Author: CoinDesk

The entrepreneurial mayor brings his recruitment of tech talent to the crypto space with the potential of a 1% investment of the city’s reserves into BTC.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io.

Today on the Brief:

• Initial jobless claims grow the most since March
• Biden unveils emergency relief plan
• Fed Chair Powell discusses CBDCs and stablecoins

Our main discussion: Is Miami about to put 1% of its treasury into bitcoin? 

Since December 2020 there has been a lot of conversation about whether Miami could become the next Silicon Valley, or at least recruit a big swath of entrepreneurial talent to set up shop. 

In this episode, NLW looks at how that discussion moved into the crypto realm and led to Mayor Suarez’s recent discussions about moving Miami’s treasury into bitcoin. He argues that the story is about the larger shifts in how cities and geographic regions compete for supremacy in the social media, remote work era.

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From “backed by nothing” to “China mining control,” a complete look at the best response to every category of bitcoin FUD out there.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io.

On today’s episode of The Breakdown, NLW is joined by Dan Held, growth lead at Kraken and a serial bitcoin entrepreneur. 

As the market heats up, so, too, does the number of articles and tweets spreading FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt). Some of the FUD is new, much of it is old and all of it deserves a response. 

Dan and NLW break down 15 categories of FUD, including:

• Bitcoin is for criminals
• Bitcoin is backed by nothing/has no intrinsic value
• Tether manipulation
• Energy consumption
• Government bans 
• And more! 

Which are the most legitimate? Which are easily dismissed? Tune in to find out.

Find our guest online:

Twitter: @danheld

Website: danheld.com

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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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After his most recent stint teaching about blockchain at MIT, former CFTC head Gary Gensler is reportedly the next SEC Chair.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io.

Today on the Brief:

• Visa drops $5.3B Plaid acquisition after DOJ antitrust suit
• ECB President Christine Lagarde discusses bitcoin and digital euro 
• Acting OCC chief Brian Brooks to step down this week 

Our main discussion: Gary Gensler rumored to be the new SEC Chair. In this episode, NLW discusses:

• Gensler’s background at Goldman, CFTC and MIT
• Gensler’s MIT course
• Previous statements on Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple
• The crypto communities reaction to Gensler at the SEC

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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 International Business Times reports China might nationalize Alibaba. Here’s what that has to do with China’s digital currency efforts. 

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and this week’s special product launch: Stacks.co.

Today on the Brief:

• Whales accumulated during yesterday’s crash 
• Kentucky legislators introduce bill to attract crypto miners
• UBS lowers the threshold for charging savers because of negative interest rates

Our main discussion: What China’s prospective nationalization of Alibaba has to do with the nation’s digital currency efforts. 

In this episode, NLW:

• Gives a background on China’s digital currency project
• Discusses why the DCEP is motivated by a larger attempt to internationalize the RMB
• Background on Alipay, Ant Financial and Alibaba
• How Alibaba founder Jack Ma annoyed the CCP and why he hasn’t been seen publicly in two months

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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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A new era of innovation on Bitcoin has begun. Stacks 2.0 enables secure apps and smart contracts on Bitcoin, unlocking new use cases and value while laying the foundation for a user-owned internet. https://stacks.co.

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As the price crashes more than 20% in 24 hours, NLW describes the “wall of worry” around regulation that might characterize this cycle’s FUD.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and this week’s special product launch: Stacks.co.

Today on the brief:

• Trump ejected from social media 
• Bakkt confirms plans to go public via SPAC
• NYDIG buys Digital Assets Data

Our main discussion: Are we at the beginning of a new FUD cycle? 

In this episode, NLW looks at:

• What happened with bitcoin’s big price crash
• How the crypto community is reacting to the dip 
• New regulatory FUD out of the U.K.
• Why regulatory issues are likely to be this bull market’s “wall of worry”

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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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A new era of innovation on Bitcoin has begun. Stacks 2.0 enables secure apps and smart contracts on Bitcoin, unlocking new use cases and value while laying the foundation for a user-owned internet. https://stacks.co.

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A reading of two recent essays by former bitcoin skeptics who have changed their tunes.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and this week’s special product launch: Stacks.co.

On this week’s Long Reads Sunday, NLW reads two pieces from former bitcoin skeptics who have changed their mind about the asset. 

“Bitcoin Crushes Doubters as 224% Rally Proves It’s Here to Stay” by Ed van der Walt 

“Why I’ve Changed My Mind on Bitcoin” by Nick Maggiulli, COO of Ritholtz Wealth Management 

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

-

A new era of innovation on Bitcoin has begun. Stacks 2.0 enables secure apps and smart contracts on Bitcoin, unlocking new use cases and value while laying the foundation for a user-owned internet. https://stacks.co.

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

Transformative regulatory guidance, important macro tailwinds and, of course, a stunning run-up past $40,000.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and this week’s special product launch: Stacks.co.

On this edition of The Breakdown’s weekly recap, NLW looks at what was one of the most spectacular and surprising weeks in bitcoin and crypto history. Specifically, he discusses:

• Price action
• Macro tailwinds
• Regulatory shifts in surprise guidance from the OCC
• Retail investor momentum building 

This week on The Breakdown:

Monday | Understanding Bitcoin’s Blistering Rise Past $30,000

Tuesday | Most Important Crypto Regulation Yet? Banks Can Treat Public Blockchains Like SWIFT and ACH

Wednesday | What Georgia’s Elections Mean for Bitcoin

Thursday | Can Bitcoin Just Keep Going Up?

Friday | BRRR: Biden Readies a New $3T Stimulus Package

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

-

A new era of innovation on Bitcoin has begun. Stacks 2.0 enables secure apps and smart contracts on Bitcoin, unlocking new use cases and value while laying the foundation for a user-owned internet. https://stacks.co.

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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.

What a new package including more direct payouts to citizens plus big infrastructure spending mean for bitcoin and markets as a whole.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and this week’s special product launch: Stacks.co.

Today on the Brief:

• U.S. loses 140,000 jobs in December
• Chamath’s SoFi SPAC
• A SPAC for Bakkt

Our main discussion: upcoming stimulus plans 

As the dust (finally? sort of?) settles on elections that began last year, the Democrats are looking to jump right out of the gate with a new set of stimulus plans, including both payments to individuals as well as big infrastructure spending. 

In this episode, NLW discusses the specifics we know so far, the potential challenges to get these plans passed and what the implications for bitcoin might be.

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

-

A new era of innovation on Bitcoin has begun. Stacks 2.0 enables secure apps and smart contracts on Bitcoin, unlocking new use cases and value while laying the foundation for a user-owned internet. https://stacks.co.

Image credit: Joshua Roberts/Getty Images News

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

With bitcoin (briefly) passing $40,000 for the first time, the question becomes: Can it keep going or is a reset necessary? 

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and this week’s special product launch: Stacks.co.

Today on the Brief:

• U.S. President Trump signs order banning Chinese apps
• Initial jobless claims hold steady at 787,000
• Elon Musk becomes the world’s richest person

Our main discussion: Can bitcoin just keep going up? 

In this episode, NLW breaks down:

• What’s driving the rally, including the growth of institutional buyers, burgeoning retail FOMO, Asian markets and more 
• Why some indicators are pointing towards a trader move into altcoins 
• Why, despite the rapid growth, bitcoin remains undervalued 

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

-

A new era of innovation on Bitcoin has begun. Stacks 2.0 enables secure apps and smart contracts on Bitcoin, unlocking new use cases and value while laying the foundation for a user-owned internet. https://stacks.co.

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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 the Democrats appear to be headed to victory, how does their new U.S. Senate majority impact markets as a whole and bitcoin more specifically?

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and this week’s special product launch: Stacks.co.

Today on the Brief:

• ShapeShift goes full DEX
• Neil Young and the changing business of music
• China stocks delisted from NYSE

Our main discussion: What are the implications of Georgia’s runoff elections for bitcoin and markets as a whole? 

In this episode, NLW discusses:

• The immediate response of Crypto Twitter to the victory for Dems
• Why Kelly Loeffler was a disappointing industry rep in the Senate 
• Which stocks are going up on the news and why
• Why a Democrat Senate majority is driving up inflation expectations
• Why discussions of UBI and digital dollars and more in play than ever 
• Why bitcoin stands to be supercharged by the coming macro environment 

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

-

A new era of innovation on Bitcoin has begun. Stacks 2.0 enables secure apps and smart contracts on Bitcoin, unlocking new use cases and value while laying the foundation for a user-owned internet. https://stacks.co.

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