The Bull Case For Hyperliquid | Ryan Watkins
This week, Ryan Watkins join the show to discuss the current state of crypto and where he sees the most opportunity in 2026. We deep dive into running a crypto fund in 2026, do four year cycles still exist, the Hyperliquid thesis, token unlocks and more. Enjoy!
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Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction
(04:02) Running A Crypto Fund In 2026
(09:55) Do Four Year Cycles Exist?
(16:36) peaq Ad
(17:22) How To Find A Trade
(25:52) The Hyperliquid Thesis
(49:44) Is The Hyperliquid Trade Overcrowded?
(53:28) Opportunities In Crypto, Token Unlocks & The L1 Trade
(01:02:16) Zcash & Privacy
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Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, Rob and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
Crypto Sentiment Is Down Bad. The Reality Is Far Different, Says Ryan Watkins
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Why is crypto sentiment so low despite the growing adoption narrative?
In this episode of Unchained, Syncracy Capital co-founder Ryan Watkins unpacks why he thinks crypto is in a “twilight zone” and why the market could take investors by surprise.
He also sheds light on why he thinks bitcoin is underperforming gold and what needs to change. Plus what he is excited about in the coming years and why crypto is not just fintech.
Is a big move ahead? Listen to find out!
Guests:
Ryan Watkins, Co-Founder of Syncracy Capital
Links:
Why Gold Rose and Bitcoin Tumbled on Japan Bond Turmoil
Has Bitcoin Failed to Live Up to the Digital Gold Narrative?
Will Bitcoin’s New Phase Change It Forever? And Is the 4-Year Cycle Dead?
Why the Crypto Markets Seem Down Bad as Bitcoin Dips Below $100K
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Why 2026 Is 'Too Chaotic' to Make Crypto Predictions
Thank you to our sponsor, Mantle!
In this Unchained podcast episode, guests Alex Thorn and Ryan Graham share their 2026 outlook for Bitcoin and the broader crypto market, exploring why the year looks unusually uncertain.
The conversation also digs into questions around Ethereum’s long-term value, whether killer apps are enough to drive adoption, prediction markets’ push into sports betting, and why the privacy meta could continue in 2026.
Hosts:
Laura Shin
Guests:
Ryan Graham, Research Analyst at Messari
Alex Thorn, Head of Firmwide Research at Galaxy Digital
Links:
DAT Stocks Are on Sale. Are They a Buy? Plus, Why Crypto Is Dead
Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin Says Blockchain Trilemma ‘Has Been Solved’
Solana Withstands Week-Long DDoS Attack
Solana Mulls Proposal to Lower Inflation Rate
Western Union Files ‘WUUSD’ Trademark After Solana Stablecoin Reveal
Why the Privacy Coins Mania Is Much More Than Price Action
The Chopping Block: Hyperliquid vs. Tarun, ADL Transparency & The Coming Perps Arms Race
How to Trade Prediction Markets Without an Opinion on the Event
Why Wall Street Banks Need to Launch Their Own Stablecoins
How the GENIUS Act Creates a Built-In Advantage for Banks and Deposit Tokens
Klarna Launches Stablecoin Built on Stripe’s Tempo Chain
How the x402 Standard Is Enabling AI Agents to Pay Each Other
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How Hyperliquid Came to ‘Threaten the Very Existence’ of CEXs Like Binance - Ep. 915
Perp DEXs are on fire, with volumes topping $1 trillion a month for the first time.
Aster, backed by YZi Labs (formerly Binance Labs), has suddenly vaulted to the top of volume charts, but is its rise organic, or manufactured?
But while everyone frames the battle as Aster vs. Hyperliquid, Syncracy’s Ryan Watkins and Sunny Shi argue the real fight is much bigger: decentralized exchanges versus centralized giants like Binance.
Plus: what role Solana will play in the next chapter in the perps DEX wars? And won’t Ethereum even compete?
Thank you to our sponsors!
Binance
Token2049
Guests:
Ryan Watkins, Co-Founder of Syncracy Capital
Sunny Shi, Investor at Syncracy Capital
Links:
Unchained:
Nearly $12 Billion in HYPE Token Unlocks Loom Ahead: Maelstrom
Why Hyperliquid Should Cut Its Total Token Supply Nearly in Half
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Chopping Block: Robinhood’s Tokenized-Stock Gambit, Solana’s ETF Splash & the Proof-of-Stake Reality Check - Ep. 862
Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest in crypto. This week, we’re joined by Jon Charbonneau and Ryan Watkins to unpack the bombshell news of Robinhood Chain—an Arbitrum-based network debuting tokenized U.S. stocks, 3× crypto perps, and that head-scratching $500 K liquidity cap. From riffing on whether proof-of-stake yields are just “money in a box,” to debating Solana’s first U.S. staked ETF, to sizing up the looming perp wars between Robinhood and Coinbase, the crew maps a common thread: corporate chains and regulatory work-arounds are colliding with crypto’s decentralization ideals, forcing builders, traders, and even ETF hawks to rethink where real security, fairness, and opportunity will live next.
Show highlights
🔹 Robinhood Chain Revealed – Why the trading-app giant paid up to launch an Arbitrum-based “Robinhood Chain,” starting with 24/5 perpetuals and tokenized U.S. stocks, plus a rumored $500 K–liquidity cap that has Crypto Twitter howling.
🔹 Tokenized-Stock Gold Rush – From Tesla and SpaceX pre-IPO shares to on-chain S&P stalwarts: does 24/7 trading finally make equity tokens stick, or is it just another CFD in disguise?
