Empire
Empire
Blockworks
Empire features interviews with top crypto founders to get the real stories that aren’t shared elsewhere. Empire is your look behind the curtain of the crypto industry. We release two episodes per week: guest interviews on Monday and a weekly roundup on Friday.
Quadrillions: You’re Already Late | Mike Belshe, Justin Peterson & Eric Saraniecki
In this episode, we cover institutional crypto adoption, stablecoins’ interplay with treasuries and 24/7 repo financing on Canton, the risks associated with wrapped assets and stablecoin fragmentation, and 2026 expectations for broader, client-driven OTC and onchain activity.   -- Quadrillions brings together the voices defining the next era of finance. From institutional rails to stablecoins and privacy, the series dives into how traditional markets, crypto innovation, and regulatory frameworks are converging to bring the full force of capital markets onchain. Join hosts Jason Yanowitz, Yuval Rooz, and Eric Saraniecki for deep dives with special guests Shaul Kfir, Don Wilson, Mike Belshe, Justin Peterson, Acting Chair Caroline Pham, Eli Ben-Sasson, and more. Produced by Blockworks and Canton Network. For more information, check out https://quadrillionspod.com/ -- Follow Canton: https://x.com/CantonNetwork Follow Tradeweb: https://x.com/Tradeweb Follow Mike: https://x.com/mikebelshe Follow Eric: https://x.com/wesarn_real Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:38) Tradeweb's Origin Story (3:58) The State of Institutional Crypto Adoption (8:23) Where is the Most Growth Right Now? (10:26) Consolidating Stablecoins (15:23) Tradeweb's Crypto Strategy (18:32) What Does Crypto Solve Today? (23:37) The Next 100x Growth Opportunity (27:56) Bringing RWAs Onchain (31:25) The Role of Custodians (35:03) Canton's Go-to-market Strategy (38:31) Tokenized Equities (44:02) The Need For Privacy (49:23) Crypto Adoption Going Forward -- Disclaimer: “Quadrillions” is a mini-series produced by Blockworks, and is sponsored by Canton Network. Nothing on this show is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. It’s for informational purposes only, and the views expressed by anyone on the show are solely their opinions, not financial advice or necessarily the views of Blockworks. Our hosts, guests, and the Blockworks team may hold positions in companies, funds, or projects discussed, including those related to Canton Network.
Nov 19, 2025
56 min
Quadrillions: Unlocking Quadrillions | Don Wilson & Yuval Rooz
In this kickoff episode, we draw the big picture of how TradFi is a multiplier for crypto, the barriers to TradFi adoption, and how crypto can overcome - or is already overcoming - those barriers. This is the path to quadrillions moving onchain. -- Quadrillions brings together the voices defining the next era of finance. From institutional rails to stablecoins and privacy, the series dives into how traditional markets, crypto innovation, and regulatory frameworks are converging to bring the full force of capital markets onchain. Join hosts Jason Yanowitz, Yuval Rooz, and Eric Saraniecki for deep dives with special guests Shaul Kfir, Don Wilson, Mike Belshe, Justin Peterson, Acting Chair Caroline Pham, Eli Ben-Sasson, and more. Produced by Blockworks and Canton Network. For more information, check out https://quadrillionspod.com/ -- Follow Canton: https://x.com/CantonNetwork Follow Don: https://x.com/drwconvexity Follow Yuval: https://x.com/YuvalRooz Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (2:57) DRW's Origin Story (9:32) Digital Asset's Thesis (12:36) TradFi's Early Relationship With Crypto (15:32) Deciding to Build Canton (21:03) The Importance of Onchain Privacy (23:42) Canton's Approach to Privacy (28:28) Deciding When to Launch Canton (36:23) Canton's June 2025 Fundraise (39:59) The Scale of Tokenization (50:35) Canton's Progress Thus Far (54:54) Will AI and Crypto Converge? (58:10) Are Circuit Breakers a Good Idea? (1:02:48) Bringing Quadrillions Onchain -- Disclaimer: “Quadrillions” is a mini-series produced by Blockworks, and is sponsored by Canton Network. Nothing on this show is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. It’s for informational purposes only, and the views expressed by anyone on the show are solely their opinions, not financial advice or necessarily the views of Blockworks. Our hosts, guests, and the Blockworks team may hold positions in companies, funds, or projects discussed, including those related to Canton Network.
Nov 5, 2025
1 hr 4 min
The Art of Trading and Galaxy’s Next Chapter | Mike Novogratz
This week Mike Novogratz joins the show to reflect on his path from a successful trading career to building and running Galaxy. We deep dive into the state of markets, what defines the most successful macro traders, Galaxy's AI data center opportunity, running a public company & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Mike: https://x.com/novogratz Follow Jason: https://x.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 David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts -- Crypto-native institutions and developers demand institutional-grade infrastructure with regulatory clarity and full asset control. Blockdaemon's Earn Stack is a non-custodial platform combining high-performance staking rewards and seamless DeFi integration with no intermediate smart contract or vaults. Programmatically access leading Ethereum & Solana staking rewards, plus DeFi opportunities across lending protocols, DEXs, and AMMs. Book a Demo! -- peaq, the Machine Economy Computer, proudly sponsors the Empire podcast. peaq is home to 60+ apps across 20+ industries and millions of devices, machines, and onchain robots. It powers the world’s first tokenized robo-farm, launching soon in Hong Kong, and has launched the Machine Economy Free Zone in Dubai as a Web3 x Robotics x AI innovation hub. For more about peaq, check out www.peaq.xyz -- Mantle is pioneering ""Blockchain for Banking"" as a revolutionary new category that sits at the intersection of TradFi and web3. Key elements for Mantle as the ""Blockchain for Banking"": - Transactions posted to the blockchain - Compatibility with TradFi rails - Integrated DeFi features Mantle Network, the access layer — transforms Mantle Network into a purpose-built vertical platform — the blockchain for banking — that enables financial services on-chain. Mantle leads the establishment of Blockchain for Banking as the next frontier. Follow Mantle on X (@Mantle_Official) for the latest updates on Mantle as the 'Blockchain for Banking'. -- GEODNET is the world’s largest RTK network, delivering real-time, centimeter-level precision for drones, robots, farmers, and first responders. Recognized by the U.S. Congress, this blockchain-powered network supports mission-critical applications across a wide range of industries. Discover how GEODNET is changing the world: [https://geodnet.com] -- Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (06:32) Mike's Outlook For Markets in 2025 (14:53) Are Markets Frothy, AI Capex & The Minsky Moment (24:26) Ads (Blockdaemon, Peaq) (25:36) What Will The Next Four Years For Crypto Look Like? (30:44) What Makes The Most Successful Macro Traders? (40:25) Ads (Blockdaemon, Peaq) (41:35) Hyperliquid (44:19) The AI Data Center Buildout (54:34) Ads (Mantle, Geodnet) (55:59) Galaxy's Crypto Business (59:06) Tokenizing Galaxy's Stock (01:03:14) Running A Public Company & The IPO Window (01:07:03) Final Thoughts -- 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.
Sep 30, 2025
1 hr 13 min
Have We Topped, Aster vs Hyperliquid & Tether's $500B Valuation | Weekly Roundup
This week we're back to discuss the top stories of the week. We deep dive into the state of markets, Tether looking to raise $20B at a $500B valuation, Aster vs Hyperliquid, crypto IPOs in 2025-26 & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Jason: https://x.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 David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts -- Ansem's outlook on markets: https://x.com/blknoiz06/status/1970107553079079341 -- Crypto’s premiere institutional conference returns to London in October 2025. Use code EMPIRE100 for £100 off at checkout: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2025-london -- Crypto-native institutions and developers demand institutional-grade infrastructure with regulatory clarity and full asset control. Blockdaemon's Earn Stack is a non-custodial platform combining high-performance staking rewards and seamless DeFi integration with no intermediate smart contract or vaults. Programmatically access leading Ethereum & Solana staking rewards, plus DeFi opportunities across lending protocols, DEXs, and AMMs. Book a Demo! -- peaq, the Machine Economy Computer, proudly sponsors the Empire podcast. peaq is home to 60+ apps across 20+ industries and millions of devices, machines, and onchain robots. It powers the world’s first tokenized robo-farm, launching soon in Hong Kong, and has launched the Machine Economy Free Zone in Dubai as a Web3 x Robotics x AI innovation hub. For more about peaq, check out www.peaq.xyz -- Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (02:32) Are Markets A Little Too Frothy? (06:43) The Stablecoin Thesis (10:43) Takeaways From The Origin Summit (13:53) Ansem’s Outlook On Markets (22:49) Tether Raising $20B at $500B Valuation (26:26) Ads (Blockdaemon, Peaq) (27:26) Aster vs Hyperliquid (39:23) BitGo Files Their S-1 (50:28) Ads (Blockdaemon, Peaq) (51:36) Crypto IPOs In 2026 (55:02) Cloudflare Issuing A Stablecoin (59:06) Zerohash Raises $100M At $1B Valuation (01:01:48) Content 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.
Sep 26, 2025
1 hr 8 min
Ethena Founder: The Next Chapter For Ethena | Guy Young
This week Guy Young joins the show to discuss the next chapter for Ethena. We deep dive into Ethena's business model, how DATs could enable DeFi's breakout moment, how Ethena will scale in the future, advice for founders & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Guy: https://x.com/gdog97_ Follow Jason: https://x.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 David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts -- Is your treasury losing value to inflation? Learn how to make digital assets like ETH and SOL productive with uncorrelated, protocol-driven staking rewards. A new report from Liquid Collective and EigenCloud outlines a practical guide for CFOs to integrate institutional-grade staking and restaking. Read The Productive Treasury Report: https://liquidcollective.io/corporate-treasury-staking/ -- Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (03:29 )The Ethena Business Model (07:04) Valuations & VC Unlocks (12:44) The Ethena DAT (StablecoinX) (15:11) Are DATs Sustainable? (18:36) DeFi’s Breakout Moment (24:12) Partnering With Pendle & Aave (31:49) Ads (Eigen Layer) (32:48) Advice For Founders (37:34) How Does Ethena Scale (44:18) What Is iUSDe? (47:47) Hyperliquid Is Launching A Stablecoin (USDH) (53:39) Corporate Chains -- 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.
Sep 10, 2025
1 hr 1 min
The Bull Case For GLXY With Duncan & Rittenhouse Research
Gm! This week, Duncan and Matt join Yano to dive into Galaxy the day before their quarterly earnings drop. In this episode, Duncan and Matt dive into Galaxy’s unique business model and how it’s perfectly positioned for the AI, crypto and datacenter narratives and how this will propel GLXY stock, as we move into the future.  -- 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 Rittenhouse Research: https://x.com/RHouseResearch Follow Duncan: https://x.com/FloodCapital Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh -- 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 https://skale.space and stay up to date with the gas-free invisible blockchain on X at @skalenetwork -- Katana is a DeFi-first chain built for deep liquidity and high yield. No empty emissions, just real yield and sequencer fees routed back to DeFi users. Pre-deposit now: Earn high APRs with Turtle Club [https://app.turtle.club/campaigns/katana] or spin the wheel with Katana Krates [https://app.katana.network/krates] -- Ledn is the leading platform for Bitcoin-backed loans, offering a secure and transparent way to unlock liquidity without selling your Bitcoin. Ledn has issued over $9 billion in loans since 2018 and has never lost a single satoshi of client assets, earning a reputation as the name you can trust in the crypto space.Visit https://www.ledn.io to learn more. -- Chapters: (02:32) Unpacking Galaxy (06:35) Bitcoin Mining (14:01) Crypto Business (16:02) Ads (Skale, Katana) (17:32) Galaxy’s Products (24:43) Goldman Sachs’ Valuation (31:58) Data Center Business (42:39) Ads (Skale, Katana) (44:10) Galaxy’s Business Evolution (53:40) Economics Explored (01:01:06) Data Center Developments (01:13:05) Ads (LEDN) (01:14:06) Challenges (01:26:55) GLXY Stock Analysis — 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.
Aug 4, 2025
1 hr 35 min
How Arbitrum Landed Robinhood With A.J. Warner & Steven Goldfeder
Gm! This week Yano is joined by Steven and AJ from OffChain Labs to dive into all the behind-the-scenes happenings of one of the biggest deals in recent crypto history - the collaboration between Arbitrum and Robinhood to tokenize both public and private US stocks for European markets.  -- 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 Steven - https://x.com/sgoldfed Follow AJ - https://x.com/ajwarner90 Follow Santi - https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh -- 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 https://skale.space and stay up to date with the gas-free invisible blockchain on X at @skalenetwork -- Katana is a DeFi-first chain built for deep liquidity and high yield. No empty emissions, just real yield and sequencer fees routed back to DeFi users. Pre-deposit now: Earn high APRs with Turtle Club [https://app.turtle.club/campaigns/katana] or spin the wheel with Katana Krates [https://app.katana.network/krates] -- 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 innovationBacked 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 -- Zenrock is a permissionless, decentralized custody network backed by 1RoundTable Partners, 10T, Maven11, and Spartan. Live on Jupiter, $ROCK is the native token for transactions within the Zenrock ecosystem and secures Zenrock’s decentralized custody network.The first application launching on Zenrock is zenBTC – yield-bearing Bitcoin on Solana. zenBTC is now live. -- Ledn is the leading platform for Bitcoin-backed loans, offering a secure and transparent way to unlock liquidity without selling your Bitcoin. Ledn has issued over $9 billion in loans since 2018 and has never lost a single satoshi of client assets, earning a reputation as the name you can trust in the crypto space.Visit https://www.ledn.io to learn more.  -- CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 02:45 BTS Of Robinhood X Arbitrum Collab 07:25Launch & Migrate Strategy 19:01 Ads (Skale, Katana) 20:49 What Did Robinhood Want The Most Out Of Arbitrum 24:03 Business Model Breakdown 38:22 Ads (Skale, Katana) 40:09 The Largest Digital Nation 42: OpenAI Tokens 46:56 Next Up To Work With Arbitrum 51:57 Ads (Mantle, Zenrock, ,LEDN) 54:26 Mistakes Around L1s and L2s 01:13:16 Corporate Treasuries 01:16:53 Acquisitions 01:20:13 Stablecoins — 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.
