Empire
Podcast

Empire

by Blockworks

127 episodes

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.
Ask about EmpireAnswers are grounded in this source's posts from the last 30 days.

Recent Posts

127 posts
DAS Takeaways, Crypto’s Largest Liquidation Ever & Have We Peaked? | Weekly Roundup

Consider focusing core crypto holdings in Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), as these are the primary assets attracting long-term institutional investment. For exposure to decentralized finance, Aave (AAVE) is a standout blue-chip protocol that proved its resilience by performing flawlessly during the recent market crash. Solana (SOL) also demonstrated superior network performance under stress, making it a compelling high-throughput alternative to Ethereum. Exercise extreme caution with most altcoins, which showed a severe lack of liquidity and are being avoided by larger investors. Finally, avoid all leverage and be highly skeptical of most Digital Asset Trusts (DATs), as both have proven to be exceptionally risky.

Hivemind: Record Liquidations, Auto-Deleveraging, & Biggest Post-Crash Winners & Losers

Recent market volatility has reinforced the strategy of consolidating into high-quality assets while avoiding most illiquid altcoins. Solana (SOL) proved its network resilience under extreme stress, solidifying its position as a core holding alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum. A key emerging theme is the shift from centralized exchanges like Binance to more robust decentralized platforms, with Hyperliquid identified as a major winner. Hyperliquid is also poised for future growth with its upcoming support for real-world assets like the SPY and QQQ ETFs. Investors should exercise extreme caution with the broader altcoin market, as the recent crash revealed a dangerous lack of liquidity and high potential for catastrophic losses.

Kalshi CEO’s Bold Vision For The Future of Markets | Tarek Mansour

Prediction Markets are emerging as a massive, high-growth financial sector, with regulated platforms like Kalshi seeing explosive volume.

Consider Robinhood (HOOD) as a direct investment, as its new prediction markets feature is showing dramatic acceleration with over $2 billion in volume in Q3 alone.

This trend also reinforces the long-term investment case for Coinbase (COIN), which employs a similar regulation-first strategy to legitimize a new asset class.

A major upcoming catalyst for the digital asset space is the potential regulatory approval for stablecoins like USDC to be used directly in regulated U.S. clearinghouses.

Investors should monitor these companies as they are successfully integrating novel financial products for mainstream adoption.

LIVE | Market Crash: What Happened and What’s Next

Recent market volatility revealed that many large-cap altcoins have extremely fragile spot liquidity on major exchanges. This created a brief opportunity where top coins like Cosmos (ATOM), Aptos (APT), and Chainlink (LINK) flash-crashed by 80-90% before recovering. Investors can prepare for future volatility by placing low-ball limit buy orders on high-conviction altcoins to potentially acquire them at a deep discount. However, avoid using leverage on these assets, as the crash proved that even a 2x leveraged position could be easily liquidated. Be especially wary of perpetual futures platforms like Hyperliquid that use Auto-Deleveraging (ADL), which can forcibly close even profitable positions during a crisis.

Polymarket's $2B Deal with ICE Changes Everything | Weekly Roundup

Consider Binance Coin (BNB) as a trade on the narrative that its founder will return, a belief driving its recent outperformance against the market. The privacy coin sector appears to be re-emerging as a key theme, highlighted by Zcash (ZEC) recently surging over 300% in a single month. As the stablecoin market fragments, consider investing in infrastructure plays like Ethena (ENA) which enable other projects to launch their own stablecoins. To gain potential exposure to the highly-valued prediction market Polymarket, consider using its platform to potentially qualify for a speculative future POLY token airdrop. Finally, keep an eye on the upcoming Monad blockchain and its ecosystem projects like Purple for a future high-performance opportunity.

Why This Billionaire is All In on Crypto, AI & Psychedelics | Christian Angermayer

Atai Life Sciences (ATAI) is a high-conviction investment in psychedelic medicine, with the speaker believing it could become a $20-30 billion company by revolutionizing mental health treatment. As a "picks and shovels" play on the artificial intelligence boom, consider investing in the raw materials essential for its growth, such as Uranium and Copper. Maintain a long-term position in Bitcoin (BTC) as a primary hedge against the expected decline in value of traditional government-issued currencies. The core thesis connects these ideas, suggesting AI's societal disruption will increase the need for both mental health solutions from companies like ATAI and alternative assets like Bitcoin. Finally, consider long-term opportunities in the hospitality and live entertainment sectors, which are expected to grow as automation creates more leisure time.

Mike Dudas on Uptober and the Continued Bull Market

The crypto market is expected to spike significantly over the next three to six months, suggesting the current cycle is far from its peak. Consider direct exposure to Solana (SOL), which is viewed as the most-used blockchain and is experiencing a strong resurgence in developer activity. The Base ecosystem is a key area to watch for emerging social and consumer-facing crypto applications, backed by its connection to Coinbase. Investors should also explore the Hyperliquid ecosystem, a leader in decentralized derivatives that is generating real revenue and performing like a centralized exchange. Finally, the rapid growth of stablecoins and on-chain yield products, like those in the **Ethena (

Hivemind: State of The Market, Hyperliquid, Plasma & Tether's $500B Valuation

Consider Galaxy Digital (GLXY.TO) as a core long-term holding for diversified crypto and AI exposure, favored for its stable, contractual revenue. For a higher-risk opportunity, Pump.fun (PUMP) is presented as a top risk-return bet on the convergence of meme culture and crypto. The DePIN project Double Zero (00) is a notable infrastructure play, having received a bullish SEC 'no action letter' while already supporting over 10% of the Solana network. Be cautious with Hyperliquid (HYPE) due to intense competition and significant selling pressure expected from token unlocks around November. Finally, watch for new investment opportunities as ICOs and public token sales are returning, with launchpad platforms like Legion seeing high demand.

Crypto In 2025, Is DAT Season Over & Market Outlook With Jordi Alexander

Exercise caution as the crypto market appears overheated and may be due for a short-term correction, which could present a better buying opportunity. While Bitcoin is a solid long-term holding, consider waiting for a market-wide dip before adding to your position. For active users, participating on emerging PerpDex platforms like LIDR and Aster could be a strategy to farm potential airdrops. Avoid the Discounted Asset Token (DAT) theme, which is considered over, and be wary of tokens like Ethena (ENA) where hype has already been priced in. Finally, keep the AI in Web3 sector on your watchlist for a potential resurgence in Q4 2024 or Q1 2025, focusing on projects with real applications.

The Art of Trading and Galaxy’s Next Chapter | Mike Novogratz

Consider holding a core portfolio of major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL), as upcoming U.S. regulatory clarity could drive significant institutional adoption. Galaxy Digital (GLXY.TO) is presented as a unique opportunity, combining a high-growth crypto business with a stable AI data center operation that provides a strong price floor. To participate in the massive AI spending trend, remain invested in key players but use a stop-loss to manage risk in this expensive market. As a contrarian diversification play, look into undervalued Chinese equities like Alibaba (BABA), which may benefit from government stimulus. For a more speculative DeFi investment, Hyperliquid (HYPE) is highlighted as a high-conviction project with a strong team, despite facing intense competition.

Have We Topped, Aster vs Hyperliquid & Tether's $500B Valuation | Weekly Roundup

Given signs of an "extremely frothy" market, consider de-risking by consolidating into core holdings like Bitcoin (BTC). For those remaining bullish, watch for Solana (SOL) to achieve a weekly close above $250 as a major confirmation signal for the broader crypto market. Prominent traders are looking to buy the decentralized exchange Hyperliquid in the $25 to $30 price range. A contrarian value opportunity may exist in legacy payments company Western Union (WU), which trades at a low P/E ratio of 3. As a defensive move, one host sold all of his Athena (ENA) to reduce exposure to assets further out on the risk spectrum.

Phase II of the Bull Market | Dan Morehead

The current Bitcoin (BTC) bull market may extend for another 6 to 12 months due to positive regulatory changes, presenting a continued investment opportunity. For investors seeking higher growth, Solana (SOL) is a high-conviction bet with strong fundamentals and significant upside potential compared to its peers. A major theme to watch is the upcoming wave of crypto IPOs within the next 12 months from companies like Circle (CRCL), Kraken, and Ripple Labs. Consider emerging Digital Asset Treasury companies (DATs) as a superior alternative to ETFs, as they can offer staking yields of around 7% on assets like Solana. This suggests a potential strategy of rotating capital from older chains like Ethereum (ETH) towards newer, faster blockchains to capture higher growth.

We're Still In A Bull Market | Weekly Roundup

The current crypto bull market is believed to have at least six more months of room to grow, creating a favorable environment for investors. Consider accumulating positions in underappreciated protocols like Avalanche (AVAX) and Polygon (MATIC), which are showing strong signs of institutional adoption and fundamental usage. The Solana (SOL) ecosystem is also experiencing significant, well-telegraphed buying pressure, making its ecosystem projects a potential source of leveraged returns. Watch for the upcoming launch of Plasma, a new stablecoin-focused blockchain anticipated to trade in the $5 to $7 billion valuation range. For a higher-risk trade, the new perpetuals exchange token Aster (ASTER) was highlighted for its strong short-term price momentum.

Hivemind: Still Time To Be Bullish?

