Author: CoinDesk

A macro expert gives a rollicking 101-style overview of some of the most important market concepts for bitcoiners.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Casper.

What are Treasury bonds? Why does it matter how they’re doing? Does the Federal Reserve actually print money? What’s the difference between quantitative easing and yield curve control? 

Bitcoin undeniably operates in a macro environment. In this 101-style episode, guest Kevin Kelly, cofounder of Delphi Digital, gives listeners a whistle-stop tour of a set of key concepts to understanding bitcoin macro, including bond markets, the Federal Reserve and money printing.

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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.

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

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As the financial world debates rising Treasury yields and waits for Fed Chair Powell’s comments, has bitcoin just become another risk asset? 

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Casper.

Over the last year there has been a growing correlation between the stock market and bitcoin. Some of this is attributed to the new traditional participants in bitcoin. Some of it is attributed to bitcoin acting less like an uncorrelated hedge and more like just another risk asset. 

In this episode, NLW argues that the notion bitcoin has started acting more like stocks is, in fact, completely backwards. Instead, in a negative, real interest rate environment, stocks have started to act more like bitcoin - as a store of value.

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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.

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

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Image credit: Popular stock and bitcoin memes

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Gary Gensler’s confirmation hearing and Warren’s appearance on cable financial news give us a preview of crypto’s place in a new political landscape.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Casper.

Today on the Brief:

• PayPal acquiring Curv for $500 million?
• Traditional markets are very confused
• Portnoy launches Buzz exchange-traded fund

Our main discussion: NLW looks at the emerging political landscape for crypto in the U.S. Specifically, he examines:

• Gary Gensler’s hearing before the Senate Banking Committee on his nomination to head the SEC
• Elizabeth Warren’s comments (or non-comments) about bitcoin on cable TV 

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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.

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

As musicians, celebrities and social media stars pile into the space, should we be getting concerned?

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Casper.

On today’s episode, NLW looks at the explosion of interest in NFTs. Big money, big names, big problems? 

He asks whether non-fungible tokens are this cycle’s initial coin offerings by looking at five different comparison points:

• Inflated prices
• Overpromises
• Celebrity hype
• Wheat-and-Chaff
• Competition with bitcoin

So are NFTs just a new version of the ol’ ICO? Listen to find out.

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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.

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Image credit: Beeple/Nifty Gateway

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

A 108-page report from the bank argues that in the future, bitcoin could become the preferred currency for international trade. 

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Casper.

Today on the Brief:

• Michael Saylor bought the dip
• China bans bitcoin mining in Inner Mongolia
• WallStreetBets moving off Reddit? 

Our main discussion: Citi’s analysis of bitcoin. 

February saw a non-stop barrage of bullish bitcoin news with regard to institutional uptake. March is off to a similar start with a massive research report arguing that:

• Bitcoin’s evolution over the last seven years has been spectacular 
• CBDCs are likely to become more important
• If CBDCs do become more important, it could spur more corporations to use bitcoin as a global settlement currency 

NLW argues that the report itself may be the beginning of a new, important part of the institutional bitcoin narrative. 

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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.

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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 Human Rights Foundation CSO Alex Gladstein’s latest essay.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io.

Today on “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads “Can Governments Stop Bitcoin?” by Alex Gladstein, published recently by Quillette. Gladstein argues that both technical and legal attacks on bitcoin are extremely difficult to execute, even for large governments. 

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Earn up to 12% APY on Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD, EUR, GBP, Stablecoins & more. Get started at nexo.io.

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NFTs had a major week, with Christie’s Auctioning off its first-ever digital art exclusive and a different NFT selling for $6.6M. 

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io.

This week on the Weekly Recap, NLW discusses:

• The price dip
• Tether’s settlement with the NYAG
• Coinbase’s S1 Filings
• Beeple’s record-setting NFT sales and what it means for the NFT space as a whole

This week on The Breakdown:

Monday | The First Canadian Bitcoin ETF Is Absolutely Soaring

Tuesday | The Most Conservative Regulator in America Just Settled Its Case Against Tether: Can We Move On Now?

Wednesday | If You Sell Your Bitcoin, Michael Saylor and Jack Dorsey WILL Buy It

Thursday | Bitcoin Investing Is ESG Investing

Friday | Why Cathie Wood Thinks Bitcoin Could Replace Bonds

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Earn up to 12% APY on Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD, EUR, GBP, Stablecoins & more. Get started at nexo.io.

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The ARK Investment founder discussed bitcoin’s opportunity to act as a replacement store of value at the Bloomberg Crypto Summit.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io.

Today on the Brief:

• SEC investigating Elon’s DOGE tweets?
• US income growth has second biggest monthly gain ever
• Robinhood growth suggests crypto mainstreaming

Main discussion: Cathie Wood thinks Bitcoin could replace bonds. In this episode, NLW lays out:

• How Cathie Wood made a name by being early in Tesla, Bitcoin and innovation
• How ARK’s funds have grown 
• Why bonds aren’t performing anymore and why bitcoin could fill the gap in investor’s portfolios

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Earn up to 12% APY on Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD, EUR, GBP, Stablecoins & more. Get started at nexo.io.

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As more investors focus on the environmental, social and governance impacts of their decisions, an argument for why bitcoin is ESG-friendly. 

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io.

In today's episode, NLW looks at how bitcoin fits with the growing trend of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) investing. In it, he: 

• Argues that ESG investors should disregard the false idea that bitcoin is only used for crime
• Provides three frameworks for understanding bitcoin’s energy consumption 
• Demonstrates how marginalized communities are using bitcoin as a tool of economic empowerment
• Argues that bitcoin provides a new, networked alternative to corporate governance

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Earn up to 12% APY on Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD, EUR, GBP, Stablecoins & more. Get started at nexo.io.

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Square added $170M in bitcoin to its reserves last quarter, while MicroStrategy announced a fresh $1B bitcoin buy today. 

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io.

Today on the Brief:

• Fed Chair Jerome Powell comments on markets and digital currency
• Cathie Wood’s ARK faces toughest stretch since last September 
• India’s latest anti-crypto sentiment 

Our main discussion: More news on corporate bitcoin buying. NLW discusses:

• Square’s Q4 and overall 2020 bitcoin performance in terms of revenue and profit
• Square’s latest bitcoin purchase of ~3,300 BTC for $170 million 
• MicroStrategy’s latest >$1B bitcoin purchase, bringing the total to more than 90,000 BTC
• Why these announcements are losing their power to move markets 

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Earn up to 12% APY on Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD, EUR, GBP, Stablecoins & more. Get started at nexo.io.

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