🔹 Perps Arms Race – Coinbase’s 5-year “quasi-perp” futures vs. Robinhood’s 3×-leverage launch vs. Hyperliquid’s 20× turbo deck—who wins the battle for retail flow?
🔹 Solana ETF First-Mover – RexShares files a staked-SOL C-Corp ETF, beating BlackRock to the punch and testing Wall Street’s appetite after ETH’s lukewarm debut.
🔹 Proof-of-Stake Reality Check – The crew dismantles the “economic security” myth, asks whether validator cartels make inflation rewards pointless, and floats proof-of-governance as the next model.
🔹 Hyperliquid vs. The World – Why a single Tokyo data center is eating CLOB volume, what zk-rollup challengers are planning, and how latency games redefine “decentralized exchange.”
🔹 $2 B Prediction-Market Beef – Paradigm-backed Kalshi clashes with PolyMarket after a viral “little rats” tweet; inside the influencer war and the CFTC license flex.
🔹 Conference FOMO No More – New-York-privileged hosts roast ETH CC in Cannes and declare the age of fly-to-France crypto tourism officially over.
🔹 Reg-Tech vs. Fin-Tech – From transfer agents to T+1 settlement: why outdated TradFi plumbing, not blockchains, still blocks global access to U.S. securities.
🔹 Super-App Skepticism – The panel pokes holes in “super-app” buzzwords and explains why sequencing—product-first, chain-later—matters more than catchy slogans.
⭐️Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly ⭐️Tom Schmidt, General Partner at Dragonfly
Guests
⭐️ Ryan Watkins, Co-Founder of Syncracy Capital
⭐️ Jon Charbonneau, Co-founder & General Partner at DBA
Timestamps
0:00 Intro
02:59 Robinhood Chain
15:05 Debate on Tokenized Stocks
27:18 Perpetuals (Perps) in the Crypto Market
37:15 Robinhood's New Crypto Traders
39:26 The Solana ETF Approval
41:17 Understanding Staking and ETFs
43:36 The Future of Proof of Stake
46:20 Governance in Ethereum and Other Chains
56:26 Corporate Chains and Validator Selection
01:04:31 Polymarket vs. Kalshi
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Pump.fun’s $1 Billion ICO Has Caused Controversy. Can It Succeed? - Ep. 847
On Tuesday, a pseudonymous X account claimed that Pump.fun, Solana’s breakout memecoin launchpad, would raise $1 billion via an ICO at a $4 billion valuation. The potential deal? Multiple CEX listings, a 10% community airdrop, and maybe even a launch by the end of the month.
The community reaction? Not great.
In this episode, Syncracy Capital’s Ryan Watkins joins to break down the backlash, whether the raise makes sense, and what this kind of fundraising says about the current state of crypto.
He discusses:
Whether Pump needs $1 billion and what they’d even do with it
Why some people are furious, even as Pump prints revenue
If this is bullish or bearish for Solana
Why an airdrop was not pursued
Whether the $4 billion valuation makes sense
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Ledn
FalconX
Human Rights Foundation
Ryan Watkins, Co-founder of Syncracy Capital
Unchained: Pump.fun Mulls $1B Token Sale
Nextfckingthing’s tweet breaking the news
Ansem’s tweet on “pump fun raising $1B at $4B after Trumpcoin launch is like the second plane hitting the towers”
Ansem’s poll
Ryan’s tweet on “Pump anger”
Solojay tweet on Pump’s top 25 wallets
Mosi’s tweet on why “Pump's ICO seems like an asymmetric bet (skewed to the downside)”
Timestamps:
👋 0:00 Intro
🤔 4:03 Why skepticism around Pump.fun’s $1B raise is valid
💰 7:06 What Pump would even do with $1 billion
📈 21:17 Whether a $4B valuation actually holds up
🔥 24:08 Will this ICO hurt SOL?
🎁 27:05 Why Pump chose not to do a big airdrop
📱 28:56 Whether Pump.fun can hold its ground as SocialFi competition heats up
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Ethena's L1 Shows Fat Apps Are on the Rise. Can They Beat Fat Protocols? - Ep. 804
Blockchains were supposed to capture the majority of the value in crypto. But what if that’s wrong?
For years, the Fat Protocols Thesis argued that blockchains would be the biggest winners. But new data suggests that apps like Uniswap, Ethena, and others are now out-earning many networks.
Are we watching the rise of “Fat Apps” instead?
On this episode, Ryan Watkins, Co-founder at Syncracy Capital, talks about:
Why the biggest apps are generating more revenue than many layer 1s
Why Ethena is launching its own blockchain
What this means for Ethereum, Solana & other L1s
How blockchains can compete on value capture
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
BitKey: Use code UNCHAINED for 20% off
FalconX
Mantle
Guest
Ryan Watkins, Co-founder at Syncracy Capital
Links
Unchained: Ethena Labs and Securitize to Launch New EVM Blockchain for DeFi
Syncracy Capital: Applications Capture Fees, Blockchains Store Value
Hansolar’s tweet
Pump.fun launches its own DEX
Timestamps:
👋0:00 Intro
💰 2:12 Why apps are out-earning the blockchains they run on
🔗 5:44 Ethena’s move: why it’s launching its own chain
📈 8:33 The rise of “Fat Apps” and what it means for crypto
🚀 12:50 How today’s crypto founders think differently from past builders
🏆 15:51 The blockchain architectures that will dominate
⚖️ 22:32 Whether L1s can compete in this new environment
📊 241:27 How blockchains accrue value and why MEV isn’t the best metric
📰 31:00 News Recap
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Ryan Watkins unpacks the bull case for Solana and what’s driving crypto markets
Syncracy Capital co-founder Ryan Watkins sheds light on Ethereum, Solana and finding the next "generational winners" in the crypto market.
