This week’s NFA Podcast covers the most important shifts in markets, crypto, and AI. The episode opens with an updateon the ongoing trading competition, where Nish reports an 80 percent jump driven by high-risk meme-coin trades. From there, the discussion moves to global tax policy after the UK’s new structure sparked controversy by increasing taxes for workers while expanding benefits for large non-working families.
Nish also breaks down the UAE’s new rules for DeFi services, which require registration for self-custody tools and other crypto infrastructure to operate locally.
The news section continues with the Fireflies story, revealing that its earliest “AI note-taking” was done manually by the founders. MoonPay’s fee removal on PumpFun is also highlighted, and the hosts examine the December unlock of 1.8 billion dollars in tokens across Sui, Aptos, LayerZero, PumpFun, and other projects.
The episode then shifts to AI. Forty percent of US GDP growth this year comes from AI infrastructure investment, raisingconcerns about a possible bubble and the effect of a downturn on the wider economy. The hosts look at usage data, workforce adoption, and geopolitical dynamics.
Markets, predictions, and portfolio updates round out the episode before closing with upcoming events in Abu Dhabi.
You can follow the NFA Trading Competition here.Both started with $100 in June.
Nish is leading Frackers by 51% to 28%.
The NFA Podcast is not financial advice.
Chapters with timestamps
00:00 – Cold open and trading competition banter
00:29 – Intro to the episode
00:54 – UK tax restructuring and political reactions
02:23 – Inheritance tax and non-liquid assets
03:39 – UK spending priorities and political tension
04:22 – UAE introduces new DeFi regulations
04:55 – How RAK DAO and corporate tax rules apply
06:03 – Ras Al Khaimah corporate landscape and Wynn project
06:35 – Fireflies early manual note-taking admission
07:23 – MoonPay, PumpFun, and fee removal
08:34 – December token unlocks: Sui, Aptos, LayerZero, PumpFun
09:48 – Barcelona and Zero Knowledge Proof sponsorship confusion
09:54 – AOC, David Sacks, and AI’s share of US GDP growth
11:22 – AI usage data, Evan O’Donnell’s dashboard, and bubble debate
12:39 – Will the AI boom stagnate
12:53 – Project Genesis and potential AI bailout dynamics
13:58 – China’s STEM advantage and Middle East AI investments
14:26 – Market intro
14:32 – Google vs Nasdaq performance
15:19 – Index investing vs individual picks
15:39 – Market snapshot: BTC, ETH, altcoin index, fear and greed
16:55 – Predictions for next week
19:05 – Trading competition: meme-coin tradesand performance updates
21:27 – Michiel’s portfolio review
23:29 – What the AI value chain signals
23:46 – Closing remarks
24:00 – Abu Dhabi Finance Week and Formula One
In episode 30 of the NFA Podcast, Nish and Frackers work through one of the most turbulent weeks in crypto and AI. The conversation opens with live Bitcoin price alerts showing sharp volatility, setting the tone for a broader discussion on the market drawdown, and new rules proposed in the EU and UK that tighten oversight on cash and stable coins. The two explore why trust in central authorities is being tested and why gold and silver have suddenly diverged from crypto.
They then shift to Coinbase’s attempt to reinvent the ICO era and the rising difficulty of launching tokens in a market that now holds more than 10 million tokens. From there Nish and Frackers move into the AI sector, debating whether AI valuations are sustainable after hundreds of billions have been spent oninfrastructure and whether big tech’s decision to use debt for AI expansion is a sign of strength or impending doom.
In the markets segment, our hosts review last week’s predictions of the Bitcoin price, the altcoin season index and the fear & greed index, compare their accuracy, and set new targets for next week - knowing they will probably be wrong. The episode ends with the trading competition update, where Michiel’s diversified tech picks and Nish’s single-asset Solana position show very different risk profiles. They close with a discussion about long-term Bitcoin allocation, mainstream adoption and how early the industry still is.But remember: the NFA Podcast is not financial advice! Chapter List
00:00 Opening and introduction
01:03 News: market volatility, US elections, EU cash limits, UK stable coin caps
02:49 Live Bitcoin price alerts and extreme volatility
03:25 More news: BOE stable coinrules, de-dollarization and metals divergence
06:06 IRS allows staking rewards for Wall Street products
06:50 Coinbase tries to reinvent the ICO
07:44 The return of token launch mania and 11 million tokens in circulation
09:03 AI segment: OpenAI costs, business models and infrastructure strain
10:28 Is the AI sector in a bubble
11:52 Big tech taking debt for AI expansion
14:00 Government backstops for AI infrastructure
16:15 Markets: reviewing last week’s predictions
17:12 Altcoin season index and fear and greed index
18:45 Setting next week’s predictions
20:40 Why volatility is flushing outweak new money
22:24 Altcoins, bots and manipulation pressures
23:40 Trading competition update
25:27 Solana position, drawdowns and psychology
26:28 Should the competition reset next year
27:26 Long term Bitcoin allocation strategy
28:20 Why crypto adoption is still early
29:25 Bitcoin, future finance and generational exposure
30:21 Robotics, AI assistants and public fear
30:50 Closing remarks and teaser for next week’s guest
Keywordscrypto, Bitcoin, Solana, market volatility, altcoins, stable coins,EU regulation, Bank of England, Coinbase ICO, token launches, OpenAI, AI infrastructure, AI bubble, big tech debt, de-dollarization, gold and silver, IRS staking rules, trading competition, NFA Podcast, emerging tech, Web3, centralbank policies, market psychology crypto, Bitcoin, Solana, market volatility, altcoins, stable coins, EU regulation, Bank of England, Coinbase ICO, token launches, OpenAI, AIinfrastructure, AI bubble, big tech debt, de-dollarization, gold and silver, IRS staking rules, trading competition, NFA Podcast, emerging tech, Web3, central bank policies, market psychology
Keywords
Two major DeFi disasters, one exchange scandal, and atrillion-dollar AI story. In this episode of the NFA Podcast, Frackers and Nish cover one of the busiest weeks in crypto and AI. They start with a grim market mood — Solana down 20%, Bitcoin slipping 10% — and discuss how institutional investors are changing crypto’s long-term dynamics.
The conversation turns political when Nish highlights on-chainevidence suggesting Eric Trump’s wallets traded Solana before Donald Trump publicly endorsed it. Michiel questions the proof but agrees Trump’s policies were good for crypto adoption.
They move to the week’s biggest DeFi stories: Stream Finance’s $93 million loss and Balancer’s $128 million bridge hack, two reminders of how fragile decentralized systems remain. Nish points to ongoing trust issues with both DeFi and centralized exchanges, like MEXC's admission it handled the situation where it froze assets of its customer "the White Whale"poorly.
Michiel then shifts the conversation to AI — OpenAI’s $38 billionAWS deal, its potential trillion-dollar IPO, and how that could ignite another AI-infrastructure boom. After having been criticial of OpenAI in the past, Michiel is unusually bullish about its prospects now that it can raise fund as a 'normal company' and fund its operating losses and growth through a potentiallyhistoric IPO.
