Unchained
Podcast

Unchained

by Laura Shin

382 episodes

Crypto assets and blockchain technology are about to transform every trust-based interaction of our lives, from financial services to identity to the Internet of Things. In this podcast, host Laura Shin, an independent journalist covering all things crypto, talks with industry pioneers about how crypto assets and blockchains will change the way we earn, spend and invest our money. Tune in to find out how Web 3.0, the decentralized web, will revolutionize our world. Disclosure: I'm a nocoiner.
Ask about UnchainedAnswers are grounded in this source's posts from the last 30 days.

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382 posts
Uneasy Money: Why Erik Voorhees Calls AI's Hidden Filter 'Deceptive'

Consider holding Bitcoin (BTC) as a foundational sovereign store of value following its sustained breakout above the $72,000 consolidation range.

Allocate to Venice (VVV) to capture privacy-focused AI growth, benefiting from real software subscription revenue that directly funds token buybacks and supply burns without insider dilution.

Avoid low-margin commodity compute providers and instead target AI autonomous agent infrastructure and decentralized payment rails designed for automated machine-to-machine transactions.

Deploy capital through 1inch Aqua (1INCH) to maximize decentralized finance yields, utilizing its shared liquidity model that lets a single wallet balance support multiple trading pairs simultaneously.

Arthur Hayes on Why AI Agents Will Want to Transact in Units of Compute

Accumulate Ethereum (ETH) as a high-conviction catch-up play, targeting a breakout toward $5,000 by year-end as price momentum accelerates above the $3,000 level.

For direct, regulated exposure to Bitcoin (BTC), buy spot exchange-traded funds like the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) over MicroStrategy (MSTR) to capture pure price upside without structural stock premium risks.

Maintain Bitcoin (BTC) as a primary hedge against currency debasement, using macro triggers such as the US 10-year Treasury yield approaching 5% as key accumulation signals.

Position early in decentralized AI infrastructure by participating in the Flop Network (FLOP) testnet in Q4 to qualify for an estimated 20% token airdrop ahead of its Q1 mainnet launch.

Trim exposure to debt-financed Big Tech and AI hyperscalers that face diminishing returns on physical data center spending ahead of an expected sector contraction by mid-2028.

EIP-8363: Should ETH Be Sound Money or a Productive Asset?

Investors should consider accumulating spot Ethereum (ETH), as the proposed EIP-8363 upgrade could significantly reduce new token supply over the next 18 to 24 months, strengthening its appeal as a scarce store of value. However, income-focused investors should prepare to reallocate capital away from native ETH staking and DeFi lending platforms like Aave, as projected annual staking yields risk falling sharply from ~3.0% down to 0.3%–0.4%. Investors should closely monitor Ethereum developer meetings in late October for key governance decisions that will dictate the timeline of these network changes. For immediate cash-flow generation, yield-seeking capital can be rotated into alternative Layer 1 networks like Solana (SOL), which currently delivers staking yields of 7%+. Finally, balance this rotation carefully, as SOL's higher payouts are driven by higher structural token inflation compared to ETH's low-dilution model.

DEX in the City: The CFTC's Kalshi Rescue and the Limits of Emergency Power

Investors should target enterprise Cybersecurity and Blockchain Forensics providers, as a new U.S. directive authorizing private offensive digital operations unlocks lucrative government contract opportunities. In decentralized finance, DeFi yield seekers can capitalize on the newly launched 1inch Aqua protocol from 1inch (1INCH) to maximize returns on previously idle market liquidity. Traders utilizing Prediction Markets like Kalshi should prepare for localized access restrictions and legal volatility while state and federal regulators dispute jurisdictional boundaries. Near-term compliance costs are rising for Generative Artificial Intelligence developers like Anthropic under the EU AI Act, which could create operational friction and compress enterprise software margins. Finally, maintain a cautious stance on Securities Tokenization assets and domestic crypto exchanges while the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) delays formalized market structure rules.

Bits + Bips: Is Crypto Privateering Even Legal?

Decentralized finance investors should consider exploring 1inch (1INCH) following the launch of 1inch Aqua, a shared liquidity platform designed to maximize yields by backing multiple trading pairs from a single wallet balance. This platform directly targets roughly $540 million in idle DeFi capital, allowing liquidity providers to boost returns without locking assets across fragmented pools. Investors seeking broader thematic growth should look toward the blockchain security & on-chain analytics sector, which is positioned for sustained demand as the industry works to counter an estimated $21 billion lost to annual crypto fraud. Finally, Bitcoin (BTC) holders should immediately prioritize strict self-custody and robust wallet hygiene to safeguard their holdings against sophisticated cybercrime threats.

Uneasy Money: An Agent Deleted Kain's Database. Two AI Models Rebuilt It in 30 Seconds.

Maintain core allocations in Bitcoin (BTC) as a resilient macro store of value, while avoiding speculative capital in network hard forks or chain splits. Exercise caution with Hyperliquid (HYPE), as platform fee-sharing models have diluted token buybacks from $290 million to $150 million despite surging Real World Asset (RWA) perpetual trading volume. Investors should wait for governance proposals that reduce third-party revenue splits before building aggressive positions in HYPE. Over a 3- to 5-year timeframe, rotate capital into Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure, automated code generation, and specialized AI cybersecurity solutions. Finally, monitor near-term regulatory headline risks closely, as security vulnerabilities in frontier AI models could trigger sudden government intervention.

Bitcoin Has Been Oversold for Months. Is a Buy Signal Next?

Bitcoin (BTC) is showing signs of forming a major market bottom near critical long-term support, indicating that the current crypto winter downtrend is reaching exhaustion. Technical indicators point toward a stabilization and potential turnaround window unfolding over the next 3 to 4 months. Investors should wait for the monthly stochastic oscillator to cross decisively above 20% to confirm a high-probability buy signal before entering new positions. Because BTC remains beneath its downward-sloping 40-week moving average resistance, any long exposure should be managed with strict downside risk controls.

The Chopping Block: threadguy on Crypto's Social Trading War, Trader Celebrities & AI Agents

Investors looking to capitalize on the structural shift toward active retail trading should consider platforms like Robinhood (HOOD), which are capturing high-margin volume across both equities and crypto.

For aggressive growth strategies, momentum-driven AI hardware and memory stocks such as Micron (MU), Nebius (NBIS), and SK Hynix offer explosive upside by behaving with crypto-like volatility.

In decentralized finance, prioritize leading perpetual exchanges like Hyperliquid, which hold strong competitive moats by enabling traders to bridge crypto liquidity into tokenized traditional stocks.

Within the viral token ecosystem, allocate toward top fee-generating platforms like Pump.fun and FOMO or assets tied to verifiable creator reputation, while strictly avoiding easily cloned copycat tokens.

For longer-term positioning, monitor emerging AI agent protocols such as AIXBT as autonomous software begins deploying capital and transacting natively on blockchains.

I Interviewed a North Korean Hacker Posing as a Crypto Dev

Liquidity providers should utilize OneInch Aqua to maximize capital efficiency across multiple trading pairs without locking tokens into separate pools prematurely. Investors holding Cosmos Hub (ATOM), Sushi (SUSHI), and Yearn Finance (YFI) must closely monitor how these protocols upgrade their developer vetting and cybersecurity. Assess whether affected platforms implement rigorous background checks to mitigate ongoing operational and security risks from state-sponsored infiltration. Factor operational security and human resources protocols directly into your fundamental analysis before investing in decentralized finance platforms. Prioritize projects with transparent security overhauls to protect your portfolio from potential intellectual property theft and exploits.

DEX in the City: A Founder's Death Sparked a Fight for Ondo's Boardroom

Investors should temporarily avoid Ondo Finance (ONDO) due to severe corporate governance risks stemming from the founder's passing and ongoing leadership disputes. Always verify board diversity and succession plans before investing in emerging crypto projects to avoid single points of failure. Manage expectations for comprehensive U.S. crypto legislation, as the Clarity Act faces significant hurdles and a narrow legislative window. Closely monitor the upcoming September 15th cloture vote on the Clarity Act for potential regulatory shifts. Finally, watch the SEC's open meeting regarding Reg Crypto for new compliance standards that will impact token offerings.

Should Ethereum Really Burn Its Staking Yield to Zero?

Monitor governance votes closely regarding proposed Ethereum ($ETH**)** monetary policy changes that could drastically reduce staking rewards and introduce near-term volatility. Factor macroeconomic fixed-income yields into your valuation framework, as blockchain staking yields now directly compete with traditional Treasury and money market rates. Prioritize networks demonstrating actual user activity and real-world asset adoption over those overly focused on internal tokenomic adjustments. Watch for potential capital rotation into alternative layer-1 protocols like Avalanche ($AVAX**)** if major governance disputes disrupt institutional confidence in Ethereum ($ETH**)**. Maintain strict risk management around your crypto holdings during this 18-month policy debate window.

Sam MacPherson on Why Spark Benefited So Much From the KelpDAO Hack

Investors seeking conservative crypto yield should consider allocating stablecoins to Sky (SKY) and its USDS stablecoin, which currently manage over $10 billion in deposits backed by treasury bills. Monitor Sky's expansion catalysts, including its integration with the Robinhood chain and upcoming partnerships with Stripe and Tempo. For equity-like exposure to decentralized finance growth, look at the SPK token, which captures value directly through protocol buybacks funded by excess profits. Although SPK currently trades near its all-time low due to short-term crypto market volatility, its profitable operating model and discounted cash flow potential present an intriguing asymmetric opportunity. Review Spark's published financial metrics and institutional lending revenue before establishing a position.

Could Some Vaults Trigger Securities Law? Yes, but It's Case by Case

Capitalize on the rapidly growing decentralized finance vault infrastructure by gaining exposure to leading lending and execution layers like Morpho and Aave.

Monitor top-tier fintech integration partners such as Robinhood and Coinbase as they scale retail access to automated yield products.

Prioritize vaults curated by trusted operators with proven risk-management histories to mitigate operational and collateral hazards.

Remain cautious of broader market volatility and emerging regulatory scrutiny from the SEC regarding tokenized yield assets.

Inside the Coldcard Hack That Drained Over $100 Million in Bitcoin: Uneasy Money

If you or anyone you know uses a Coldcard hardware wallet, you must immediately move your Bitcoin (BTC) to a secure, unaffected wallet due to a major entropy vulnerability. Thoroughly evaluate the security practices and audit histories of all self-custody wallet providers before storing your digital assets. Keep a close eye on Ethereum governance proposals like EIP-8361, as upcoming changes to network issuance could significantly alter Ethereum (ETH) staking yields. Anticipate potential market volatility for ETH if low staking yields trigger massive unstaking and selling pressure. Always prioritize rigorous due diligence and proactive risk management when navigating rapidly evolving cryptocurrency infrastructure.

The Chopping Block: ColdCard's $100M RNG Hack, AI-Powered Security & Ethereum's Staking Yield Taper

If you currently use a Coldcard hardware wallet, immediately generate a new key and move your Bitcoin (BTC) to a secure address to avoid potential exploitation from a historical random number generation vulnerability. Monitor the community debate surrounding Ethereum (ETH) and proposed staking yield changes via EIP-8361 before locking up capital in long-term staking strategies that could disrupt decentralized finance yields. Capitalize on shifting retail momentum by exploring high-growth alternative trading sectors like event contracts and prediction markets on platforms such as Polymarket or Kalshi. Diversify your portfolio beyond traditional crypto spot trading as market volatility cools and retail volume migrates toward these emerging platforms.