OUTLINE
00:00 Intro
01:47 Watkins' Crypto Journey
05:22 Syncracy's Liquid Strategy
06:51 Crypto Market Analysis
08:52 Ethereum's Underperformance
13:14 Long-Only
15:34 Picking Winners
20:38 SOL Trade
28:27 Bitcoin vs. Crypto
34:16 Market Cycle Analysis
This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot
Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network
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The Block Newsletters
The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters
Ryan Selkis on the Existential Struggle for Crypto in the U.S.
In this episode, Jason and Mike are joined by Ryan Selkis, Founder and CEO of Messari Crypto, for a discussion on the intersection of crypto and US politics. They discuss the recent presidential debate, Ryan’s journey into the political arena, and Sam Bankman-Fried’s impact on crypto regulatory policy. They also dive into the importance of political engagement from the crypto community, and Selkis’ strategic initiatives. Finally, they cover why Democrats took an anti-crypto stance, the best case outcome for crypto regulatory policy, and how U.S. political parties evolve over time.
Thanks for tuning in!
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(00:00) Intro
(02:18) The Presidential Debate
(11:37) Focusing on Politics as a Crypto Founder
(27:19) SBF's Impact on Regulatory Policy
(33:15) How Important is Crypto in the Presidential Election?
(36:200 Lead up to Ryan's Mar-a-Lago Visit
(43:37) Marinade Ad
(44:43) Polygon Ad
(45:52) Mantle Ad
(46:41) Ryan's Perspective on the Blockworks Op-ed
(54:39) Should Crypto Be Apolitical?
(01:05:29) The Democrats Motivation for Being Anti Crypto
(01:21:05) What's the Best Case Outcome for Crypto Regulatory Policy?
(01:32:09) Addressing Common Issues Voters Have With Trump
(01:38:02) How U.S. Political Parties Change Over Time
(01:45:33) Why RFK Jr. Should Drop Out and Endorse Trump
—--
Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
Ryan Selkis Shares His 2024 Crypto Predictions
Joining us today is Ryan Selkis, who is here to walk us through his crypto thesis for 2024.
We cover big investment themes, people to watch, the future of stablecoins, policy takes and so much more in this wide ranging episode.
----- 🏹 Airdrop Hunter is HERE, join your first HUNT today https://bankless.cc/JoinYourFirstHUNT ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS:
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⚖️ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum
🔗CELO | CEL2 COMING SOON https://bankless.cc/Celo
🗣️TOKU | CRYPTO EMPLOYMENT SOLUTION https://bankless.cc/Toku
🌐 Layer Zero V2 Launch https://bankless.cc/LayerZeroLabs
------ TIMESTAMPS
00:00:00 Intro 00:05:11 Recapping 2023 00:07:50 Are We In A Bull Market? 00:12:09 Investment Trends 00:16:48 BTC ETF Winners 00:20:03 Ether 2024 Predictions 00:26:57 BTC Security Model 00:33:06 Investment Strategy 00:36:56 VC and Private Markets 00:42:28 IPO's and M&A's 00:45:04 People To Watch 00:50:56 Why Does Elizabeth Warren Hate Crypto? 00:57:54 Grayscale 01:04:55 Products to Use in 2024 01:07:00 USDC Flips USDT? 01:11:32 Coinbase and BASE 01:15:46 Crypto Money 01:21:17 Privacy 01:27:54 How Crypto Wins In The US 01:40:07 The Political Bull Case 01:44:42 What's Most Exciting
------ RESOURCES
Ryan Selkis https://twitter.com/twobitidiot
------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here: https://bankless.com/disclosures
100M$ Fight for Crypto in D.C. with Ryan Selkis
Today we're joined by Ryan Selkis, the Founder and CEO of Messari and an outspoken political advocate for the crypto industry. We explore the current state of Crypto Regulation and how Ryan plans to fight in Washington with the Digital Freedom Alliance.
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------ 🚀 Airdrop Alpha is waiting for you on Bankless.com https://bankless.cc/Alpha
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🐙KRAKEN | MOST-TRUSTED CRYPTO EXCHANGE https://k.xyz/bankless-pod-q2
🦊METAMASK LEARN | HELPFUL WEB3 RESOURCE https://bankless.cc/MetaMask
⚖️ ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum
👾STADER LABS | ETHX LIQUID STAKING https://bankless.cc/Stader
🗣️TOKU | CRYPTO EMPLOYMENT SOLUTION https://bankless.cc/Toku
🎮IMMUTABLE | GAMING ECOSYSTEM https://bankless.cc/Immutable
🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK https://bankless.cc/Mantle
------ Topics Covered
0:00 Intro 9:34 Does Washington Want to Kill Crypto? 15:45 How the US Affects Global Regulation 27:54 Ryan Selkis Proposal 43:10 What we can learn from SBF 51:20 The Digital Freedom Alliance 59:08 Why we have to Play Politics 1:03:49 What’s Next 1:08:00 Closing and Disclaimers
----- Resources:
Ryan Selkis https://twitter.com/twobitidiot
Join the Digital Freedom Alliance https://joindfa.org/
----- Not financial or tax advice. This channel is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. This video is not tax advice. Talk to your accountant. Do your own research.
Disclosure. From time-to-time I may add links in this newsletter to products I use. I may receive commission if you make a purchase through one of these links. Additionally, the Bankless writers hold crypto assets. See our investment disclosures here: https://www.bankless.com/disclosures
Crypto Thesis for 2023 | Ryan Selkis
✨ THESIS FOR 2023:
https://messari.io/crypto-theses-for-2023
—— Ryan Selkis is presenting his Crypto Theses for 2023 on today’s State of the Nation.
Every year, Ryan publishes a massive document that wraps up the year in the industry, and looks forward to what’s coming next.
After an insane 2022, what does 2023 hold in store? Ryan Selkis of Messari brings the answers.
------ 📣 Kraken | The Crypto Exchange for Everyone http://k.xyz/bankless-pod
------ 🚀 SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER: https://newsletter.banklesshq.com/?utm_source=banklessshowsyt 🎙️ SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST: https://availableon.com/bankless
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⚖️ ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum
👯 DESO | DECENTRALIZED SOCIAL BLOCKCHAIN https://bankless.cc/Deso
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📡 TRUEFI | CRYPTO FINANCIAL HUB https://bankless.cc/TrueFi
👾 SEQUENCE | ALL-IN-ONE PLATFORM https://bankless.cc/Sequence
⚡️FUEL | THE MODULAR EXECUTION LAYER https://bankless.cc/fuel
------ Topics Covered
0:00 Intro 7:00 Pain 10:05 Crypto is Still Inevitable 16:00 Surviving Winter, Redux 20:10 Who to Watch 26:30 How People Fall 32:20 CeFi Contagion 40:30 Institutional Capital 47:00 SEC vs ETF 51:30 SBF and Crypto Policy 1:03:00 Bitcoin 1:07:40 Smart Contracts 1:11:45 ETH Killers 1:15:00 DeFi Trends 1:19:30 DAOs and NFTs 1:24:00 Back to Crypto 1:26:30 The Block and Crypto Media
------ Resources:
Crypto Theses for 2023 https://messari.io/crypto-theses-for-2023
Ryan Selkis https://twitter.com/twobitidiot
Messari https://messari.io/
----- Not financial or tax advice. This channel is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. This video is not tax advice. Talk to your accountant. Do your own research.
Disclosure. From time-to-time I may add links in this newsletter to products I use. I may receive commission if you make a purchase through one of these links. Additionally, the Bankless writers hold crypto assets. See our investment disclosures here: https://www.bankless.com/disclosures
Part 2: Brian Armstrong, Erik Voorhees, & Ryan Selkis on Binance’s Acquisition of FTX
In Part 2, Ryan and David are joined by Brian Armstrong, Erik Voorhees, & Ryan Selkis to discuss what transpired today, how it’ll impact our industry, and what it means moving forward.
In case you missed it, we’ve already released Part 1 where Ryan and David recap everything that happened leading up to today, what’s unfolded thus far, what happens next, and what it means for the crypto space writ large.
------ Earnifi | Check For Your Unclaimed Airdrops, POAPs, & NFTs https://bankless.cc/earnifi
------ SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER: https://newsletter.banklesshq.com/?utm_source=banklessshowsyt ️ SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST: http://podcast.banklesshq.com/
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️ ARBITRUM | SCALING ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum
ACROSS | BRIDGE TO LAYER 2 https://bankless.cc/Across
BRAVE | THE BROWSER NATIVE WALLET https://bankless.cc/Brave
NEXO | CRYPTO FINANCIAL HUB https://bankless.cc/Nexo
LEDGER | NANO HARDWARE WALLETS https://bankless.cc/Ledger
️FUEL | THE MODULAR EXECUTION LAYER https://bankless.cc/Fuelpod
----- Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 4:04 Ryan Selkis 11:45 Takes & Prices https://twitter.com/brian_armstrong/status/1590088673726717952 https://www.coingecko.com/ https://ultrasound.money/ 20:32 Erik Voorhees 42:00 Brian Armstrong 1:00:25 New CZ https://twitter.com/cz_binance/status/1590103159506341888 1:02:45 Ultra Sound Money https://ultrasound.money/ 1:04:45 Closing & Disclaimers
-----
Resources:
SBF Announcement https://twitter.com/SBF_FTX/status/1590012124864348160
CZ Announcement https://twitter.com/cz_binance/status/1590013613586411520
----- Not financial or tax advice. This channel is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. This video is not tax advice. Talk to your accountant. Do your own research.
Disclosure. From time-to-time I may add links in this newsletter to products I use. I may receive commission if you make a purchase through one of these links. Additionally, the Bankless writers hold crypto assets. See our investment disclosures here: https://www.bankless.com/disclosures
10 Predictions About Crypto in 2022 with Ryan Selkis
Ryan Selkis is the Founder and CEO the data analytics platform Messari. In Ryan's past Bankless appearances, we've debated ETH as money and the Triple Point Asset thesis. We've tackled crypto regulation and taking an aggressive stance on policy.
Now it's time to add it all together and decide what's next—what's important for the industry and the world as we head into 2022. Ryan wrote a 150+ page beast of a report titled 'Crypto Theses for 2022,' which covers the space from top to bottom. From DAOs and DeFi to Regulation and NFTs, there is no stone left unturned in this report.
In this episode, we digest the mountain of information Ryan puts together on an annual basis to answer the question: What's in store for Crypto in 2022?
----- METAMASK | YOUR HARDWARE WALLET'S BEST FRIEND https://bankless.cc/metamask-shows
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UNISWAP | DECENTRALIZED FUNDING https://bankless.cc/UniGrants
------ Topics Covered:
0:00 Intro 7:00 Ryan Selkis & Institutional Trust 14:30 Web3 is Inevitable 22:08 Inflation & Use Cases 32:47 WAGMI 37:45 The Fall of China 42:52 The American Battleground 46:55 The Regulator Side 56:28 The Crypto Coalition 1:02:20 NFTs & Metaverse 1:09:48 ETH's Q3 Earnings Report 1:16:47 ETH Killer Valuations 1:20:41 ETH is Money Debate 1:25:33 Closing & Disclaimers
------ Resources:
Ryan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/twobitidiot?s=20
The Crypto Theses: https://twitter.com/twobitidiot/status/1466438779196039175?s=20
----- Not financial or tax advice. This channel is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. This video is not tax advice. Talk to your accountant. Do your own research.
