CoinDesk Podcast Network

Khan (Luxor) — research lead who tracks Bitcoin hashrate and mining economics. Chris Johannesson (IonStream) — go-to-market lead for bare-metal GPU rentals and NeoCloud infrastructure. They discuss a $46M theft arrest, Kraken securing a Fed master account and what a skinny access means, the pivot from ASICs to GPUs and IREN’s push to 150,000 GPUs.

Ripple expands institutional access by adding Coinbase-listed crypto futures to its trading platform. The SEC settles with a major crypto figure, including financial penalties and legal fallout. Vancouver debates whether municipal reserves or payments can involve Bitcoin, exploring practical workarounds.

They unpack Ray Dalio's critique that bitcoin lacks goldlike qualities and could face threats like quantum computing. Experts push back, calling those narratives tired and already priced in. Coverage also highlights a16z raising a $2 billion crypto fund and debates over regulating interest-paying stablecoin issuers.

Chris Seedor, founder of C-door and BitSurance who builds Bitcoin self-custody, insurance, and stainless-steel backup solutions. He discusses the sharp rise in physical attacks on Bitcoin holders. Covers multisig and Miniscript setups, AI-driven phishing that bypasses video ID, and how covenants and time-locked defenses can change reactive security.

Jonathan Jachym, Kraken’s Global Head of Policy and Government Relations, explains Kraken’s historic Fed master account approval and the years‑long regulatory push behind it. He discusses how direct Fed access can speed and simplify dollar settlement, why Kraken succeeded where others did not, and the roadmap for expanding services amid regulatory scrutiny and political debate.

A fiery political push against banks accused of blocking new crypto laws. Discussion of a major exchange gaining direct Fed access. Coverage of a big bank filing for a spot Bitcoin trust. Brief mentions of industry moves that could reshape stablecoin yields and crypto custody.

A report on a sudden 700% surge in crypto outflows from Iran’s largest exchange following U.S.-Israeli airstrikes. Discussion of how Nobitex fits into Iran’s financial plumbing and offshore crypto movement. Coverage of immediate market swings, including Bitcoin’s brief dip and recovery. Note of a major court ruling limiting protocol creator liability and a Senate move to block a CBDC until 2030.

Mark Palmer, Managing Director and Senior Equity Research Analyst at Benchmark Stonex, offers quick takes on Q4 crypto equity dynamics. He explores how the Clarity Act could unlock institutional capital. He highlights Coinbase’s Base as an underappreciated protocol driving future value. He also outlines alternative growth paths if legislation stalls.

Dr. Hashem Hashemian, nuclear engineer, CEO of AMS and president of the American Nuclear Society. He talks about America’s nuclear revival, Tennessee becoming a major nuclear hub, license extensions aiming for 100-year plants, the impact of AI and data centers on power demand, and hurdles like regulation, supply chains, and SMR timelines.

Mark Troianovski, Head of Consumer and Platform BD at Coinbase, drives the push to blend crypto with traditional finance. He discusses 24/5 stock and ETF trading, Yahoo Finance integration, AI agents trading via wallets, and the vision for an "everything" finance app that mixes equities, crypto, and prediction markets.