The Crypto Beat

Episode 71 of The Crypto Beat features Tim and Kelvin in conversation with Charlie Lee, creator of Litecoin, to reflect on crypto’s evolution from its early cypherpunk roots to today’s institution-driven market. He explains why Litecoin has remained focused on fast, reliable payments, the importance of privacy and fungibility, and how new trends like AI intersect with crypto.OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction01:02 - Early Crypto Growth02:20 - Competing in Crypto03:58 - Smart Contracts on Litecoin05:26 - Privacy and Fungibility09:58 - AI and Engineering14:07 - AI Agents and Money15:42 - Why Decentralization Matters18:27 - Institutions Enter Crypto24:40 - Market Cycle OutlookGuest links:Charlie Lee - https://x.com/SatoshiLiteLitecoin - https://x.com/litecoinHosts:Tim Copeland - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/timccopeland⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market InsightsSubscribe now 👉⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠...---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teamsStart your free trial today 👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus

Episode 70 of The Crypto Beat features Tim and Kelvin in conversation with Thomas Cowan, Head of Tokenization at Galaxy Digital, and Jim Hiltner, Co-Founder of Superstate. The conversation explores how Superstate tokenized Galaxy’s equity onchain, the regulatory and infrastructure challenges involved, and why institutions are increasingly exploring tokenization.OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction00:57 - Galaxy Stock Onchain02:39 - When Equities Move Onchain05:16 - Trading Volume Today07:25 - IPOs on Blockchain09:17 - Market Adoption Curve12:25 - TradFi Interest Rising16:14 - Regulatory Capital Clarity19:37 - DeFi and TradFi Converge23:01 - CLO Example30:45 - Ownership Models Explained38:04 - DeFi Collateral Markets43:06 - What Assets Come NextGuest links:Thomas Cowan - https://x.com/ThomasCowan93Jim Hiltner - https://x.com/HiltnerJimGalaxy HQ - https://x.com/galaxyhqSuperstate - https://x.com/SuperstateIncHosts:Tim Copeland - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/timccopeland⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market InsightsSubscribe now 👉⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠...---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teamsStart your free trial today 👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus

Episode 69 of The Crypto Beat features Tim and Kelvin in conversation with Markus Infanger, SVP at RippleX | Ripple. The conversation explores why firms like Aviva Investors are experimenting with tokenized funds, how blockchain infrastructure could modernize financial market plumbing, and where institutional DeFi is gaining traction.OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction01:19 - Aviva Tokenization Announcement02:31 - Why Tokenize Funds05:42 - Compliance and Permissioned Access07:42 - TradFi Interest Changing10:14 - RWA Growth Opportunities16:57 - XRP Utility Explained19:57 - Agents and Blockchain25:36 - Automated Finance Future31:18 - RippleX 2026 Roadmap39:40 - From Banking to CryptoGuest links:Markus Infanger - https://x.com/markusinfangerRippleX - https://x.com/RippleXDevRipple - https://x.com/RippleHosts:Tim Copeland - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/timccopeland⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market InsightsSubscribe now 👉⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teamsStart your free trial today 👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus

In episode 68 of The Crypto Beat features Tim and Kelvin in conversation with BitGo CEO Mike Belshe. The discussion covers BitGo’s pursuit of a national bank charter, the expanding role of traditional finance in the crypto ecosystem, and why market structure, custody infrastructure, and clear regulation will be essential to long-term industry adoption.OUTLINE00:00 – Introduction01:11 – BitGo’s Institutional Growth02:38 – IPO and Market Shift04:31 – Building Crypto Infrastructure06:32 – Market Structure Debate08:23 – National Bank Charter10:07 – Wall Street Entering Crypto15:43 – Future Crypto Innovations24:00 – From Google to Bitcoin29:14 – AI and Crypto Custody37:51 – Crypto and Global Events42:27 – Stablecoin Depeg DiscussionGuest links:Mike Belshe - https://x.com/mikebelsheBitGo - https://x.com/BitGoHosts:Tim Copeland - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/timccopeland⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market InsightsSubscribe now 👉⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teamsStart your free trial today 👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus

In episode 67 of The Crypto Beat, Tim and Kelvin were joined by Ethos Network CEO Trevor Thompson to discuss the escalating bot crisis on X and how AI tools like OpenClaw have made it trivially easy to spin up fake accounts at scale. He argues that biometric solutions like WorldCoin aren't cypherpunk enough, and instead pitches Ethos's social consensus model — where humans vouch for each other's authenticity with skin in the game — as a privacy-preserving alternative to KYC.OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction01:54 - The Bot Problem on X03:59 - AI and the Slop Super Cycle05:19 - Credibility in the Age of AI11:40 - The Chess Engine Analogy12:55 - Why Serpentax Built Ethos15:11 - Ethos Human Verification Explained20:06 - Sybil Attacks and Proving You're Human28:18 - Social Capital and Alt Accounts36:56 - Community Erosion in CryptoGuest links:Trevor Thompson/Serpin Taxt - https://x.com/serpinxbtEthos - https://x.com/ethos_networkHosts:Tim Copeland - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/timccopeland⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market InsightsSubscribe now 👉⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teamsStart your free trial today 👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus

In episode 66 of The Crypto Beat, Tim and Kelvin were joined by Galaxy's Michael Marcantonio and Ondo's Matt Blumberg to discuss the ways in which AI agents will operate in the economy, and how crypto and DeFi and primed to play a key facilitating role. They also make the case that despite bearish price action, every fundamental indicator is screaming bullish.OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction02:40 - AI Meets the Money Legos07:05 - Galaxy's AI & Crypto Thesis09:17 - AI Trading Agents in Practice14:48 - Ondo Perps & Capital Efficiency21:50 - Perps Architecture Deep Dive28:00 - Yield Capture as the New Meta32:40 - Most Bullish Bear Market Ever39:00 - BTC Price Predictions45:00 - The Store of Value Debate50:00 - AI Agents as DeFi's UX FixGuest links:Matthew Blumberg - https://x.com/matt_blumbergOndo - https://x.com/OndoFinanceMichael Marcantonio - https://x.com/marcryptonioGalaxy Digital - https://x.com/GalaxyHQHosts:Tim Copeland - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/timccopeland⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market InsightsSubscribe now 👉⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teamsStart your free trial today 👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus

In episode 65 of The Crypto Beat, Tim and Kelvin were joined by Casey Craig, co-founder of Euphoria, and Bread, head of ecosystem at MegaETH. Together they discuss how Euphoria turns complex on-chain options into a one-tap mobile trading game built on MegaETH's 10ms block times. They discuss the "consumer DeFi" thesis, the morality of gamified finance and  MegaETH's KPI-locked token launch strategy.OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction01:05 - What Is Euphoria02:24 - UX-First Design Philosophy04:53 - How the Tap Mechanics Work10:19 - Trading vs. Gambling Debate14:22 - Why MegaETH22:05 - MegaETH Ecosystem Overview33:02 - Consumer DeFi Thesis44:10 - MegaETH 2026 Roadmap & TGE49:37 - KPI-Locked Token UnlocksGuest links:Bread - https://x.com/bread_MegaETH - https://x.com/megaethCasey Craig - https://x.com/caseycraigEuphoria - https://x.com/euphoria_fiHosts:Tim Copeland - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/timccopeland⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market InsightsSubscribe now 👉⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teamsStart your free trial today 👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus

In episode 64 of The Crypto Beat, Aave-Chan Initiative Founder Marc Zeller  discusses the ongoing governance dispute between the Aave DAO and Aave Labs, arguing it's not simply drama but governance working as intended. OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction01:22 - The Aave DAO vs Labs Dispute06:00 - Fox Guarding the Henhouse09:38 - Return on Investment Framework12:02 - The CowSwap Fee Redirect14:02 - Aligning Token Holders & Service Providers17:01 - The $5M Payback Question22:18 - V3 vs V4 Revenue Reality25:04 - Buybacks vs Dividends31:03 - Treasury Allocation & Future OutlookGuest links:Marc Zeller - https://x.com/MarczellerAave-Chan Intitiate - https://x.com/AavechanHosts:Tim Copeland - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/timccopeland⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market InsightsSubscribe now 👉⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teamsStart your free trial today 👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus

In episode 63 of The Crypto Beat, Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan argues crypto is in a self-fulfilling four-year cycle bear market, where retail investors sold in anticipation of the downturn and made it real, but says this period feels far less existential than 2018 or 2022. He sees BlackRock's aggressive push into tokenization and DeFi as a landmark signal that on-chain finance is inevitable, though full adoption is a 10 to 15 year story. His 2026 outlook: a grindy bottom with fundamentals outpacing price, setting up 2027 as the breakout year.OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction00:20 - Crypto Winter Check-In04:03 - When Did the Bear Actually Start?07:57 - Is This Time Different?11:44 - BlackRock Goes On-Chain17:10 - The 10-Year DeFi Adoption Arc21:17 - Prediction Markets Boom24:08 - Has Crypto Grown Up?27:08 - The Strategy Question29:14 - 2026 Outlook & What Comes NextGuest links:Matt Hougan - twitter.com/Matt_HouganBitwise - twitter.com/BitwiseInvestHosts:Tim Copeland - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/timccopeland⁠⁠⁠⁠---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market InsightsSubscribe now 👉⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teamsStart your free trial today 👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus

In episode 62 of The Crypto Beat, Lido's Head of Node Operators Will Shannon and Chaos Labs' Head of Vaults Craig Le Riche join the show to unpack what BlackRock buying UNI tokens means for DeFi, the CFTC's new crypto innovation panel, and Aave's proposal to return 100% of protocol revenue to its DAO. The bulk of the conversation dives into vault infrastructure, and why chasing unsustainable yields remains DeFi's biggest trap.OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction03:19 - BlackRock Buys UNI05:07 - CFTC Innovation Panel06:10 - Aave Revenue to DAO07:12 - SafeMoon CEO Sentenced08:36 - Vault Infrastructure 10113:01 - Chaos x Kraken Earn Vaults21:47 - Lido V3 & Institutional Staking28:07 - Yield Danger Zone39:42 - AI Agents & DeFi's FutureGuest links:Craig Le Riche - https://x.com/craiglericheChaos Labs - https://x.com/chaoslabsWill Shannon - https://x.com/KimonShLido -  https://x.com/LidoFinanceHosts:Tim Copeland - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/timccopeland⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelvin Sparks -⁠⁠ https://x.com/imyoungsparks⁠⁠---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market InsightsSubscribe now 👉⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teamsStart your free trial today 👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus