Biden vs. Trump, LayerZero, Celeb Coins and VC Coins, and More!
This Week on Unchained: Don't miss the interviews with Anthony Scaramucci on why he supports Biden, and Bryan Pellegrino on LayerZero's TGE. Plus, new episodes of Bits + Bips and TCB.
Anthony Scaramucci on Why He Supports Biden and Thinks He, Not Trump, Is Best for Crypto
The political landscape in the US is heating up with the November elections, and the crypto industry is watching closely.
In this episode, Anthony Scaramucci, founder of SkyBridge, doesn’t mince words and explains why he believes Joe Biden is the best choice—even for the crypto voter—in the upcoming election, the significance of the Ethereum ETF approval, and how the industry has overcome significant regulatory hurdles.
Scaramucci also shares his insights on the future of Bitcoin ETFs, the role of younger generations in driving crypto policy, and why Solana might be the next big thing.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pods, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. Or watch it on YouTube.
LayerZero Fought the Sybils and Airdropped Its Token. Did the Team Win?
LayerZero’s token claims went live on Thursday, and as with every recent airdrop, there was plenty of controversy.
In this episode, Bryan Pellegrino, cofounder and CEO of LayerZero Labs, joined to discuss their ambitious anti-Sybil campaign and the subsequent token distribution. He delved into the challenges of ensuring genuine user participation, the decision to offer a self-report option for Sybil attackers, and the complexities imposed by industrial-grade farmers. Bryan shared what he would have done differently and why a mandatory donation to Protocol Guild was imposed.
Also, are airdrops dead? How can the industry improve this not-so-effective distribution method?
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pods, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. Or watch it on YouTube.
Iggy Azalea, $MOTHER, and Celeb Coins: Is This the Top of the Crypto Cycle?
A few weeks after its launch, Iggy Azalea’s MOTHER memecoin is still in the spotlight. Host Joe McCann, who recently had dinner with her in New York, gives the inside scoop on how Iggy’s $MOTHER came to be, plus her plans.
Also, Joe says Iggy is so bullish on Solana because it’s fast and cheap… but James Seyffart counters… nothing can be fast, cheap and good. Except ETFs.
Guests Phill Bonello and Kelly Greer delve into the role of venture capital in crypto, and more particularly into dynamics between liquid hedge funds and massive token generation events. And James tells a mind-blowing story about how one ETF and obscure SEC rules could cause whiplash the prices of Apple and Nvidia stock over the next few months.
Plus, after SEC head enforcer David Hirsch resigned from the SEC this week, everyone gave their takes on why. Is Hirsch going to BlackRock, or was he scared about a potential lawsuit?
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pods, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. Or watch it on YouTube.
The Chopping Block: VC Tokens, Memecoins & Celebs, and Seasonal Patterns
In this episode, we dive into the impact of celebrity-endorsed memecoins, featuring discussions around Iggy Azalea’s ‘Mother’ token, Waka Flocka Flame’s ‘Flocka’ token, and other celebrities. We debate the broader implications of these phenomena on the crypto market, address criticisms of venture capital’s role in crypto, and explore the seasonal nature of crypto trading.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pods, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. Or watch it on YouTube.
In Case You Missed It 👀
Here are some articles you will probably want to read:
Biden Nominated Christy Goldsmith Romero for FDIC Chair. What Is Her Stance on Crypto?
From her past remarks Christy Goldsmith Romero, who is currently a CFTC commissioner, may take a hard line against crypto.
Has the Market Decided NFTs Aren’t Worth Millions of Dollars Anymore?
CryptoPunks and Bored Ape Yacht Club are reaching multi-year lows in floor price amidst a broader NFT downturn. However, Milady Maker and Pudgy Penguins are exceptions to the ongoing trend.
Airdrops Just Aren’t Working Anymore
As more projects fall victim to “mercenary airdrop farming,” could the crypto industry’s obsession with airdrops finally be coming to an end?
What Will Allocations Look Like in Combined Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs?
After the first combined ETF was filed today, what will other issuers do regarding the allocation to BTC and ETH?
Arbitrum’s Market Cap Has Grown, But the ARB Token Is Near Its All-Time Low
Even though its price has slumped over the past year, ARB’s market cap has grown over 75% to $2.23 billion, as a result of heavy token unlocks. Over the next three years, the remaining 36% of Arbitrum’s total supply will be unlocked.
OPINION: LayerZero’s ‘Pay-to-Claim’ Airdrop Policy Has Gone Too Far
by Juan Aranovich
The decision to impose payments for token claims is a tax as well as an overly paternalistic approach.
Read the Weekly Recap!
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What Is CheckTemplateVerify (CTV) Proposal for Bitcoin? BIP-119 Explained
What Are Sequencers in Layer 2 Protocols Such as Optimism, Arbitrum, and Base?
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