Disclosure. From time-to-time I may add links in this newsletter to products I use. I may receive commission if you make a purchase through one of these links. Additionally, the Bankless writers hold crypto assets. See our investment disclosures here: https://newsletter.banklesshq.com/p/bankless-disclosures
Unconfirmed: Solana's Outage Lasted 17 Hours. What Does This Mean for Decentralization? - Ep.273
Aidan Mott, research analyst at Messari, discusses Solana’s network restart that resulted in the blockchain going dark for 17 hours earlier this week. Show highlights:
when Solana validators noticed something was wrong and how they responded
what initial dex offering (IDO) caused the network to be flooded with transactions
how a surge in bot transactions pushed validators to decide to restart the network
how Solana’s outage compares to similar incidents on other chains
why the Solana community was most likely not surprised by the 17-hour restart
how Solana validators and the Solana Foundation coordinated the network restart
how Solana Labs CEO Anatoly Yakovenko communicated with the community during the outage
whether Solana is still vulnerable to a similar flood of transactions
what the network restart means in terms of Solana’s centralization
why Solana validators running the same client could be an issue
Check Out the Related Article In addition to the analysis from Aidan, I did an interview with a Solana validator about his experience of the outage, and his concerns for the network going forward. Check out "The Experience of One Validator: What Happened During Solana's 17-Hour Outage?" in my Facebook Bulletin newsletter here -- and subscribe today! https://laurashin.bulletin.com/178076467796725
Thank you to our sponsors!
Crypto.com: https://crypto.onelink.me/J9Lg/unconfirmedcardearnfeb2021
Digital Asset Research: https://digitalassetresearch.com
Sorare: https://sorare.com
Episode Links
Aidan Mott
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KidKrypt0
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidan-mott-77665267/
Messari
https://messari.io/
Solana Outage
The Block’s coverage
https://www.theblockcrypto.com/linked/117711/solana-blockchain-validators-restart-network-after-transaction-stoppage
https://www.theblockcrypto.com/linked/117624/solana-experiences-transaction-stoppage-as-developers-report-intermittent-instability
CoinDesk coverage
https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2021/09/14/solana-validators-ready-potential-restart-amid-blockchain-outage/
Decrypt coverage
https://decrypt.co/81004/solana-back-online-following-downtime-network-restart
Why the mainnet went down
https://twitter.com/buffalu__/status/1437792673784549383
Potential ramifications
https://twitter.com/CometShock/status/1437870278684590091
Neha Narula tweet
https://twitter.com/neha/status/1438487308433494022
Solana Status -- the Twitter account that sent information out on the state of the network
https://twitter.com/SolanaStatus
Anatoly Yakovenko Solana outage tweets
https://twitter.com/aeyakovenko/status/1437887482897518595
https://twitter.com/aeyakovenko/status/1437784552324358155
https://twitter.com/aeyakovenko/status/1438496595360862215
https://twitter.com/aeyakovenko/status/1438465508412739588
https://twitter.com/aeyakovenko/with_replies
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79 - The Crypto Coalition | Ryan Selkis
Ryan Selkis is the Founder and CEO the crypto data analytics platform Messari. Last time Ryan was on the podcast, we debated Ether’s properties as a money and the triple point asset thesis. We revisit many of these topics and explore what has changed in the landscape over the past year.
However, we also discuss a perhaps more pressing issue: the state of regulation for the industry. Ryan is poised to take a strong leadership role in the political side of crypto, and he’s developing offensive strategies for the crypto vs. nation-state conflict. Listen in to learn why he’s now a single-issue voter.
------ 🚀 SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER: https://newsletter.banklesshq.com/ 🎙️ SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST: http://podcast.banklesshq.com/ 🎖 CLAIM YOUR BADGE: https://newsletter.banklesshq.com/p/-guide-2-using-the-bankless-badge ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS:
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------ 📣 TracerDAO | Building DeFi Infrastructure. Join the Discord! https://bankless.cc/TracerDAO ------
Topics Covered:
0:00 Intro 4:00 Ryan Selkis of Messari 6:44 Ryan’s Broad Approach 12:41 Why Do They Hate Us? 18:13 “Protecting Us” 27:30 Single Issue Voters 35:49 It’s a Team Sport 45:00 Aligning with Regulators 54:00 Institutional Reactions 57:23 What the Markets Say 1:01:01 Ether as an Asset 1:08:40 The Flippening 1:10:44 Ethereum’s Narrative 1:13:53 Market Cap vs Money 1:17:37 Institutional Demand 1:19:55 Hot Sectors for Analysis 1:23:24 The Network State 1:26:41 Closing & Disclaimers
------ Resources:
Ryan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/twobitidiot?s=20 Ryan’s Tweet Thread: https://twitter.com/twobitidiot/status/1426020410370449410?s=20 Mainnet Event: https://mainnet.events/ Messari: https://messari.io/
----- Not financial or tax advice. This channel is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. This video is not tax advice. Talk to your accountant. Do your own research.