The episode ends with a hard look at markets, the latest cryptocrash, and Nish and Frackers make their predictions for next week:
Nish
· Bitcoin: $104.300
· Altcoin Index: 30
· Fear & Greed Index: 30
Frackers
· Bitcoin: $109.000
· Altcoin Index: 26
· Fear & Greed Index: 25
The NFA Trading Competition that took a very unexpected turn this week, because both Nish and Frackers made huge changes to their portfolios... with a very surprising result. You can see their portfolios here.
But remember: the NFA Podcast is not financial advice!See you next week.
Chapter List
00:00 Intro – What’s coming up this week
01:14 Market overview and current sentiment
03:30 Trump, insider trading, and crypto politics
06:45 The $93M Stream Finance loss
08:26 Stablecoins and system risks
11:47 The $128M Balancer hack
14:00 MEXC vs White Whale – exchange scandal
16:49 OpenAI, Microsoft, and the AWS megadeal
20:10 AI market impact and layoffs
22:27 Market data and crypto correction
25:02 Bitcoin and altcoin predictions
26:10 Trading competition results
29:31 Wrap-up and outro
Topics and themes
· DeFi exploits
· Stream Finance loss
· Balancer bridge hack
· MEXC scandal
· Crypto regulation
· Institutional adoption
· Trump insider trading
· Stablecoins and audits
· OpenAI AWS deal
· AI infrastructure boom
· Market analysis
· Bitcoin prediction
· Altcoin index
· Trading competition
#NFAPodcast #DeFi #CryptoNews #OpenAI #AI #Bitcoin #Altcoins #Stablecoins #TrumpCrypto #MEXC #Balancer #StreamFinance #Markets #Web3 #Fintech #TechInvesting
Chapter List Tags and KeywordsHashtags
Summary
In this week’s episode, Michiel and Nish tackle the explosive time in crypto markets — with Bitcoin smashing through $125K and BNB hitting all-time highs, before retreating. They unpack why “Uptober” might be more than just a meme, discuss what Jeff Bezos had to say about the real winners in the AI race, and debate whether the AI bubble could be a good thing forinfrastructure investors.
The conversation then turns serious with disturbing real-worldstories about AI chatbots harming children, including the tragic case of a teenager influenced by ChatGPT. Michiel and Nish question the lack of AI regulation compared to crypto’s heavy oversight.
Other topics include the UK’s biggest money-laundering caseinvolving 61,000 stolen Bitcoins, Donald Trump Jr.’s appearance at Token2049, and the latest moves in their ongoing trading competition — with Nish’s “Uptober energy” going head-to-head against Michiel’s diversified portfolio strategy.
Michiel keeps a diversified portfolio including Broadcom, Intel,Nvidia, and Sui. The show ends with friendly debate about BNB possibly becoming the next major Ethereum challenger.
Chapters
00:00 – Introduction and what’s coming up this week
01:00 – Bitcoin, BNB and Uptober market highs
05:00 – Interest rate cuts and crypto’s bullish sentiment
06:45 – Chatbots and AI ethics: the Adam Raine tragedy
09:10 – Meta’s chatbot scandal and Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s warning
10:30 – AI regulation vs crypto overregulation
11:45 – FTT token pumps after SBF’s “GM” tweet
12:20 – UK’s $5 billion Bitcoin money-laundering case
14:00 – Why regulators focus on crypto but ignore AI dangers
15:20 – Token2049: DJ sets, pickleball, and Donald Trump Jr.’s“Adapter” moment
17:00 – Jony Ive and OpenAI’s “screenless device”
18:00 – Jeff Bezos on the AI bubble and infrastructure winners
19:30 – Trading competition update: Solana, Sui, Broadcom, andIntel
25:00 – Institutional vs meme coin momentum
27:00 – What’s next in markets and trading plans
28:45 – Wrap-up and teaser for next week
Hyperliquid beats Robinhood, Avalanche ETF news, and how market makers manipulate the gameEpisode Summary
In this edition of the NFA Podcast, Nish and Michiel unpack achaotic week in crypto.
DeFi trading protocol Hyperliquid surpassed Robinhood’s trading volume, proving that decentralized platforms are no longer niche. Meanwhile, Kanye West’s Yeezy token crashed after investors realized it could freeze wallets, and the hosts debate why celebrity coins always end badly.
They also cover Trump’s $6B token deal, Grayscale’s ETF filing for Avalanche (AVAX), and the UAE’s $740 million Bitcoin position. Michiel shares shocking stories from CoinFest Bali, where projects told stories how they lost millions to shady exchange and launchpad deals — exposing howcentralized players can still rig the game.
The episode closes with the team’s trading competition update, where Nish’s meme coin gamble pays off (for now)and Michiel questions whether altcoin season is officially here.
A sharp mix of news, first-hand insights, and market analysis — no financial advice, as always.
Chapter List
00:00 Intro: Hyperliquid surpasses Robinhood
01:20 What Robinhood really is and why it matters
03:40 The Yeezy token disaster — another celebrity coin scam
05:50 Trump’s $6B token deal and XRP’s Ponzi claims
07:40 Decentralization vs centralized hype
08:10 Grok’s AI girlfriend controversy
10:20 AI arms race and the case for decentralizing AI
11:00 BitTensor, Sui, and Solana — price vs platform reality
13:30 Grayscale’s Avalanche ETF and Philippines blockchain plan
14:40 UAE government’s Bitcoin holdings
15:10 CoinFest Bali: what really happens behind exchange doors
17:00 The $1.6M exchange rug pull explained
19:15 “Bring your own liquidity”: launchpad and market maker manipulation
20:50 How regulation could fix the mess — and why it doesn’t
22:25 Why centralization still dominates crypto
23:00 Exchange hypocrisy: F1 sponsorships and fake progress
24:00 Altcoin season signals and Ethereum dominance
26:00 Trading competition update: Nish leads again
27:00 Meme coin mania: the rise of Blocky Boy
29:00 Closing thoughts — the DeFi vs TradFi gap widens
Crypto, DeFi, Altcoin Season, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Avalanche,Hyperliquid, Robinhood, Yeezy Token, Kanye West, Celebrity Coins, Trump Token, XRP, Grayscale ETF, BitTensor, Solana, Sui, MEXC, Market Makers, CoinFest, Decentralization, AI in Crypto, Grok AI, Nish Sachdev, Michiel Frackers, NFAPodcast
The NFA Podcast is not financial advice.
Tags & Keywords
Episode SummaryIn this week’s NFA Podcast, Nish and Frackers cover the biggesttech and crypto stories shaping the markets. The discussion starts with macro forces driving crypto, including ETF inflows and interest rates, and how these overshadow internal crypto news. They unpack the classic cycle of Bitcoin ATH, Ethereum surge, and the coming of altcoin season, with dominance and fear and greed indices painting a mixed picture.
The hosts then dissect Meta’s fourth AI restructuring in sixmonths. They critique Mark Zuckerberg’s buy-versus-build track record and ask whether Meta can produce AI products that are more than bolt-on features. They also highlight how consumer awareness and competition from platforms likeTelegram and TikTok could challenge Meta’s dominance.
Other stories include Thailand allowing tourists to convert crypto into Thai baht to boost tourism, new hardware wallet recovery models to replace vulnerable seed phrases, and Blue Origin accepting crypto (but converting to USDT immediately). The US government’s $6M reward for information on Garantex,a Russian crypto exchange used for illicit activity, rounds out the news.
