets, and exchange instantly between 75+ market pairs with the tap of a button. Get started at nexo.io.

-

Launching in mid-March, Casper is the future-proof blockchain protocol that finally address the blockchain trilemma. Learn more at Casper.Network.

-

Symbol from NEM is the connector between blockchain and business. It brings enterprise-grade security and programmability with cutting edge technical features for projects at the heart of the new economy -- join us by visiting symbolplatform.com or nem.io.

-

Image credit: Rabbitti/iStock/Getty Images Plus, modified by CoinDesk

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

A reading of Bitcoin author Nik Bhatia’s latest essay.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Casper.

On this week’s “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads Layered Money author Nik Bhatia’s recent essay for CoinDesk, “Why $1 Million Bitcoin Is Coming.”

-

Nexo.io lets you borrow against your crypto at 5.9% APR, earn up to 12% on your idle assets, and exchange instantly between 75+ market pairs with the tap of a button. Get started at nexo.io.

-

Launching in mid-March, Casper is the future-proof blockchain protocol that finally address the blockchain trilemma. Learn more at Casper.Network.

-

Image credit: AlexSava/iStock/Getty Images Plus

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

Morgan Stanley, New York Life, JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs are just some of the traditional finance institutions in the crypto news this week.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Casper.

On The Breakdown’s “Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at news of institutional involvement in the bitcoin and digital asset space including:

• New York Life investing in and joining the board of directors of NYDIG
• JPMorgan introducing a “cryptocurrency exposure basket” debt product
• Goldman Sachs’ COO saying demand is rising 

-

Nexo.io lets you borrow against your crypto at 5.9% APR, earn up to 12% on your idle assets, and exchange instantly between 75+ market pairs with the tap of a button. Get started at nexo.io.

-

Launching in mid-March, Casper is the future-proof blockchain protocol that finally address the blockchain trilemma. Learn more at Casper.Network.

-

Image credit: metamorworks/iStock/Getty Images Plus

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

The U.S. has now spent more on COVID-19 than on World War II. Here’s what it might mean for bitcoin. 

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Casper.

COVID-19 sent the money printer into overdrive. With the newly signed $1.9 trillion stimulus bill, the total spent on pandemic relief in the U.S. exceeds $6 trillion, more than WWII’s inflation-adjusted $4.1 trillion. 

In this episode, NLW explores what the possible implications of this spending are for bitcoin, including:

• Whether we’re likely to see if some of the $400 billion allocated for direct checks to citizens find its way into bitcoin
• Whether the $1.9 trillion is just the start of a larger set of Biden Administration initiatives that will redefine our relationship with the balance sheet

NLW also does a quick regulatory roundup looking at:

• The CFTC investigating Binance 
• U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson reintroducing the “Token Taxonomy Act”
• The introduction of the “Eliminate Barriers to Innovation Act”

-

Nexo.io lets you borrow against your crypto at 5.9% APR, earn up to 12% on your idle assets, and exchange instantly between 75+ market pairs with the tap of a button. Get started at nexo.io.

-

Launching in mid-March, Casper is the future-proof blockchain protocol that finally address the blockchain trilemma. Learn more at Casper.Network.

-

Image credit: LPETTET/iStock/Getty Images Plus

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

The record-setting NFT auction is generating significant discussion about art, crypto and the state of the macro economy.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Casper.

Everyone paying attention knew that Beeple’s Christie’s auction was likely going to set a new high-water mark for non-fungible token (NFT) sales. Fewer would have guessed that it would lead to the third-highest auction price for a living artist in history.

On this episode, NLW breaks down:

• How interest in NFTs is at an inflection point
• Why it’s not just digital art but sports collectibles as well
• How the traditional collectibles markets are also exploding
• Why people think growing NFT prices might be a sign of an everything bubble

-

Nexo.io lets you borrow against your crypto at 5.9% APR, earn up to 12% on your idle assets, and exchange instantly between 75+ market pairs with the tap of a button. Get started at nexo.io.

-

Launching in mid-March, Casper is the future-proof blockchain protocol that finally address the blockchain trilemma. Learn more at Casper.Network.

