Gm! This week we're back with another weekly roundup where we discuss our takeaways from DAS NY, Chat GPT's breakout moment, why everyone is so bullish stablecoins, the Binance vs Hyperliquid drama & more .Enjoy!

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Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Grab your tickets to Permissionless IV. Use code EMPIRE10 for 10% off: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-iv

--

SKALE is the next evolution in Layer 1 blockchains with a gas-free invisible user experience, instant finality, high speed, and robust security. SKALE is built different as it allows for limitless scalability and has already saved its 50 Million users over $11 Billion in gas fees.

SKALE is high-performance and cost-effective, making it ideal for compute-intensive applications like AI, gaming, and consumer-facing dApps. Learn more at skale.space and stay up to date with the gas-free invisible blockchain on X at @skalenetwork

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ZKsync is the pioneering zero-knowledge technology powering the next generation of builders with limitless scale. Secured by math and designed for native interoperability, ZKsync enables an elastic, ever-expanding network of customizable chains.

Deeply rooted in its mission to advance personal freedom for all, the ZKsync technology makes digital self-ownership universally available.

To learn more about ZKsync, visit http://www.zksync.io

--

Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors Empire podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER device and secure your crypto today.

Buy now at www.Ledger.com

--

Mantle is evolving into the premier on-chain financial hub, supercharging the ecosystem that bridges blockchain with banking. The 2025 roadmap introduces three transformative products:

- Enhanced Index Fund (launching Q1) offering optimized crypto exposure to BTC, ETH, SOL and USD with built-in yield optimization - targeting $1B AUM

- Mantle Banking for seamless financial services

- MantleX for AI-powered innovation

Backed by a $4.5B treasury, Mantle is building the future of on-chain finance – accessible for everyone.

Learn more: https://x.com/Mantle_Official/status/1882017058680086805

--

WalletConnect is the onchain connectivity network . If you’ve connected to a Web3 app, you’ve seen WalletConnect. It’s everywhere—an icon of trust in crypto, as recognizable as Visa at checkout.

The numbers speak for themselves: Over 220 million connections and 35 million users worldwide use WalletConnect to power their Web3 experience. @WalletConnect on X and Telegram or visit https://WalletConnect.Network

--

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(05:34) The GPT-4o Impact

(14:22) Ad (Skale & ZKSync)

(16:10) AI's Impact On Building A Business

(24:12) M&A Is Back For Crypto

(30:42) Ads (Skale & ZKSync)

(32:30) Hyperliquidated: The Hyperliquid Fallout

(39:50) Ads (Ledger, Mantle, WalletConnect)

(42:14) Why Is Everyone Launching Stablecoins?

(48:33) The STABLE Act Draft

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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, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Gm! This week Eric Peters joins the show live from DAS NY 2025 to discuss why institutions are bullish. We deep dive into the rise of fiscal dominance over the past few years, what institutions are interested in within crypto, does the four year cycle still exist, crypto's biggest opportunities in 2025 & more. Enjoy!

--

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Grab your tickets to Permissionless IV. Use code EMPIRE10 for 10% off: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-iv

--

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:27) The Rise Of Fiscal Dominance

(04:00) The Trump Playbook In 2025

(08:20) Why Institutions Are Bullish

(17:30) Are Meme Coins Bad For Crypto?

(18:51) Where Are We In The Cycle?

(19:57) Fundamentals vs Narratives

(21:39) Crypto's Biggest Opportunity

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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, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Gm! This week Stani Kulechov & Jack O'Holleran join the show to discuss what it takes to build in crypto. We deep dive into how to build a great project in web 3 vs web 2, building long term vs short term narratives, are tokens productive, advice for founders & more. Enjoy!

--

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Stani: https://x.com/StaniKulechov

Follow Jack: https://x.com/jackoholleran

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Grab your tickets to Permissionless IV. For the developers and the builders: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-iv

--

ZKsync is the pioneering zero-knowledge technology powering the next generation of builders with limitless scale. Secured by math and designed for native interoperability, ZKsync enables an elastic, ever-expanding network of customizable chains.

Deeply rooted in its mission to advance personal freedom for all, the ZKsync technology makes digital self-ownership universally available.