Jul 7, 2025
1 hr 24 min
Coinbase Buys Deribit, Stripe’s Stablecoin Launch, and Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade | Weekly Roundup
Gm! This week we're back with another weekly roundup. We discuss Coinbase's $3B acquisition of Deribit, Stripe's stablecoin launch, Ethereum's big pivot, will Meta launch a stablecoin & 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 Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Jason: https://x.com/jasonyanowitz Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh -- 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 https://skale.space and stay up to date with the gas-free invisible blockchain on X at @skalenetwork -- Marinade Labs develops staking technologies that strengthen Solana. In 2021, our protocol was the first to bring liquid staking to the network; today, our sophisticated, high-performance staking delegation platform brings billions in liquidity and security to the SOL market. We have solutions for both DeFi and TradFi, including liquid and native staking, as well as direct enterprise integrations. Our best-in-market features include user downside protection (through protected staking rewards) and optimized delegation (via our automated auction marketplace). Cryptoasset investors worldwide, from individual traders to global institutions, use Marinade to earn rewards on their SOL treasuries and holdings. We are headquartered in New York, with offices in the European Union, including Prague. To learn more about Marinade, visit marinade.finance. -- 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 -- 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 -- 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 -- Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (02:58) Bitcoin Breaks $100k (05:25) Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade (10:14) Ethereum's Big Pivot (12:41) Ads (Skale, Marinade) (14:13) Is Robinhood Launching A Chain? (15:31) Coinbase Acquires Deribit For $2.9 Billion (21:54) Stripe Sessions: The Stablecoin Playbook (32:02) Ads (Skale, Marinade) (33:35) Tokenization (real) (37:51) Is The IPO Window Open? (44:20) Ads (Ledger, WalletConnect, Bitwise) (46:38) The GENIUS Act (49:35) Will Meta Launch A Stablecoin? (52:08) Coinbase Earnings (53:31) Is Microstrategy A Threat To Bitcoin? (58:47) Final Thoughts — 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.
May 9, 2025
1 hr 3 min
Trading Crypto's Election Year | 1000x
In this episode, Avi and Jonah dive deep into the current state of the crypto market, analyzing the impact of political events like Trump's potential re-election, a potential Kamala victory, and regulatory shifts. They discuss trading strategies, the future of Ethereum and DeFi, and the potential end of four-year market cycles. The conversation also touches on institutional adoption, the role of ETFs, and the long-term outlook for various tokens. Thanks for tuning in! We'll drop a new 1000x episode on Empire's RSS feed and the 1000x YouTube channel every week. Hit the links below and give us a follow! - - Perennial is an on-chain derivatives protocol built from first principles to be a DeFi primitive. The core protocol is minimalist, flexible, and efficient, allowing Perennial to mold to the needs of many different users & use cases. Perennial has a super efficient core protocol that lets LPs use native maker leverage — allowing $1mn in TVL to back to $5-10mn in Open interest. Trade and LP at: https://perennial.finance/1000x Social: https://x.com/perenniallabs - - Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (2:54) Range Trading Dominance (13:49) Buying an Uncertain Market (23:28) Momentum vs Catalyst Trading (31:13) Perennial Ad (32:45) Trading Election Outcomes (46:24) End Game of Cycles - - Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3FuSarX Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7 Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ - - Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x 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. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed
Jul 31, 2024
50 min
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