Finally, Nish and Michiel update listeners on their tradingcompetition. Both portfolios are at $128 after a tough week, with Pudgy Penguins dragging Michiel down and meme coin A$$DAQ giving Nish some excitement. Solana, Broadcom, and Nvidia continue to show strength, proving that AI remains the strongest market driver. Chapter List
· 00:00 Intro and episode overview
· 01:07 Macro vs crypto drivers
· 02:30 Altcoin season signals
· 04:02 Meta’s AI restructuring
· 05:11 Zuckerberg’s business model
· 07:00 Competition and consumer shifts
· 08:03 Thailand’s crypto tourism plan
· 09:16 Seed phrase security and new wallet models
· 10:54 Blue Origin accepts crypto for space flights
· 12:03 US reward for Garantex information
· 13:08 Market update and predictions
· 14:42 Altcoin season indicators and XRP signals
· 16:01 F ear and greed vs altcoin index
· 17:01 Trading competition update
· 18:03 Pudgy Penguins loss and AI stock strength
· 19:37 Meme coin A$$DAQ explained
· 20:05 Wrap-up
Keywords
NFA Podcast, crypto, altcoin season, Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, BNB, AI, Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos, Thailand crypto, seed phrases, Rider wallet, Pudgy Penguins, Solana, Nvidia, Broadcom, A$$DAQ, Garantex, crypto trading competition
The NFA Podcast is not financial advice
News
The first major story covers the Genius Act, which allows US-based firms to issue stablecoins directly. Nish explains howCitibank, Amazon, Walmart, and Bank of America are all positioning to launch stable coins. The discussion turns on whether institutions will build their own stablecoins or rely on Circle, whose IPO has been a success.
Michiel redirects attention to Bitcoin’s latestall-time high. He critiques media framing, citing a headline about Ethereum “rolling over” as if it were intentional. The two then connect this to broader market volatility, with $1 billion liquidated in leveraged positions. Nish adds a story on World Liberty Finance and Alt-5 Sigma, noting Eric Trump’srole as an advisor — a detail that sparks skepticism from both hosts.
The focus shifts to AI, specifically the launch of ChatGPT-5. Michiel quotes Sam Altman’s claim that the model represents “a PhD-level expert in any field.” He pushes back, highlighting reliability gaps and the ethical risks of marketing AI for healthcare, especially in light of recent reports of users harmed by AI-provided medical advice. Nish shares anecdotal experiences of people who caught illnesses early with ChatGPT prompts, but stresses the danger of treating AI asa doctor. Both hosts agree the model is useful but far from AGI.
They then discuss AI startups led by former OpenAI executives (Safe Superintelligence, Thinking Machines Lab) as potential challengers in the next 18 months. Next comes chip policy under Trump. Michiel explains the new deal: Nvidia and AMD pay 15% of revenue from exports to China, while the White House is considering a stake in Intel. Nish critiquesthe profiteering optics, while Michiel frames it as a strategic attempt to reduce reliance on Taiwan. They note the unusual precedent of the US president influencing CEO tenure at a listed company (Intel).
Market commentary and token picks
The crypto market segment centers onaltcoin season. Nish outlines her strategy of spreading bets across leading layer-1s, treating it like VC investing. He notes banks backing Solana stablecoin development, skepticism on XRP, and optimism around Hyperliquid’s comeback. Michiel adds that DePin is a sector to watch.
Trading competition and portfolio results
Finally, the trading competition. Michiel details his moves: selling Bitcoin, Nvidia, and Broadcom, buying Intel,Electronic Arts, Solana, SUI, and even Pudgy Penguins NFTs. Despite a 16% drop in the penguins, his portfolio is up 34.8% since June. Nish, after emotional swings, held steady in Solana, Ethereum, and a meme coin called A$$DAQ. Despite losses there, she too stands at 34.3% up, nearly identical to Michiel. Both laugh at the absurdity of their meme coin choices.
The episode closes with broader reflections on investing: theimportance of concentrated conviction in fast-growing sectors, the dangers of over-diversification, and the promise of long-term strategies in AI, gaming, and climate tech.
Chapter list
00:00 Intro and disclaimer
01:00 Bitcoin tattoo at a wedding
03:30 The Genius Act and stablecoins (Citi, Amazon, Walmart,Circle)
05:50 Bitcoin ATH and market liquidations
07:20 World Liberty Finance, Eric Trump, Alt-5 Sigma
08:30 ChatGPT-5 launch, healthcare risks, AGI hype
11:00 AI competition: Safe Superintelligence, Meta’s role
12:40 Trump administration and chipmakers (Nvidia, AMD, Intel)
15:10 Is it altcoin season? ETH, Solana, XRP debates
18:00 Hyperliquid’s comeback and DeFi trends
19:30 DePin and World Mobile use cases
20:45 Trading competition: Michiel’s trades (Intel, EA, PudgyPenguins, Solana, SUI)
22:50 Trading competition: Nish’s portfolio (Solana, ETH, A$$DAQ)
26:00 Investment philosophy: concentration vs diversification
27:50 Climate tech, Tracer, and long-term growth industries
29:10 Closing thoughts and outro
Summary
News and macro discussion
The episode begins with a breakdown of the biggest story in tech: Mark Zuckerberg’s billion-dollar attempt to poach AI talent from his competitors: Human Machines Lab (Mira Murati), OpenAI and Anthropic. Nish and Frackers discuss how Zuckerberg’s superintelligence memo was inspired by, if not copied, from a character.ai memo from several years ago.
They reflect on how investors reward execution and momentum over originality or ethics. Other headlines include strong earnings by Apple and Microsoft and Amazon’s weak AWS numbers. In crypto, the CoinDCX hack is revealed to be an insider job involving $44 million in stolen assets, with on-chain sleuth ZachXBT helping expose it. The SEC’s “Project Crypto” is also discussed as a potential shift toward lighter regulation, although the lack of clarity left markets unmoved.
Market commentary and token picks
The middle segment covers how traditional markets and crypto reacted to this mix of strong earnings and regulatory uncertainty. Michiel points out that Ethereum still hasn’t broken its previous all-time high, which he sees as a signal of weakness despite increased buying from large entities like Ether Machine. Nish notes Tether’s reported $4.9 billion profit in Q2, noting that the figure is unaudited.
Trading challenge and portfolio results
In the final part of the episode, Nish and Michiel reveal the results of their increasingly competitive trading competition. Nish went full degen, flipping $30 into $240 on the AIR token before swapping into another meme coin called A$$ and ending at $135. He describes the emotional rollercoaster of near-instant profits followed by losses, calling it a full round-trip. Michiel took a more conservative approach, sticking with a mix of Nvidia, Broadcom and Bitcoin, and ended the week with a 17 percent gain since the start of the competition in early June. They compare strategies, risk tolerance and the psychology of trading in volatile markets. The segment ends with reflections on why most traders underperform even during bull markets, and a reminder by Nish that the challenge is about learning, not outperforming each other. Michiel is not buying it.
Chapter list
00:00 – Intro and episode preview
Overview of topics including Meta, CoinDCX hack, SEC regulation and the trading competition
01:30 – Zuckerberg’s $1B AI poaching strategy
Discussion on Meta offering $5 to $10 million per engineer and the ethics behind it
04:00 – Meta’s plagiarized superintelligence memo
Breakdown of Zuck memo’s similarities to character.ai and what it reveals about Meta culture
06:20 – Big Tech earnings and market reactions
Apple, Amazon and Microsoft results and how the market is responding
08:10 – Circle and Figma IPO chatter
Comments on IPO valuations and investor psychology
09:30 – CoinDCX hack and insider involvement
How $44 million was drained from an Indian exchange by insiders, and how ZachXBT helped trace it
12:00 – SEC’s “Project Crypto” grace period
Discussion on a possible regulatory shift and its unclear impact on token markets
14:30 – Ethereum’s weak price action despite good news
Why ETH still hasn’t hit a new ATH and what that means for investor confidence
17:00 – Tether’s $4.9B quarterly profit
Questions around how Tether generates its profit and whether it’s sustainable or lega
20:00 – Trading competition recap begins
Nish explains how he turned $30 into $240 and then back to $135 using AIR and A$$
23:00 – Michiel’s conservative portfolio performance
25:00 – Risk and psychology in crypto investing
Summary
In this week’s episode of the NFA Podcast, Nish and Michiel unpack one of the most eventful weeks in crypto, AI, and regulation we’ve seen in months.
We begin with two major pieces of legislation that could reshape the crypto landscape in the US: the Genius Act and the Clarity Act. The Genius Act requires all stablecoin issuers operating in the US to maintain asset-backed reserves, a move clearly aimed at increasing trust and transparency in a market long criticized for its opacity, particularly with players like Tether, which still hasn’t completed a full audit. Meanwhile, the Clarity Act formally classifies digital assets as commodities, shifting the regulatory framework and potentially giving clearer jurisdiction to the CFTC over the SEC. What does this mean for companies like Circle, whose USDC coin is already regulated and backed by reserves? Nish and Michiel break it down.
From legislation to security breaches, the episode shifts focus to the $44 million hack of CoinDCX, one of India’s largest crypto exchanges. Michiel questions North Korea’s involvement, especially given the regime’s recent history of targeting exchanges like Bybit. Nish points out that the scale of the loss is devastating even if users weren’t directly affected, especially in a fast-moving and trust-sensitive market like India.
The conversation then pivots to AI agents, specifically the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT Agent and Perplexity’s Comet. These new tools promise to automate web tasks and increase user efficiency, but they come with alarming trade-offs. These agents can take full control of your browser and system, with unclear limits on what data they access. Michiel raises the core question: “Why would anyone hand over control of their computer to a company they don’t fully trust?” He also tells a disturbing story involving a Dutch tech reporter and a ChatGPT hallucination that suggested pairing risotto with a “poop sandwich.” The story is both humorous and troubling and drives home how unreliable LLMs can be when misused or blindly trusted.
The pair then dive into market movements, specifically the altcoin rollercoaster that played out over the past week. The Altcoin Index fluctuated wildly, dropping from 62 to 42 in a matter of hours, only to rebound to 55. Bitcoin remained relatively stable, but altcoins like Solana (+24%), Dogecoin (+35%), XRP (+21%) and BNB (+16%) saw significant gains. Nish explains that this cycle is unlike previous bull runs, with institutions entering, regulations shifting, and meme coin frenzies returning. She also notes that staking protocols like Aave and Hype are losing momentum, while Layer 1s are back in favor.
Nish’s trading competition update is one for the books: despite not making a single move while on vacation, her NEAR position surged 43%, leading to a total portfolio gain of 38% over two weeks. Michiel’s more conservative portfolio—50% in Bitcoin, the rest split between Nvidia and Broadcom—returned just 1% this week, though he reminds listeners that he’s still up 14.57% since early June. Together, they discuss what this means for active vs passive strategies, risk management, and how fast recovery can happen in crypto - if you survive the drawdown.
The show closes with predictions for next week. Michiel thinks Bitcoin will remain stable and altcoins will rise slightly. Nish sees the Altcoin Index staying in the 50–60 range. Michiel plans to move half of his Bitcoin into a yet-to-be-determined altcoin, possibly Solana. They end with a reminder that none of this is financial advice—and a lesson both hosts agree on: if something in your portfolio is eating you up emotionally, it’s probably time to let it go.
Keywords
CoinDCX hack, ChatGPT hallucinations, AI agents, altcoin season, Ethereum, NEAR Protocol, Solana, Sui, trading strategy, meme coins, stablecoin regulation, US crypto law
Summary
Meta drops $200M on AI talent Jeff Pang, OpenAI loses the Windsurf deal and then Google gets outplayed,, while crypto markets go vertical. This may have been the wildest weekend yet in AI and crypto.
In this episode of the NFA Podcast, Nish (Sachdev) and (Michiel)Frackers cover the wildest stories in tech and crypto from the past week. They open with a headline grabber: Meta’s $200 million offer to Apple’s AI exec Jeff Pang.
Nish and Michiel unpack what this means for Meta’s strategy, why they might be abandoning their LLama model and how Pang’s hiring reflects the ongoing AI talent war. Nish argues Meta is now in “spray and pray” mode, hiring brilliant people first and figuring out a product strategy later.
Next, they discuss Kazakhstan’s unexpected decision to build astrategic Bitcoin reserve, raising questions about whether a volatile crypto asset belongs in a country’s sovereign balance sheet. This flows into a wider discussion about decentralization, institutional trust, and the politicalnarratives shaping adoption of Bitcoin.
The biggest geopolitical and policy theme of the episode is “Crypto Week” in the US: three new bills moving through Congress —the Genius Act, Clarity Act, and Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act— could reshape how stablecoins are issued and how digital assets are regulated. Nish breaks down how these laws may impact Circle, Tether and CBDC development across federal and state jurisdictions.
Mid-episode, Michiel drops a jaw-dropping three-part story:OpenAI’s $3B failed acquisition of AI startup Windsurf, Google’s reverse acquihire of its founders and Cognition’s final scoop of the company in a move that stuns the whole industry.
In the final segment, they run through major market updates:Bitcoin, Nvidia, altcoins, and PumpFun’s $600 million launch. The episode closes with a progress check on their trading competition (spoiler: someone is down 75%) and predictions for Bitcoin, the fear & greed index and the arrival of altcoin season.
Michiel's News
Meta Poached Apple’s Pang With Pay Package Over $200 Million
The most insane 72 hours in startup history just ended.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sytaylor_the-most-insane-72-hours-in-startup-history-ugcPost-7350607437411807234-hYq5
Nvidia to resume H20 chips export to China
Nish's news
Cryptoweek in the USA
Pump Fun launches an ICO - sells out in 12 minutes, raising $600 million
Chapter List
00:00 – Intro & Jeff Peng’s $200M Meta Package
04:34 – Meta's AI Gamble and LLaMA’s Decline
07:00 – Kazakhstan’s Bitcoin Reserve Strategy
09:33 – US Crypto Bills: Genius Act, Clarity Act,Anti-CBDC
13:11 – Wild Windsurf Saga: OpenAI, Google &Cognition
17:21 – Markets: Bitcoin, Nvidia, PumpFun Token Sale
20:12 – Trading Competition: Michiel vs. Nish
22:22 – Predictions: BTC, Fear & Greed, Altcoin Season
25:58 – Wrap-up & Final Thoughts
Keywords
Crypto, AI, Meta, Jeff Peng, OpenAI, Google, Windsurf,Cognition, Bitcoin, Kazakhstan, CBDC, Genius Act, Clarity Act, Anti-CBDC, Circle IPO, PumpFun, Altcoin Season, Trading Competition, Nvidia, Trump, Michiel Frackers, Nish, Token Listing, Market Update, Tracer, Crypto News, Web3, Decentralization, Regulation, Crypto Week, Fear and Greed Index
The NFA Podcast is Not Financial Information.
Episode Summary
In episode 20, Nish records from a tropical war zone of broken podcast gear while Michiel holds steady with TradFi tech picks and an 8 percent portfolio gain. The episode opens with Robinhood’s wild move to offer tokenized shares of OpenAI and SpaceX, raising questions after OpenAI denied any involvement.
The hosts break down how this ties into the broader risk landscape post-SVB, with stablecoins like Tether still lacking a real audit, and USDC emerging as the safer bet. They also explore why OpenAI still can’t go public, how Microsoft quietly benefits through a revenue-sharing deal, and how Nvidia is nearing a 4 trillion dollar valuation despite a China sales ban.
One of the biggest tech stories: DeepMind has launched the first human trial of a drug designed entirely by AI, potentially compressing the pharmaceutical pipeline by years. Meanwhile,Samsung predicts a 40 percent drop in quarterly profits due to weak AI chip sales, showing the gap between AI hype and hardware reality.
In fintech, Soulflare adds stock trading with zero KYC or announcement, raising regulatory questions. And in thetrading competition, Nish gets rugged again on Pump.Fun and drops to 24 dollars, while Michiel’s conservative picks push him to an 8 percent gain. The episode closes with reflections on market delusion, geopolitical risks, and a plea to the Illuminati to stop messing with their portfolios.
Links
1. Robinhood launches tokens for EU users:
https://www.reuters.com/business/robinhood-launches-tokens-allowing-eu-users-trade-us-stocks-2025-06-30/
2. OpenAI says it has not partnered with Robinhood:
https://www.reuters.com/business/openai-says-it-has-not-partnered-with-robinhood-stock-token-2025-07-02/
3. SEC chair comments on tokenized equities:
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/these-stocks-surged-as-sec-chair-sounds-positive-on-tokenization-of-equities-1a1528a1
4. Google DeepMind AI-Designed Drug Trials:
https://www.fastcompany.com/91363911/googles-ai-drug-company-says-human- trials-are-very-closeStablecoins & SVB Fallout
5. Stablecoins and bank profit risks:
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/stablecoins-could-hurt-bank-profits-but-not-for-a-while-analyst-673b5778
6. Academic research on USDC vs USDT during SVB collapse:
https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.11716
Chapter List
1. 00:00 — Tropic Thunder in Thailand and Podcast Tech Fail
2. 01:30 — Robinhood Offers Tokenized OpenAI and SpaceX Shares
3. 03:00 — DeFi Meets TradFi: Stablecoins and the SVB Risk Model
4. 05:00 — Tether’s First Audit and Why It Still Isn’t Trustworthy
5. 07:00 — Why OpenAI Still Can’t Go Public and Who Owns It
6. 09:30 — Microsoft Quietly Wins with OpenAI’s Future Revenue
7. 10:30 — Nvidia Hits $4 Trillion Despite China Sales Ban
8. 11:00 — China and Australia Discuss AI Trade Collaboration
9. 11:30 — DeepMind Launches First Human Trial of AI-Designed Drug
10. 13:00 — Samsung Forecasts 40 Percent Profit Drop on Weak AI Chip Sales
11. 14:30 — Soulflare Adds Stock Trading with Zero KYC or Announcement
12. 15:30 — World War III Already Happening? Markets Don’t Care
13. 17:00 — Stocks Beat Bitcoin in June Despite Global Tension
14. 18:00 — Fear and Greed Index Swings and Market Confusion
15. 19:30 — Trading Competition: Nish Gets Rugged Again on Pump.Fun
16. 22:00 — Michiel’s Portfolio: Up 8 Percent with Nvidia and Broadcom
17. 24:30 — Risk Lessons and the Problem with Holding Too Long
18. 26:00 — Final Thoughts: Peace, Perspective, and Market Madness
Tags
Robinhood, Tokenized stocks, OpenAI, SpaceX, USDT, USDC, Tether audit, Stablecoins, DeepMind, AI drug trial, Microsoft, OpenAI IPO, Nvidia, Soulflare, No KYC, Pump.Fun, Rug pull, Bitcoin, Fear and Greed Index, Trading competition, NFA Podcast, Nisheta Sachdev, Michiel Frackers
Summary
The NFA Podcast's latest episode, hosted by Nisheta Sachdev and Michiel Frackers, covers recent developments in the cryptoand tech world, while also featuring their ongoing trading competition. Nish and Michiel cover a whirlwind of crypto drama, political irony, and market twists.
They start with JP Morgan’s stablecoin launch, a $100Mhack in Iran where the attackers burned the funds and BitGet’s partnership with UNICEF to fund girls’ education. Then they discuss Tron’s U.S. IPO following a possible presidential intervention and debate whether the SEC’s crypto probes are justified.
The episode heats up with a breakdown of Microsoft’sstrategy to lock in OpenAI revenue while potentially blocking its IPO, and how Meta’s $100M AI sign-on bonuses reflect desperation in the AI arms race.
Nish shares a wild ride on PumpFun, turning $6 into $240 before getting rugged in a gamified token ecosystem that collapsed within a few hours.
The trading competition updates, personal AIcautionary tales, and a few sharp takes on egos (Trump, Zuck, and crypto bros alike) round out a packed episode. Final score? Michiel’s steady portfolio beats Nish’sdegen bets this week.
Links from this week's stories
· JP Morgan is launching a stable coin
· Iran’s biggest exchange was hacked for $100m
· Tron to go public in the US - SEC pauses probe
· Bitget and Unicef have partnered to educate 300k girls across the world!
· OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says Meta offered $100 million bonuses to OpenAI employees
· Microsoft prepared to walk away from high-stakes OpenAI talks
· The stock of Circle, the company behind USDC had a spectacular IPO (up 117%)
Chapters
00:00 – Nish tees up the big stories: JP Morgan’s stablecoin,a major Middle East hack, Tron’s redemption arc and a wild trading week.
01:30 – Hack & Burn: Iran’s $100M Crypto Ghost
A pro-Israeli group hacks Iran’s biggest exchange andburns the tokens. Ethics, retaliation, and questions of civilian impact follow.
03:19 – BitGet x UNICEF: Finally, Some Good News
A rare feel-good headline: crypto helps educate300,000 girls. But where did that extra $100M come from?
03:59 – Trump, Tron, and the Big D Energy
Tron goes public after a presidential pardon. Whathappened to the SEC probe? And why is Eric Trump an advisor?
06:44 – AML, MetaMask & Who’s Responsible?
The SEC’s crackdown on crypto: fair regulation orpolicy overreach? Metamask, Binance, and double standards.
08:50 – Meta’s AI Faceplant
Meta tries to catch up in AI by buying Scale. But is a$100M sign-on bonus desperation or genius?
11:12 – Microsoft v OpenAI: The SoftBank Ultimatum
Satya Nadella plays chess while the rest of tech playscheckers. The real reason Microsoft doesn’t want OpenAI to IPO. Michiel explains how Microsoft gets $92B in revenuebefore any equity upside. It’s not about the shares, it’s about the compute business.
14:13 – Elon vs Zuck: The Ego Wars
Meta isn’t about data or AI, it’s about one-uppingMusk. Zuckerberg’s Threads, rockets and rage.
16:31 – AI Is Making Us Dumb (Seriously)
An MIT study shows AI use reduces cognitiveengagement. Nish shares a personal lesson on using AI in school.
20:43 – Bitcoin Up, Alts… Meh?
Predictions time. Bitcoin’s holding, alts areinconsistent, but both hosts expect an uptick.
21:09 – Trading Comp: Michiel Plays It Safe, Nish GoesFull Degen
Michiel’s portfolio edges up +2.69% with Nvidia andBTC. Meanwhile, Nish starts at $6 and hits $240 before getting rugged.
26:28 – Final Wallet Check: Michiel Wins This Round
Nish ends at $55, Michiel at $102.69. Lessons: takeprofits, don’t YOLO everything, and maybe skip PumpFun next week.
28:15 – Degens Gonna Degen
Nish embraces her degen roots. Michiel calls outhypocrisy: “You always tell me to sell half!” And yet…
Summary
The NFA Podcast's latest episode, hosted by Nisheta Sachdev and Michiel Frackers, covers recent developments in the crypto and tech world, while also featuring their ongoing trading competition.
Key news topics include Binance's launch in Syria and Hong Kong's efforts to create a crypto tracking tool against money laundering. They discuss the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict and its surprisingly muted impact on the markets, attributing it to market adaptation to frequent negative news.
Michiel highlights a significant European initiative led by France's President Macron, Nvidia, and Mistral, aiming to offer an AI platform that keeps data within Europe, countering US dominance and data control concerns, especially in light of the Trump administration's influence.
Nish reveals staggering figures from a Forbes article detailing Trump's $1.2 billion wealth creation through crypto, including NFTs, meme coins, and a stablecoin business.
In their trading competition, Michiel admits to being "way down" , while Nish details her strategy of investing in a "Uranium" meme coin on PumpFun, turning her initial $78 into $140 by the end of the episode. They conclude with market predictions, both believing Bitcoin will go up next week, and Nish advises against high-risk trades with significant capital.
Chapter List with Timestamps
1. 00:00 — Welcome & What’s Coming Up
Nish introduces the episode’s topics: Iran-Israel conflict, Binance news, Trump’s crypto wealth, and the trading competition.
2. 00:29 — Trading Competition Banter
Nish teases her portfolio success, Michiel calls her out on meme coin obsession.
3. 02:32 — News Section Kickoff
The hosts lay out the episode format: news first, markets second.
4. 03:46 — Iran-Israel Tensions & Market Impact
Discussion on Israel’s strike, media narratives, and muted market reactions.
5. 07:09 — Binance Launches in Syria & Hong Kong’s New Crypto Tool
Breakdown of Binance’s controversial expansion and Hong Kong’s proposed blockchain tracking system.
6. 09:58 — France, Mistral & AI Sovereignty
Michiel explains Macron’s alignment with Mistral and Nvidia, plus the European backlash over US tech dominance.
7. 12:55 — Decentralized Storage & BitTensor Shoutout
Debating global data decentralization and Nish’s bullish take on BitTensor.
8. 15:40 — Trump’s Crypto Windfall
Forbes breakdown of Trump’s crypto earnings: NFTs, meme coins, and stablecoins.
9. 19:05 — Blockchain Transparency & Wallet Tracking
How Trump’s wallets were analyzed — and Nish shares her own near-miss with a $50 Pepe moonshot.
10. 21:31 — Trading Updates: Uranium, SOL, USDT
Nish walks through her portfolio moves, uranium meme coin profits, and Michiel questions the numbers.
11. 24:56 — Portfolio Recap: Nish +40%, Michiel Flat
Michiel summarizes both performances — and declares meme coins as market winners.
12. 26:33 — Next Week’s Market Predictions
Bold forecasts for Bitcoin and altcoins plus Michiel’s psychological trading block.
13. 28:30 — Risk vs Reward: Would You Bet $1M?
Final lessons on degenerate trading, top 10 token churn, and portfolio caution.
14. 29:45 — Sign-Off: $25 Turns Into $34
Nish wraps up with her uranium profit update. Episode ends.
Keywords
NFA Podcast, Crypto News, Binance, Hong Kong Crypto, Money Laundering, Iran Israel Conflict, Market Sentiment, Trump Crypto Wealth, NFTs, Meme Coins, World Liberty Token, Stablecoin, European AI, Mistral AI, Nvidia, Macron, Data Sovereignty, Decentralized Storage, BitTensor, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Altcoins, Trading Competition, PumpFun, Uranium Token, Solana, Sui, USDT, Market Analysis, Crypto Trading, Financial Advice
The NFA Podcast is not financial advice.
This week on the NFA Podcast, Nish and Michiel break down a packed week in crypto and tech. They discuss Circle’s IPO and what it signals for crypto’s position in public markets. The collapse of Builder AI raises questions about due diligenceand investor hype. On the political front, Trump and Elon Musk are in open conflict but the hosts think it will not change the crypto policy and tech influence in the White House.
They also cover how social media algorithms affect younger users, why AI live shopping hasn’t taken off and how it's possible that Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan are being labeled as emerging crypto hubs. The episode wraps up with updates from the NFA trading challenge where Nish is kicking Michiel's butt. Finally, Nish and Michiel share their short takes on Bitcoin, altcoins and the market sentiment.
Keywords / Tags
#nfapodcast #cryptopodcast #CircleIPO #CRCL #Builderai #ElonMusk #USDC #Tether #USDT #altcoinseason #AIliveshopping #bitcoin #solana #sui #tradingchallenge#stablecoins #pumpfun #nvidia #NVDA #Broadcom #AVGO
NFA S1E16 Summary:
On this episode of the NFA Podcast, Nish and Michiel tackle apacked week of news. They dissect the controversial $3 million OpenAI video announcing its merger with io, questioning its cost, effectiveness, and the egos of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and legendary designer Jony Ive, who is one of Michiel'sidols whereas Nish had never heard of him.
They also cover significant market news, including Thailand'sban on five major crypto exchanges, the aftermath of the SUI protocol and Cetus DEX hack (and its surprisingly positive resolution through community voting) and a Supreme Court case involving Coinbase and an SEC data probe.
They touch on the "Trump dinner" and its allegedmillion-dollar-per-seat cost. Nvidia's surge to overtake Microsoft and Apple in market cap is discussed, alongside Michiel's personal regrets about selling his shares. The conversation also explores the elusive "alt season," introduces BitTensor as a decentralized AI infrastructure project both Nish and Michiel like and culminates in the hosts agreeing to a friendly $100 trading competition. As always, the hosts remind listeners that this is not financial advice.
This is the OpenAI video fail Nish and Michiel discuss:
https://youtu.be/W09bIpc_3ms?si=6JHFFKVcIqz3AsX-
Other Key Topics Discussed:
• Market News: Trump dinner costs, Nvidia's market dominance, Broadcom performance.
• Cryptocurrency Deep Dive:
o SUI protocol & Cetus DEX hack resolution and decentralized voting.
o Is SUI the next Solana or Ethereum?
o Thailand's ban on Bybit, 1000X, CoinX, OKX, and XT exchanges.
o US Supreme Court, SEC, and a Coinbase user data probe.
o The elusive "alt season" and market sentiment.
o BitTensor (TAU) and decentralized AI infrastructure.
• Tech Updates & Commentary:
o The low viewership (700k) vs. high production cost.
o Platform responsibility for user-generated content (Telegram discussion).
• Investing & Trading:
o Michiel's Nvidia sale regret and current thoughts on its valuation.
o Nish's crypto-only and "gut feeling" investment strategy.
o Proposal for a $100 trading competition between Nish and Michiel.
Chapters / Sections
• (00:00) Introduction & Episode Overview
• (00:29) Welcome & Disclaimer (Not Financial Advice)
• (00:54) Initial Market Banter & Broadcom Mention
• (01:28) SUI Protocol & Cetus DEX Hack Follow-up
• (04:07) General Crypto Market News & Altcoin Season
• (04:52) Thailand Bans Five Crypto Exchanges
• (05:51) Trump Dinner Cost
• (06:14) Supreme Court, SEC, and Coinbase Data Probe
• (07:03) Platform Responsibility for User Content
• (07:41) OpenAI & io Merger Video Deep Dive (Cost, Production, Ego)
• (16:39) Market News: Nvidia Overtakes Microsoft & Apple
• (19:08) Nish's Crypto-Only Investment Approach
• (19:51) Proposed Trading Competition
• (23:21) Token Discussion: Sui and BitTensor (TAU)
• (25:44) Trading Competition Strategy Discussion
• (26:04) Closing Remarks & Competition Banter
• (27:21) Final Takeaway & Sign-off
Actionable Takeaways (Remember: Not Financial Advice!):
• Community governance and transparent crisis response are vital in the crypto space, as demonstrated by the SUI/Cetus situation.
• Tech founders should focus on authentic marketing and product value over ego-driven displays.
• High-budget productions don't always translate to effective marketing or positive public perception.
• Decentralized AI infrastructures like BitTensor aim to break monopolies and foster innovation by rewarding participation.
Companies, Tokens & People Mentioned:
• Companies/Organizations: OpenAI, io, Broadcom, Nvidia, SUI, Cetus, Solana, Ethereum, Bybit, OKX, Coinbase, Telegram, Ton, San Francisco Standard, Microsoft, Apple, Bitcoin.
• People: Donald Trump, Sam Altman, Jony Ive, Pavel Durov (Telegram), Steve Jobs
• Tokens: SUI, TAU (BitTensor).
Tune in for: Weekly news summaries, crypto updates, tech insights, and traditional finance market discussions.
Bitcoin hits a new all-time high, but altcoin season is nowhere to be seen. Nish and Michiel break down the latest market chaos: Sui’s $223 million DEX hack, Trump’s meme coin crash, and OpenAI’s jaw-dropping $6.5 billion acquisition of a startup with no product. Plus, what FIFA launching a blockchain tells us about brand bandwagons, and why altcoins might pop just in time for summer.
Chapters
00:00 – Intro & What’s Coming
01:00 – Bitcoin’s All-Time High and Missed Trades
05:20 – Trump, Tariffs, and Market Reaction
07:00 – Fear & Greed Index vs Altcoin Season
08:00 – Sui DEX Hack: What Actually Happened
10:30 – How Decentralized Was This DEX, Really?
12:20 – Why Michiel No Longer Trusts DEXes
13:00 – Altcoin Predictions for Summer 2025
14:40 – OpenAI Buys io for $6.5B — Without a Product
18:00 – Jony Ive, Sam Altman, and the No-Screen Device
22:30 – The Theater of Tech Acquisitions
23:45 – Meme Coins and Microcaps
25:00 – Closing Thoughts and TikTok Push
Sui hack 2025
Bitcoin ATH May 2025
Trump meme coin
OpenAI io acquisition
Jony Ive OpenAI device
Altcoin season prediction
Cetus DEX hack
Layer one vs layer two
Avalanche FIFA blockchain
Crypto podcast 2025
NFA podcast
Michiel and Nish crypto
Decentralized exchange hacks
AI hardware OpenAI
SummaryThis week’s NFA Podcast breaks down what actually happened at Token2049 in Dubai: more escorts than engineers, overcrowded venues, and 530 side events. Nish shares stories from the crypto trenches, Abu Dhabi’s investment into Binance via the Trump Family's vehicle World Liberty Finance. We also talk about the scandal around Movement Labs, why Apple’s AI promise is still vaporware, how Zuvu is building the AI orchestration layer we need, and ex-OpenAI CTO Mira Murati’s new startup Thinking Machines Lab with full Andreessen Horowitz backing and her 100% control.
Plus: AI chip stock moves, Eric Trump’s take on banks, tokenized marble bunkers in the Italian mountains and a bet on Broadcom.Chapters
00:00 – Intro and Token2049 Recap
09:50 – Trump Token Deal: Abu Dhabi, LibertyFinance, and Binance
13:43 – Movement Labs Scandal & MarketMaker Manipulation
15:17 – Tech Earnings: Meta, Amazon, Apple
19:07 – AI Orchestration, Zuvu, and Apple'sMissed Promise
23:45 – Mira Murati’s New Startup with FullControl
27:31 – OpenAI’s Bold Revenue Claims & VCAI Hype
29:58 – Eric Trump Predicts Bank Extinction
31:20 – Stock Moves: From Nvidia to Broadcom
32:11 – Defense Tech and Tokenized Bunkers
Keywords$38 million dump, AI fragmentation, AI orchestration, AI subscriptions, AI tools integration, Abu Dhabi Binanceinvestment, Amazon ads revenue, Andreessen Horowitz, Apple AI fail, Binance delisting, Broadcom stock, CoinDesk investigation, Dubai crypto event, Eric Trump, Eric Trump banks, Human Machines Lab, Kuwait bitcoin mining, Libertystablecoin, Meta earnings, Mira Murati, Thinking Machines Labs, Movement Labs, Nvidia, OpenAI $129B revenue claim, Palantir sell-off, Token2049, Trump token, World Liberty Finance, Zuvu, crypto conferences, defense tech, escorts at crypto events, founder control, marble bunkers Italy, market maker scandal, side events, tokenized bunkers, Broadcom
Keywords
NFA Podcast, crypto news, Bitcoin, altcoins, Elon Musk, Meta, Ripple, AI, market trends, not financial advice, Zuckerberg, Instagram, Kevin Systrom, Trumpcoin, SUI
SUMMARY
This week on the NFA Podcast:
· Bitcoin and Sui bounce back
· Elon Musk funds carbon removal while advising Trump
· Meta faces antitrust heat as Instagram’s founder speaks out
· Trump’s meme coin madness
· Palantir rockets, yet again
Plus: the craziest Bitcoin ransom story yet. And why tech stocks might now be riskier than crypto, plus: meet your AI-colleagues.