To learn more about ZKsync, visit http://www.zksync.io

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Token.com is a social-first crypto platform transforming how people discover and trade through crypto content. The revolutionary in-feed trading turns complex crypto into intuitive investments, while content creators earn from every trade and projects amplify their stories through native tokens - creating a new era of social media-powered crypto discovery. Just scroll to watch and tap to invest. Download the app!

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Get up to speed on the biggest stories in crypto each week. In five minutes.

Get the Bitwise Weekly CIO Memo delivered directly to your inbox at bitwiseinvestments.com/ciomemo/empire

--

WalletConnect is the onchain connectivity network . If you’ve connected to a Web3 app, you’ve seen WalletConnect. It’s everywhere—an icon of trust in crypto, as recognizable as Visa at checkout.

The numbers speak for themselves: Over 220 million connections and 35 million users worldwide use WalletConnect to power their Web3 experience. @WalletConnect on X and Telegram or visit https://WalletConnect.Network

--

Timestamps:

(00:00) Building In Crypto

(05:55) Are Tokens Productive?

(07:52) Ads (ZKSync)

(08:52) Advice For Founders

(15:06) Ads (ZKSync)

(16:11) Building Long Term vs Short Term Narratives

(20:44) Fundraising In Crypto

(22:54) Ads (Token.com. Bitwise, WalletConnect)

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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, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Gm! This week we're back with another weekly roundup where we discuss our takeaways from DAS New York 2025. We deep dive into the growth of stablecoins & RWAs, what the institutions are focusing on, the future of crypto exchanges, who is best positioned going into 2025 & much more. Enjoy!

--

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

--

Follow Mike: https://x.com/MikeIppolito_

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Grab your tickets to Permissionless IV. For the developers and the builders: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-iv

--

SKALE is the next evolution in Layer 1 blockchains with a gas-free invisible user experience, instant finality, high speed, and robust security. SKALE is built different as it allows for limitless scalability and has already saved its 50 Million users over $11 Billion in gas fees.

SKALE is high-performance and cost-effective, making it ideal for compute-intensive applications like AI, gaming, and consumer-facing dApps. Learn more at skale.space and stay up to date with the gas-free invisible blockchain on X at @skalenetwork

--

ZKsync is the pioneering zero-knowledge technology powering the next generation of builders with limitless scale. Secured by math and designed for native interoperability, ZKsync enables an elastic, ever-expanding network of customizable chains.

Deeply rooted in its mission to advance personal freedom for all, the ZKsync technology makes digital self-ownership universally available.

To learn more about ZKsync, visit http://www.zksync.io

--

Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors Empire podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER device and secure your crypto today.

Buy now at www.Ledger.com

--

Mantle is evolving into the premier on-chain financial hub, supercharging the ecosystem that bridges blockchain with banking. The 2025 roadmap introduces three transformative products:

- Enhanced Index Fund (launching Q1) offering optimized crypto exposure to BTC, ETH, SOL and USD with built-in yield optimization - targeting $1B AUM

- Mantle Banking for seamless financial services

- MantleX for AI-powered innovation

Backed by a $4.5B treasury, Mantle is building the future of on-chain finance – accessible for everyone.

Learn more: https://x.com/Mantle_Official/status/1882017058680086805

--

AO Mainnet is LIVE! Experience the future of decentralized computing: infinite parallel processing, secure TEE-powered computations, and LLMs in smart contracts. Built on Arweave, AO's modular design shatters scalability limits. 100% of tokens are distributed to Arweave holders and bridge depositors, with a fixed supply and halving. Explore AO today: https://ao.arweave.dev

--

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:11) The DAS Origin Story

(20:49) Ads (Skale, ZKSync)

(22:34) Stablecoins

(26:08) Tokenization & RWAs

(32:08) Ads (Skale, ZKSync)

(33:53) DePIN & Onchain Yield

(35:30) The Future Of Crypto Exchanges

(46:14) Ads (Ledger, Mantle, Arweave)

(48:37) The Growth Of Stablecoins

(57:39) Crypto Regulation In 2025

(1:00:27) Final Thoughts From DAS

--

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.