Disclosure. From time-to-time I may add links in this newsletter to products I use. I may receive commission if you make a purchase through one of these links. Additionally, the Bankless writers hold crypto assets. See our investment disclosures here: https://newsletter.banklesshq.com/p/bankless-disclosures
"There is No Political Voice to the Millions of Crypto Users in the US:" Ryan Selkis
In this week’s episode we speak with Ryan Selkis, CEO and founder of Messari, one of the most popular crypto data and research companies. Recently, Ryan has been very vocal about crypto regulation in the US. We talk about how he believes the infrastructure bill was a catalyzing event for the whole American crypto ecosystem. He believes while there are think tanks and corporate-led lobbying groups, the space is missing a grassroots entity that gives a voice to the millions of crypto users in the US that so energetically came to life against this bill. That’s why he’s creating a group to help mobilize voters in the crypto community to support pro-crypto candidates.
Balancer, one of the leading DeFi automated market makers (AMM) for multiple tokens. Dive into their pools at https://balancer.finance/!
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Kraken, consistently rated the best and most secure cryptocurrency exchange, which can get you from fiat to DeFi
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The DeFi Pulse Index, by Index Coop - DPI is the easiest way to capture the upside of DeFi with the benefit of diversification. Buy DPI today on your favorite DEX.
How NFTs Are Revolutionizing How Creators Make Money - Ep.220
Jamie Burke, CEO of Outlier Ventures, and Mason Nystrom, a research analyst at Messari, discuss the NFT craze that has enveloped the crypto world over the past few weeks. In this episode, they talk about:
their backgrounds, and how they became involved in crypto (1:19)
the major catalysts -- specifically Beeple and NBA Top Shot -- that have brought NFTs into the mainstream (5:29)
why NFTs are a “megatrend” and not just another ICO-like bubble (13:35)
how to explain non-fungible tokens to normies (18:06)
what someone is actually purchasing when they buy an NFT (24:46)
the reasons behind NBA Top Shot's success and why it is so difficult to withdraw money from its platform (36:27)
the best way to scale NFTs and why Ethereum, despite severe storage limitations, will most likely remain the most popular blockchain on which to mint NFTs (41:44)
why the gaming, fashion, and music industries will be disrupted by NFTs (49:37)
when the current subscription-based business model for content creators will transition to the ownership economy (55:10)
the differences between the marketplaces and platforms that make up the NFT economy (57:06)
whether NFT valuations will go to zero and the challenges of appraising digital art (1:03:39)
their predictions for the market capitalization of NFTs by the end of 2021 (1:15:23)
Thank you to our sponsors!
Download the Crypto.com app and get $25 with the code “Laura”: https://crypto.onelink.me/J9Lg/unchainedcardearnfeb2021
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Episode Links:
Jamie Burke
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/jamie247
Outlier Ventures:
https://twitter.com/OVioHQ
Content:
the open metaverse: https://outlierventures.io/research/the-open-metaverse-os/
100xARt: https://art.art/blog/jamie-burke-and-100xart-a-true-story-of-the-rising-art-order
podcast: https://outlierventures.io/podcasts/
Mason Nystrom
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/masonnystrom
Messari:
https://messari.io/
Content:
NFTs as an investment strategy: https://twitter.com/masonnystrom/status/1310942572429312010
evolution of content: https://twitter.com/masonnystrom/status/1361692703025729536
psychology of crypto art collecting: https://twitter.com/masonnystrom/status/1365028848509870080
the current state of NFTs: https://twitter.com/masonnystrom/status/1363283887691038720
NFT Sales Mentioned
Beeple: https://www.cnn.com/style/article/beeple-first-nft-artwork-at-auction-sale-buyer-intl-scli/index.html
Previous Unconfirmed interview with Beeple: https://unchainedpodcast.com/beeple-on-how-and-why-he-raked-in-3-5-million/
Taco Bell: https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/8/22319868/taco-bell-nfts-gif-tacos-sell
3LAU: https://edm.com/gear-tech/3lau-record-breaking-nft-sale
Jack Dorsey Tweet: https://v.cent.co/tweet/20
Kings of Leon album: https://www.maxim.com/entertainment/kings-of-leon-releases-album-in-nft
NBA Top Shot: https://www.actionnetwork.com/news/nba-top-shot-blockchain-nba-highlight-marketplace
NFT Guides
New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/22/business/nft-nba-top-shot-crypto.html?utm_source=morning_brew
DappRadar: https://dappradar.com/blog/what-are-non-fungible-tokens-nfts
Andrew Steinwold: https://andrewsteinwold.substack.com/p/-quick-overview-of-the-nft-ecosystem
Decrypt: https://decrypt.co/resources/non-fungible-tokens-nfts-explained-guide-learn-blockchain
CoinDesk: https://www.coindesk.com/nfts-became-art-everything-nft
Miscellaneous Links:
Chris Dixon blog: https://a16z.com/2021/02/27/nfts-and-a-thousand-true-fans/
NFT market cap: https://nonfungible.com/market/history
Outlier Ventures decentralized accelerator program: https://outlierventures.io/base-camp/
Top NFT marketplaces (DappRadar): https://decrypt.co/resources/non-fungible-tokens-nfts-explained-guide-learn-blockchain
Jesse Walden’s “Ownership Economy”: https://variant.mirror.xyz/T8kdtZRIgy_srXB5B06L8vBqFHYlEBcv6ae2zR6Y_eo
Flow blockchain: https://www.onflow.org/primer
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SotN#27: Is ETH Money? w/ Ryan Selkis (2020 Recap & 2021 Horizon)
🚀 SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER: http://bankless.substack.com/ ✊ STARTING GUIDE BANKLESS: https://bit.ly/37Q17uI❤️ JOIN PRIVATE DISCORD: https://bit.ly/2UVI10O🎙️ SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST: http://podcast.banklesshq.com/ 👕 BUY BANKLESS TEE: https://merch.banklesshq.com/ -----GO BANKLESS WITH THESE SPONSOR TOOLS:
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SotN#27: Is ETH Money? w/ Ryan Selkis (2020 Recap & 2021 Horizon)
Every year, Ryan Selkis does a round-up of the themes that powered the industry as well as some predictions of the year to come.