Analysts are very bullish on Solana (SOL) as a primary investment, citing major catalysts like a new institutional trust and a bridge to the Base ecosystem. The token Pump.fun (PUMP) is also a high-conviction holding due to its massive revenue generation which is used for token buybacks. For long-term investors, Hyperliquid (HYPE) is considered a top-tier protocol with a potential price target of $100-$150. Watch for a significant HYPE token unlock at the end of November, which could present a valuable dip-buying opportunity. Finally, Bitcoin (BTC) is expected to perform well and may see a "catch-up trade" relative to gold's recent strength.

Building The Largest Solana Treasury Company | Kyle Samani

Consider Forward Industries, a publicly traded company acting as a dedicated treasury vehicle to acquire and hold Solana (SOL) for its shareholders. The core investment thesis is a strong bullish conviction on Solana, supported by a recent $1.6 billion fundraise from major crypto firms like Multicoin Capital and Jump Crypto. A key potential catalyst is the approval of a spot Solana ETF with staking rewards, which could happen by the end of the year. Forward Industries aims to increase its SOL per share by using strategies like borrowing USD to earn high yields in Solana DeFi and acquiring other digital asset companies at a discount. As this market consolidates, investors should be cautious with similar treasury vehicles built on smaller ecosystems like Avalanche (AVAX) or Sui (SUI).

The Biggest Winner from Hyperliquid’s USDH | Weekly Roundup

A major potential catalyst for Solana (SOL) is the prospect of it capturing stablecoin yield to burn SOL, which would create a powerful new value accrual mechanism for the token. For direct public market exposure to a profitable, crypto-enabled business, consider Figure Technologies (FIGR), which uses its own blockchain to gain a competitive advantage in the home equity loan market. The crypto IPO market is a major investment theme to watch, with potential future listings from established companies like Kraken offering new opportunities. The recent strategic moves by Hyperliquid (HYPE) demonstrate a bullish trend for protocols that can create their own aligned stablecoins to capture revenue. This trend presents a significant risk to the business model of incumbent stablecoin issuers like Circle (USDC) that do not share yield with their host platforms.

Ethena Founder: The Next Chapter For Ethena | Guy Young

An investment in Ethena (ENA) is a direct bet on the growth of its high-yielding stablecoin, USDe, which is targeting a supply of $30-$50 billion within the next one to two years. Consider the interconnected DeFi trio of Ethena (ENA), Aave (AAVE), and Pendle (PENDLE), as their growth is symbiotically linked by the high yield on USDe. This ecosystem thrives on traders borrowing from platforms like Aave to capture the high, fixed yields on USDe offered through Pendle. The founder of Ethena also disclosed personal holdings in Hyperliquid (HYPE) and Pump.fun (PUMP), signaling conviction in these projects. Keep an eye on the future launch of iUSDE, an institutional product that could significantly accelerate Ethena's growth by attracting traditional finance capital.

Are DATs Sustainable, Stripe Launches Tempo & WLFI’s Token Launch | Weekly Roundup

The tokenization of real-world assets is a major theme, with Galaxy leading the way by putting its actual SEC-registered stock on the Solana blockchain, potentially creating arbitrage opportunities. This trend supports the long-term bullish case for companies like Coinbase (COIN), which is expanding into traditional assets to become a comprehensive financial platform. In contrast, investors should avoid highly speculative meme coins like World Liberty Fi (WLFI) due to significant red flags, including unclear tokenomics and the freezing of investor funds. Be aware that the valuations for Digital Asset Treasuries (DATs) are normalizing downwards, with past high premiums being unsustainable. Finally, watch for the rise of corporate blockchains like Stripe's Tempo, which could become long-term competitors to public chains like Ethereum (ETH).

Hivemind: Where Do Crypto Markets Go Next?

Consider MicroStrategy (MSTR) for its potential inclusion in the S&P 500, a massive catalyst that could force over $10 billion in buying, with a decision likely around December. Exercise caution on Bitcoin (BTC) for the next 1-2 months due to negative seasonality and a lack of institutional buying from Digital Asset Trusts. Use any short-term weakness in BTC as a potential buying opportunity in anticipation of a stronger market rally heading into the end of the year. For exposure to consumer-facing crypto applications, focus on Solana (SOL) and monitor its ecosystem for organic growth from new, popular apps. Avoid highly speculative creator coins, as this sector is considered pure gambling until a sustainable model emerges.

Kraken’s 10 Year Plan With Arjun Sethi

A key industry leader suggests the crypto market is in its "middle innings," with a potential for two more years of continued growth. A major long-term trend is the inevitable shift of trading activity on-chain, which makes the underlying infrastructure like high-performance blockchains and Layer 2 solutions attractive investments. Similarly, the tokenization of real-world assets is seen as a massive future growth area, representing the convergence of traditional finance and crypto. Private exchange Kraken is strategically positioning for this by acquiring trading platform NinjaTrader, creating a key competitive dynamic with public companies like Coinbase (COIN). Investors should consider exposure to the "picks and shovels" of this ecosystem rather than trying to pick individual application winners.