This week, the Hivemind team discuss the macro uncertainty impacting markets, the future of meme coins, and a deep dive into Hyperliquid and its valuation. We also dig into the bull case of Celestia, Ethena’s new L1, the new era of programming, and more. Enjoy!.

--

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire

Follow Ceteris: https://x.com/ceterispar1bus

Follow Jose: https://x.com/ZeMariaMacedo

Follow Yan: https://x.com/YanLiberman

Follow Duncan: https://x.com/FloodCapital

Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/4jYEkBx

Subscribe on Apple: https://bit.ly/3ECSmJ3

Subscribe on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4hzy9lH

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:50) Market Overview and Bitcoin's Position

(4:15) Macro Trends and Economic Uncertainty

(10:21) Crypto Market Sentiment and Predictions

(14:32) The Future of Meme Coins

(19:33) Hyperliquid Deep Dive

(32:22) Understanding Celestia's Role in Blockchain

(40:11) Comparing Celestia to Ethereum

(44:10) Ethena's New L1: Converge

(54:33) Vibe Coding: The New Era of Programming

(1:04:04) Delphi's AI and Crypto Accelerator

--

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.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction 

(00:40) Crypto's Leverage Unwind In 2021-22

(08:41) The Terra/Luna Fallout

(14:30) Ad ZKSync

(15:35) What We Learned From Last Cycle

(19:11) Who Are The Big Lenders In This Cycle?

(23:32) Ad ZKSync

(24:37) Token Generation Events

(31:02) Will Institutions Start Lending In Crypto?

(35:08) Ads (Token.com. Bitwise, WalletConnect)

(37:22) What Is Membrane?

(48:40) Over vs Under Collateralized Lending

(58:22) What Will Blow Up This Cycle?

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction 

(00:44) Why Are Markets So Bearish?

(11:55) Ads (Skale & ZKSync)

(13:41) Sandwich Attacks

(20:06) MGX Invests $2 Billion Into Binance

(26:17) Ads (Skale & ZKSync)

(28:03) Crypto's 2024/25 Cycle

(37:02) Ads (Ledger, Mantle, Arweave)

(39:28) How To Value Protocols?

(50:41) The State Of VC In 2025

Gm! This week we're joined by Anthony Pompliano to discuss the current state of markets, the economy & politics. We deep dive into the rise of populism, why tariffs are not actually inflationary, how to build a great business, advice for founders & much more. Enjoy!

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Follow Pomp: https://x.com/APompliano

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

--

ZKsync is the pioneering zero-knowledge technology powering the next generation of builders with limitless scale. Secured by math and designed for native interoperability, ZKsync enables an elastic, ever-expanding network of customizable chains.

Deeply rooted in its mission to advance personal freedom for all, the ZKsync technology makes digital self-ownership universally available.

To learn more about ZKsync, visit http://www.zksync.io

--

GEODNET’s native token, GEOD, can be easily mined with a GEODNET Satellite Miner, presenting a unique opportunity to generate passive income. By setting up a GEODNET base station, you can join this groundbreaking Web3 ecosystem that is powering the future of AI and robotics.

Join the revolution today and learn more at https://geodnet.com.

--

Petra Earn was designed to make DeFi more accessible for everyone—from seasoned pros to DeFi beginners. Manage your balance, claim rewards and deposit directly from the app.

By supplying USDT to Aries lending pools, users have the potential to earn a higher yield compared to some traditional methods.

Not financial advice. Participating in Defi carries risks. To learn more visit petra.app/earn

--

Get up to speed on the biggest stories in crypto each week. In five minutes.

Get the Bitwise Weekly CIO Memo delivered directly to your inbox at bitwiseinvestments.com/ciomemo/empire

--

WalletConnect is the onchain connectivity network . If you’ve connected to a Web3 app, you’ve seen WalletConnect. It’s everywhere—an icon of trust in crypto, as recognizable as Visa at checkout.

The numbers speak for themselves: Over 220 million connections and 35 million users worldwide use WalletConnect to power their Web3 experience. @WalletConnect on X and Telegram or visit https://WalletConnect.Network

--

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction 

(00:58) Globalism, Populism & The Rise Of Technology

(11:04) Ads (ZKsync & Geodnet)

(13:06) The State Of Politics In America Today

(20:00) Are Tariffs Inflationary?