It covers the movers and shakers that steered the industry for the year. Among Ryan's list are people like Hayden Adams of Uniswap and Danny Ryan from the EF.
Yet, Ryan Selkis is still pessimistic on ETH as Money, and believes the tailwinds of the industry point elsewhere.
We bring on his points to the show, and go through them to discuss!
Ryan's Crypto Theses for 2021:https://messari.io/crypto-theses-for-2021
------
Don't stop at the video!
Subscribe to the Bankless newsletter programhttp://bankless.substack.com/
Visit the official Bankless website for resourceshttp://banklesshq.com/
Follow Bankless on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/BanklessHQ
Follow Ryan on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/ryansadams
Follow David on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/TrustlessState -----Not financial or tax advice. This channel is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. This video is not tax advice. Talk to your accountant. Do your own research.
Disclosure. From time-to-time we may add links in this channel to products we use. We may receive commission if you make a purchase through one of these links. We'll always disclose when this is the case/merch.banklesshq.com/
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https://bankless.cc/argent
💳 MONOLITH - GET THE HOLY GRAIL OF BANKLESS VISA CARDS
https://bankless.cc/monolith
🤖YEARN - YIELD-SEEKING MONEY ROBOT THAT FARMS DEFI FOR YOU
http://bankless.cc/yearn
------
SotN#27: Is ETH Money? w/ Ryan Selkis (2020 Recap & 2021 Horizon)
------
Don't stop at the video!
Subscribe to the Bankless newsletter programhttp://bankless.substack.com/
Visit the official Bankless website for resourceshttp://banklesshq.com/
Follow Bankless on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/BanklessHQ
Follow Ryan on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/ryansadams
Follow David on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/TrustlessState
-----
Not financial or tax advice. This channel is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. This video is not tax advice. Talk to your accountant. Do your own research.
Disclosure. From time-to-time we may add links in this channel to products we use. We may receive commission if you make a purchase through one of these links. We'll always disclose when this is the case
SotN#25 - Road to Ethereum 2.0 w/ Ryan Watkin & Wilson Withiam of Messari
Get the report: https://messari.io/road-to-eth2
-----
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-----
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------
State of the Nation #25
The Road to Ethereum 2.0
With Ryan Watkin and Wilson Withiam of Messari
Ryan Watkins and Wilson Withiam lead the effort behind Messari's 'The Road to ETH 2.0' report.
Both Ryan and David agree: this is the best piece of literature that has ever been produced about Ethereum, ever.
This report will serve as an accurate guide to the uninformed as to the nature of Ethereum and the types of economies it can support.
Get the report from Messari here: https://messari.io/road-to-eth2
We bring Ryan and Wilson on to discuss the production of this report, and some of the decision-making that went on behind the scenes.
------
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Subscribe to the Bankless newsletter programhttp://bankless.substack.com/
Visit the official Bankless website for resourceshttp://banklesshq.com/
Follow Bankless on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/BanklessHQ
Follow Ryan on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/ryansadams
Follow David on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/TrustlessState
-----
Not financial or tax advice. This channel is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. This video is not tax advice. Talk to your accountant. Do your own research.
Disclosure. From time-to-time we may add links in this channel to products we use. We may receive commission if you make a purchase through one of these links. We'll always disclose when this is the case.
Ethereum 2.0: What You Need to Know - Ep.201
Ryan Watkins and Wilson Withiam, senior research analysts at Messari, explain the nuts and bolts of Ethereum 2.0, including how it will transform ETH as an asset and why they believe it will be Ethereum’s most ambitious upgrade yet. Topics include:
the different phases of Ethereum 2.0 and the functions they serve
the problems Ethereum hopes to solve with this upgrade
the technical requirements needed to ensure the launch can happen
the new proof of stake consensus and why Ethereum is leaving proof of work behind
the requirements necessary to maintain a validator node on the Ethereum 2.0 network
why users won’t be able to use their ETH once it is staked on Ethereum 2.0
the incentives and services that will allow users staking on Ethereum 2.0 to continue using their ETH on Ethereum 1.0
whether the appeal of DeFi is a threat to Ethereum 2.0 staking
how Ethereum 2.0 incentivizes client diversity
the monetary policy of “minimum necessary issuance” that supports Ethereum 2.0
how Ethereum 2.0 will allow ETH to achieve the unprecedented combination of a store of value, a capital asset, and a commodity
what will be done in the short term to help ease the scaling problem while ETH 2.0 is being built
whether scalability can be efficiently addressed in time to prevent migrations to other blockchains
and the most significant risks Ethereum 2.0 is facing
Thank you to our sponsor!