-

Image credit: VPanteon/iStock/Getty Images Plus, modified by CoinDesk

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

The news comes just days after NYDIG’s announcement of a $200 million financing round including New York Life, Mass Mutual and George Soros as investors. 

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Casper.

Today on The Breakdown, NLW catches up on the news from the past few days, looking at:

• NFTs heating up – and capturing some negative attention in the process
• Infrastructure acquisitions and M&A heat up
• Eliminate Barriers to Innovation Act 2021
• Coinbase’s $100B valuation
• NYDIG’s $200M round and new board member 

-

Nexo.io lets you borrow against your crypto at 5.9% APR, earn up to 12% on your idle assets, and exchange instantly between 75+ market pairs with the tap of a button. Get started at nexo.io.

-

Launching in mid-March, Casper is the future-proof blockchain protocol that finally address the blockchain trilemma. Learn more at Casper.Network.

-

Image credit: AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Image/Getty Images

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

From the Middle East to the South China Sea, a look at the most volatile parts of the world and what they mean for the macroeconomic landscape.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Casper.

On today’s episode, NLW is joined by investor and FinTwit star Tracy Shuchart. On the show, they discuss:

• The world’s most important geopolitical fault lines, from the Middle East to China
• The early indicators from the Biden administration around foreign policy 
• Jerome Powell’s recent statements on CBDCs 
• The changing global energy landscape 

-

Nexo.io lets you borrow against your crypto at 5.9% APR, earn up to 12% on your idle assets, and exchange instantly between 75+ market pairs with the tap of a button. Get started at nexo.io.

-

Launching in mid-March, Casper is the future-proof blockchain protocol that finally address the blockchain trilemma. Learn more at Casper.Network.

-

Image credit: LewisTsePuiLung/iStock/Getty Images Plus

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

Why CBDCs are growing as a focus for governments, and what impact they’ll really have on bitcoin.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Casper.

On today’s episode, NLW provides a 101-style overview of central bank digital currencies, looking at:

• Why governments are interested in CBDCs
• Why Facebook’s libra announcement accelerated CBDC development the world over
• Why China’s CBDC efforts are driven by an attempt to shift power in the U.S. dollar-led global economy 
• How the U.S.’ rhetoric around central bank digital currencies is changing
• Why CBDCs are likely to be good for bitcoin

-

Nexo.io lets you borrow against your crypto at 5.9% APR, earn up to 12% on your idle assets, and exchange instantly between 75+ market pairs with the tap of a button. Get started at nexo.io.

-

Launching in mid-March, Casper is the future-proof blockchain protocol that finally address the blockchain trilemma. Learn more at Casper.Network.

-

Image credit: Overearth/iStock/Getty Images Plus

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

A reading of Balaji Srinivasan’s recent essay “How India Legalizes Crypto.”

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Casper.

On today’s episode, NLW reads Balaji Srinivasan’s essay “How India Legalizes Crypto.” NLW argues that while India’s proposed crypto ban is nominally the focus, the implications are much bigger and have to do with a forthcoming global monetary competition that will inevitably include private, network cryptos including bitcoin and more. 

-

Nexo.io lets you borrow against your crypto at 5.9% APR, earn up to 12% on your idle assets, and exchange instantly between 75+ market pairs with the tap of a button. Get started at nexo.io.

-

Launching in mid-March, Casper is the future-proof blockchain protocol that finally address the blockchain trilemma. Learn more at Casper.Network.

-

Image credit: happyphoton/iStock/Getty Images Plus

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

A survey of pensions, sovereign wealth funds, hedge funds and more affirms growing institutional interest in crypto.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Casper.

On this edition of The Breakdown’s weekly recap, NLW looks at:

• Whether bitcoin is being caught up in the larger macro volatility
• The latest NFT shenanigans including a burned IRL Banksy
• The latest on institutional adoption including a positive survey from Goldman Sachs

-

Nexo.io lets you borrow against your crypto at 5.9% APR, earn up to 12% on your idle assets, and exchange instantly between 75+ market pairs with the tap of a button. Get started at nexo.io.

-

Launching in mid-March, Casper is the future-proof blockchain protocol that finally address the blockchain trilemma. Learn more at Casper.Network.

-

Image credit: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg/Getty

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