DEX in the City: How Claude's Red-Teaming Agents Escaped a Test Without Realizing It

Accumulate Chainlink (LINK) as a foundational infrastructure play to capitalize on the ongoing tokenization of traditional finance and its dominant market position in decentralized finance. Exercise extreme caution with self-custody by auditing your hardware wallet's firmware and setup process to mitigate recent security vulnerabilities. Anticipate increased regulatory scrutiny and potential legal accountability frameworks targeting hardware wallet manufacturers following recent entropy-related losses. Monitor the Supreme Court's eventual review of event-based trading jurisdictions to navigate the heavy legal headwinds facing prediction market platforms like Kalshi. Recognize prediction markets as a rapidly expanding sector experiencing massive retail adoption, driven by aggressive expansion from major fintech players like Robinhood.

Is Any Cold Wallet Safe? Inside the Coldcard Hack's Wave Three

If you currently use a Coldcard hardware wallet, specifically models Mark III, Mark IV, or Mark V, you must immediately transfer your Bitcoin (BTC) to a secure, unaffected wallet to prevent potential theft from the recent security exploit.

Victims of this breach should retain their compromised Coldcard devices as physical evidence and immediately file formal reports with law enforcement agencies like the FBI’s IC3.

This multi-million dollar exploit highlights the hidden technological risks of physical self-custody, proving that even trusted hardware solutions require rigorous, ongoing open-source security audits.

Investors holding significant digital assets should diversify their storage methods and re-evaluate their operational security frameworks to protect against unforeseen cryptographic vulnerabilities.

Should Tokenized Stock Only Come From Issuers? Yes, Says Carlos Domingo

Investors seeking exposure to real-world asset tokenization should target Securitize (SEXZ) following its landmark NYSE debut and native multi-chain tokenization on Solana and Avalanche. This regulated offering significantly lowers counterparty risk by placing token holders directly on the official corporate cap table with full access to dividends and proxy votes. Investors should closely monitor upcoming developments regarding Securitize's collaboration with the New York Stock Exchange as they prepare to launch digital alternative trading systems in Q4. As the regulatory landscape shifts to favor issuer-approved products, avoid unauthorized, offshore synthetic equity derivatives that lack proper corporate backing. Keep an eye on broader digital dollar and crypto infrastructure pioneers like Circle to gauge overall market appetite for blockchain-based financial assets ahead of potential public offerings.

Meta Fell 10%. Microsoft Didn't Blink.

Buy Microsoft (MSFT) for its disciplined capital expenditure and strong Azure cloud growth, which currently outshines peers during the heavy AI infrastructure boom. Avoid Meta Platforms (META) in the short term following its 10% earnings drop and a $5 billion increase in CapEx until management provides clearer ROI timelines. Exercise caution across the broader AI sector by monitoring corporate debt and cash flow statements, especially as companies take on significant debt to fund data centers in just the second inning of the trend. Prioritize big tech investments that successfully balance aggressive AI spending with reliable free cash flow to protect your portfolio from potential volatility. Watch for tangible proof of revenue growth before re-entering penalized stocks like Meta, as market sentiment will remain pressured without immediate top-line validation.

Zcash, Ethereum, Aztec, Canton and More: Which Chain Will Win the Privacy Race?

Consider accumulating Zcash (ZEC) as a top conviction trade for privacy-focused investors seeking quantum-resistant digital gold following its major Ironwood network upgrade.

Monitor the broader Ethereum (ETH) ecosystem for opportunities in operational Layer 2 privacy networks like Aztec, which are currently driving bank-grade loan systems ahead of mainnet protocol updates.

Target these privacy-centric crypto assets over centralized institutional chains like Canton, which rely on traditional trust models rather than foundational cryptographic guarantees.

Keep in mind that privacy technologies carry inherent code vulnerabilities, though these risks are increasingly mitigated through modern AI-driven security audits and formal verification.

Allocate capital carefully within these emerging sectors over the current market cycle to capitalize on the growing demand for true fungibility and institutional operational security.