Unchained
Laura Shin
Crypto assets and blockchain technology are about to transform every trust-based interaction of our lives, from financial services to identity to the Internet of Things. In this podcast, host Laura Shin, an independent journalist covering all things crypto, talks with industry pioneers about how crypto assets and blockchains will change the way we earn, spend and invest our money. Tune in to find out how Web 3.0, the decentralized web, will revolutionize our world.
Episodes
Mentioned books
4 snips
Mar 19, 2026 • 1h 11min
The Chopping Block: The Ethereum Foundation Manifesto + Who Really Runs Crypto?
David Hoffman, Bankless impresario and crypto commentator, argues Ethereum may be leaning toward a sanctuary-first vision. Taylor Monahan, former MetaMask security lead turned independent security practitioner, brings builder-focused, practical perspectives. They debate the EF’s CROPS mandate, whether culture or tech drives startups to Solana, comms failures, and if the foundation should prioritize research or active builder support.
16 snips
Mar 18, 2026 • 1h 2min
Bits + Bips: Bitcoin Hits $75K as It Starts Catching Up to Gold
They debate why Bitcoin is holding near $75K while oil-driven inflation keeps rate cuts at bay. Traders are rotating from gold into crypto and institutions are piling into Bitcoin. Tense geopolitics, Iran conflict effects on oil, and market deleveraging top the risk discussion. They also tackle Ethereum governance, real-world asset risks on chains, and what happens if a major stablecoin is compromised.
13 snips
Mar 16, 2026 • 49min
Bits + Bips: Bitcoin Finally Acted Like a Hedge. Will It Last?
Andy Baehr, managing director of asset management at GSR and former CoinDesk Indices lead, brings market-structure chops to a turbulent moment. He explains why bitcoin held a steady “base camp” during the Gulf crisis. Short takes cover VIX signals, 24/7 tokenized markets, perps vs futures, and whether tokenization demand is real.
38 snips
Mar 13, 2026 • 1h 13min
Is the DeFi Mullet Strategy the Best Way to Bring Finance Onchain?
Paul Frambot, co-founder and CEO of Morpho Labs, builds on-chain lending infrastructure used by distributors like Coinbase. Sid Powell, CEO of Maple Finance, runs institutional-focused on-chain lending and yield products. They discuss institutional adoption of DeFi rails, hybrid on-chain/off-chain lending models, looping and tokenization strategies, DAO governance trade-offs, and infrastructure for scaling real-world lending.
15 snips
Mar 12, 2026 • 60min
Uneasy Money: How Hyperliquid Succeeded by Going Against Crypto's Ideology First Approach
Luca Netz, CEO of Pudgy Penguins and builder of consumer NFT games, joins to talk product-first crypto and mainstream-ready experiences. They unpack Hyperliquid's rise as a 24/7 trading venue and why liquidity and pragmatic architecture beat ideology. Luca also explains Pudgy World’s browser-first design and keeping crypto rails as background tech.
20 snips
Mar 12, 2026 • 53min
DEX in the City: How Regulators Are Preparing for a World Without the Clarity Act
Regulators are filling the legislative void with SEC guidance and interagency reviews that could reshape crypto market structure. They debate Chevron deference fallout and which agencies might claim jurisdiction. Banking fights over tokenized securities and Kraken’s narrow Fed access spark competition concerns. Security alarms ring as alleged crypto thefts and foreign cyber threats push firms to harden defenses.
14 snips
Mar 12, 2026 • 1h 1min
The Chopping Block: Erik Voorhees on AI Privacy, Agentic Payments, and Crypto x Memecoin Mayhem
Erik Voorhees, founder of Venice.ai and long-time Bitcoin pioneer, talks about bringing privacy-first and uncensored AI to life. He discusses agentic payments and whether bots will become primary payers. Conversation covers provable privacy techniques, memecoin-driven chaos on AI social platforms, and the rise of agent societies reshaping DeFi and software work.
15 snips
Mar 11, 2026 • 55min
Bits + Bips: Why This U.S. General Believes Iran Could Be a Huge Opportunity
James "Spider" Marks, U.S. Army Major-General (ret.) and geopolitical strategist, draws on 30+ years of intelligence experience. He breaks down what really happened at the Strait of Hormuz, naval and tanker security, and the timelines for political change in Iran. He also explores regional power shifts, signals to China, and how a post-conflict Iran could become an economic opportunity.
Mar 10, 2026 • 1h 7min
Why the Crypto Markets Seem So Broken and How They Get Fixed After 10/10
Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, modernizing exchanges into a universal platform. Rob Hadick, General Partner at Dragonfly, investing across crypto and Web3. They unpack Bitget’s move to trade everything, U.S. entry plans and the BGB ownership transfer. They debate AI agents in trading, why 10/10 broke markets, liquidity failures, and what exchanges must build to rebuild trust.
8 snips
Mar 7, 2026 • 54min
Why It's Easy to Pitch TradFi on Ethereum: 'It's the Only Game in Town'
Danny Ryan, Ethereum researcher and Etherealize co-founder, and Joseph Chalom, former BlackRock exec and CEO of SharpLink, discuss why institutions favor Ethereum. They cover L2 roles and roadmap upgrades. They talk privacy unlocking DeFi, ETH as settlement for tokenized assets, evolving ZK tech, multidimensional gas, and AI agents routing to Ethereum.