Crypto.com: https://www.crypto.com
Episode links:
Ryan Watkins: https://twitter.com/RyanWatkins_
Wilson Withiam: https://twitter.com/wilsonwithiam
Messari Crypto: https://messari.io/
Messari report on Ethereum 2:0: https://messari.io/road-to-eth2
Amount of ETH in the Ethereum 2.0 Deposit Contract: https://etherscan.io/address/0x00000000219ab540356cBB839Cbe05303d7705Fa#analytics
https://www.stakingrewards.com/earn/ethereum-2-0
ETH issuance based on amount staked: https://docs.ethhub.io/ethereum-basics/monetary-policy/#proof-of-stake-impact
Dan Elitzer article on DETH: https://medium.com/ideo-colab/the-deth-of-ethereum-98553866e81b
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Ryan Selkis - The Crypto Barbell and Token Curated Registries - [Invest Like the Best, EP.98]
Ryan Selkis - The Crypto Barbell and Token Curated Registries - [Invest Like the Best, EP.98]
This week’s conversation is for those interested in the nitty gritty of cryptocurrencies and for those who, like me, are fascinated by that world but more than a bit skeptical of the investing prospects for the many cryptocurrencies now in existence. My guest is Ryan Selkis, who I met at an event hosted by Union Square Ventures and Blocktower Capital. At that event, in a crowd of many brilliant people, Ryan was consistently asking hard questions and raising counterpoints. I love his perspective because he is both passionate, but realistic, excited about crypto, but worried about many aspects of the ecosystem. We discuss many new topics like his barbell analogy for thinking about different kinds of coins, token curated registries, and the need to better transparency around decentralized projects.
Hash Power is presented by Fidelity Investments
Please enjoy our conversation.
March for the Fallen
Want to meet other curious investors, get in good shape, and support a fantastic cause? Consider joining a great group to hike 28 miles in honor of those who have fallen in defense of our nation.
Learn more and sign up at alphaarchitect.com/mftf.
For more episodes go to InvestorFieldGuide.com/podcast.
Sign up for the book club, where you’ll get a full investor curriculum and then 3-4 suggestions every month at InvestorFieldGuide.com/bookclub.
Follow Patrick on Twitter at @patrick_oshag
Show Notes
2:55 - (First Question) – how he best explains blockchain technology
4:12 – How does he categorize each cryptocurrency
9:11 – How Numeraii is valued
10:04 – Explaining token curated registries (TCR)
12:58 – How Token Curated Registries are being applied
15:05 – Innovations that will protect against nefarious actors in the crypto space
16:37 – How do you convince investors to commit to TCR’s
18:40 – Biggest headwinds to this industry
22:12 – What are the quality filters to root out the bad actors
25:42 – Thoughts on the ICO market as an alternative to capital raising
29:23 – Litmus test for who should use an ICO to raise capital
34:28 – What is unique about creation of a token vs the normal exchange of cash to determine if a company needs a token
36:21 – How many ICO projects are really necessary
38:28 – How should people form an investment opinion about this space
41:35 – Core mission of his company
44:28 – What are some of the reasons his goals won’t happen
49:30 – Lessons learned while working at Coindesk
49:58 – What is he most excited about for the future of this space
52:56 – Kindest thing anyone has done for Ryan
Learn More
For more episodes go to InvestorFieldGuide.com/podcast.
Sign up for the book club, where you’ll get a full investor curriculum and then 3-4 suggestions every month at InvestorFieldGuide.com/bookclub
Follow Patrick on twitter at @patrick_oshag
Ripple's XRP: Why Its Chances of Success Are Low - Ep.58
In this show, recorded without the participation of Ripple (explanation included in the show), Ryan Selkis, CEO and founder of Messari and Matt Leising, Bloomberg reporter, discuss Ripple's XRP, the third-largest coin by market cap. We go over whether or not it plays an essential role in Ripple's products, why banks are unlikely to adopt it, and why it's centralized. We also discuss whether or not it's an unregistered security (although the class-action lawsuit alleging XRP is an unregistered security being sold in a "never-ending ICO" came out after we recorded -- link below). We also discuss recent attempts by XRP to get it listed on top crypto exchanges, and how, as Selkis puts it, there's a fine line between some of its business activity and bribes. We also ponder the question: If XRP is meant for banks and financial institutions, why should everyday people own XRP?
Ryan Selkis: https://messari.io/
https://twitter.com/twobitidiot
Matt Leising: https://twitter.com/mattleising
https://www.bloomberg.com/authors/AGfq0QVqo0I/matthew-leising
Full text of class-action lawsuit against Ripple: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5938711a9de4bb74f63b4059/t/5aebc4112b6a28e0ef4a0381/1525400594617/Coffey+v+Ripple+Labs+Complaint.pdf
Bloomberg article on lawsuit: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-04/ripple-hit-with-class-action-suit-over-never-ending-ico
Matt's article on why big banks have no interest in using XRP: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-25/ripple-wants-xrp-to-be-bitcoin-for-banks-if-only-the-banks-wanted-it
How Ripple tried to buy its way onto crypto exchanges: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-04/ripple-is-said-to-struggle-to-buy-u-s-listing-for-popular-coin
Ryan's post on XRP: https://medium.com/@twobitidiot/i-still-see-you-xrp-815369a539ea
Izabella Kaminska's article on XRP: https://ftalphaville.ft.com/2018/01/05/2197220/the-ripple-effect/
CoinDesk article on XRP: https://www.coindesk.com/ripples-xrp-giving-third-largest-cryptocurrency-second-look/
XRP chat post by David Schwartz: https://www.xrpchat.com/topic/5280-valuation-models-xrp-the-digital-currency-vs-ripple-the-company/?tab=comments#comment-50182
Another post by David Schwartz on how XRP is not required: https://www.quora.com/Is-XRP-not-required-for-the-Ripple-Swift-replacement/answer/David-Schwartz-9
Bitmex post on XRP: https://blog.bitmex.com/the-ripple-story/
The dueling lawsuits between Ripple and R3 over XRP: https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2017/09/08/blockchain-enterprise-firms-r3-and-ripple-sue-each-other-over-1-billion-of-cryptocurrency/
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