(29:23) Ads (ZKsync & Geodnet)

(31:25) The Trump Impact

(33:50) The Overton Window

(39:56)Berkshire Hathaway Is A Meme

(47:48) Ads (Aptos, Bitwise, Wallet Connect)

(50:07) The Rise Of Retail Investors

(57:24) How To Build A Great Business

(01:04:19) Advice For Founders

(01:08:00) How To Live An Extraordinary Life

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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, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Gm! This week we're back with another weekly roundup. We discuss why the markets look bearish short term, but bullish in the long run, does the U.S need a strategic crypto reserve, Sui's announcement with World Liberty Financial, the Ethereum foundation's Silviculture Society strategy & more. Enjoy!

--

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

SKALE is the next evolution in Layer 1 blockchains with a gas-free invisible user experience, instant finality, high speed, and robust security. SKALE is built different as it allows for limitless scalability and has already saved its 50 Million users over $11 Billion in gas fees.

SKALE is high-performance and cost-effective, making it ideal for compute-intensive applications like AI, gaming, and consumer-facing dApps. Learn more at skale.space and stay up to date with the gas-free invisible blockchain on X at @skalenetwork

--

ZKsync is the pioneering zero-knowledge technology powering the next generation of builders with limitless scale. Secured by math and designed for native interoperability, ZKsync enables an elastic, ever-expanding network of customizable chains.

Deeply rooted in its mission to advance personal freedom for all, the ZKsync technology makes digital self-ownership universally available.

To learn more about ZKsync, visit http://www.zksync.io

--

Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors Empire podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER device and secure your crypto today.

Buy now at www.Ledger.com

--

Mantle is evolving into the premier on-chain financial hub, supercharging the ecosystem that bridges blockchain with banking. The 2025 roadmap introduces three transformative products:

- Enhanced Index Fund (launching Q1) offering optimized crypto exposure to BTC, ETH, SOL and USD with built-in yield optimization - targeting $1B AUM

- Mantle Banking for seamless financial services

- MantleX for AI-powered innovation

Backed by a $4.5B treasury, Mantle is building the future of on-chain finance – accessible for everyone.

Learn more: https://x.com/Mantle_Official/status/1882017058680086805

--

AO Mainnet is LIVE! Experience the future of decentralized computing: infinite parallel processing, secure TEE-powered computations, and LLMs in smart contracts. Built on Arweave, AO's modular design shatters scalability limits. 100% of tokens are distributed to Arweave holders and bridge depositors, with a fixed supply and halving. Explore AO today: https://ao.arweave.dev

--

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(3:02) The Trump Playbook: Short Term Bearish, Long Term Bullish

(11:26) Ads (Skale, ZKSync)

(13:10) Should The U.S Create A Strategic Crypto Reserve?

(29:34) Ads (Skale, ZKSync)

(31:17) Stablecoin Regulation In D.C

(36:11) Sui’s World Liberty Financial Announcement

(45:16) Ads (Ledger, Mantle, Arweave)

(47:37) The Ethereum Foundation Silviculture Society

(56:11) Top Stories Of The Week

--

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.

This week, the Hivemind team discuss the effect of crypto scams and grifting on sentiment, whether the Trump Admin is actually better for crypto, and the key macro factors driving markets. We also delve into ETH Denver, what assets the team is bidding, and much more. Enjoy!.

--

Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis.

Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire

Follow Ceteris: https://x.com/ceterispar1bus

Follow Jose: https://x.com/ZeMariaMacedo

Follow Yan: https://x.com/YanLiberman

Follow Duncan: https://x.com/FloodCapital

Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/4jYEkBx

Subscribe on Apple: https://bit.ly/3ECSmJ3

Subscribe on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4hzy9lH

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:57) Market Overview and Theories

(6:10) Impact of Meme Coins and Scams

(18:22) Comparing Trump vs Harris Administrations

(22:16) Are Memes Dead?

(25:29) Macro Corner

(33:21) Tough Market to Trade

(37:57) Macro Corner Pt. 2

(43:40) Crypto Market Drivers & ETH Denver

(49:34) What We're Bidding

--

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.