Chapters
1. 00:00 — Taurus Season, Crypto Season
Bitcoin, Sui, and altcoins are pumping — but are we back or getting wrecked again?
2. 01:58 — Lambos, Dubai, and Hot Tubs
The Dubai crypto crowd, and a Brooklyn spa heats its hot tubs with Bitcoin miners.
3. 04:20 — Musk vs. Trump: Climate Hypocrisy?
Elon backs $100M in carbon removal tech… whileadvising a climate change denier.
4. 07:28 — Zuck’s Instagram Sabotage
Kevin Systrom testifies Zuckerberg starved Instagram of resources — out of fear?
5. 09:32 — Your Grandmother’s Facebook
Facebook is now where old classmates and surgical selfies meet. Nish explains why she avoids it.
6. 14:07 — Dinner with Trump? Just Buy HisMeme Coin
Trump’s TRUMP token pumps after he offers aprivate dinner to top 220 holders.
7. 15:37 — Kuwait’s Crypto Crackdown
Illegal mining causes blackouts. Not every country is using Bitcoin heat for spa luxury.
8. 16:04 — US Fed Walks Back Anti-CryptoBanking
The Federal Reserve quietly ends its crypto-unfriendly bank guidance.
9. 17:04 — Crypto Enters the Tech Elite
Even The Information is covering crypto banks now. Silicon Valley is watching.
10. 17:59 — Crypto Kidnapping in Florida
$230M in Bitcoin, a kidnapped son, and a gang of 18- to 22-year-olds.
11. 19:34 — Podcast Tips, TikTok Dreams, Nobelprize winner Demis Hassabis on AI, family Spotify accounts gonewrong, and what’s wrong with LinkedIn AI generated content.
12. 24:20 — Palantir vs. Bitcoin: Who’s More Volatile?
Tech stocks like Palantir are now crazier than crypto. Is your pension fund ready?
13. 26:21 — Bull or Bear? Depends on the Week
Nish is bullish, Michiel is bearish, and Sygnum Bank backs altcoins.
14. 27:46 — Closing Notes: Don’t Post Your Gains
In a world of kidnappings and flexing, the final tip: stay low and stay safe.
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NFA Podcast – Season 1 Episode 13 Show Notes
Altcoins rally with Trumpcoin and Sui leading the charge
2. Brooklyn Bitcoin Mining Spa
3. Elon Musk donated $100M Carbon XPrize
· IPCC Report: the Physical Science Basis
4. Meta Antitrust Case & Zuckerberg Drama
5. Trump Meme Coin & Dinner
6. ZachXBT - Brilliant Crypto sleuth’s X account
7. Kuwait Energy Crisis because of Bitcoin
8. Fed Withdraws Anti-Crypto Banking Guidance
10. AI & Nobelprize winner & Startups
11. Sygnum Bank bullish on altcoins
Always remember: the NFA Podcast is Not Financial Advice, but Nish, Frackers and Anyone Else!
Plus: Binance meets countries, Sam Altman vs. Elon Musk over X, and the OM token gets wrecked
Summary
This week’s NFA Podcast episode covers a dense mix of geopolitical crypto moves, scandals, and platform wars. Nish and Michiel kick off with CZ (Changpeng Zhao) advising governments from Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan and whether Binance, despite its regulatory baggage, should be guiding state crypto policies. They weigh in on Binance’s regulatory track record, Richard Teng’s role as CEO, and Dubai’s ongoing crypto diplomacy, including Crypto.com’s high-profile engagement with Sheikh Maktoum’s government.
The conversation transitions into UAE’s broader digital ambitions and how regions like Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) are pioneering DAO regulation through RAKDAO. Tracer, where Nish and Michiel are both advisors, is mentioned as a beneficiary of this innovative framework.
The duo then dissects the Mantra (OM token) meltdown. Nish explains how OTC deals, lack of transparency, and Coffeezilla’s exposé exposed potential manipulation. Michiel brings up parallels with traditional finance and the lack of fair disclosure in crypto. They both praise crypto sleuths like Coffeezilla and ZachXBT for filling investigative gaps left by traditional media.
Shifting gears, the episode explores China lifting IP protections for luxury goods. Nish notes the online surge in knockoffs, and Michiel discusses how US-China tensions over trade and tariffs are spooking investors. They bring in historical context and media biases, with Michiel drawing parallels between the internet’s early mischaracterization and crypto’s current media portrayal.
The show wraps with chatter about social media wars: Sam Altman potentially launching an OpenAI competitor to X, Threads’ poor UX, and BlueSky’s slow traction. They close on Meta’s antitrust scrutiny and Google’s ad-tech monopoly troubles before ending with Michiel lamenting Nvidia’s stock dip amid US chip export restrictions.
Chapters
1. 00:28 – From Kyrgyzstan with CZ
Binance’s founder resurfaces as a state advisor; or does he?
2. 03:39 – Crypto Diplomacy in Dubai
Sheikh Maktoum, Crypto.com, and Dubai’s $100B digital agenda
3. 06:51 – RAK
Ras Al Khaimah’s DAO regulations and Tracer’s regulatory home
4. 08:01 – Mantra Meltdown and OTC Mayhem
Token crashes, Coffeezilla, and the dark arts of crypto fundraising
5. 15:51 – ZachXBT Saves the Day (Again)
How blockchain sleuths outpace legacy media
6. 16:46 – The Great Chinese Knockoff Wave
IP law rollback floods socials with fake Birkins and Dior bags
7. 20:21 – Altman vs Musk: X Wars
Can OpenAI clone a social network just to feed the data beast?
8. 21:33 – The Drama of Threads and BlueSky
Why no one uses Zuckerberg’s Twitter clone and who really uses BlueSky?
9. 25:20 – Meta on Trial, Google in Trouble
Congressional heat and ad-tech monopolies in the US
10. 26:33 – Nvidia’s Chip Woes
Export bans, stock dips, and staying bullish through the pain
Links
Please remember: the NFA Podcast is Not Financial Advice!
End of tariffs and meme coins plus AI billions and chlorinated chicken
Summary
While global markets tumbled under the weight of Trump’s new tariffs, this episode of the NFA Podcast cuts through the panic to spotlight the bullish stories buried under the headlines. Nish and Frackers start with the week’s rollercoaster in crypto and tech stocks, comparing the sharp drops in Ethereum and Solana to a surprisingly resilient Bitcoin. Nish explains how the meme coin engine Pump.fun has lost steam, while Michiel shares horror stories from past crashes, andpension fund absurdities.
Then, in the most underreported bullish news of the year: OpenAI quietly raised $40 billion and wants to buy Jony Ive's startup for an AI iPhone killer Sam Altman invested in, ex-OpenAI CTO Mira Murati is going for $2 billion at a $10 billion valuation, and OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever's Safe Superintelligence is targeting a $30 billion valuation with Alphabet and Nvidia on board. But none of them seem to have functional websites.
Plus:
• Binance founder CZ’s next move is advising Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan on blockchain adoption
• Trump’s pro-crypto SEC pick Paul Atkins is approved
• Ripple’s SEC lawsuit nears its endgame
• Europe and China flirt over electric vehicles to counter US tariffs
• And yes, the UK might end up with chlorinated chicken as a reward for trade realignment
The episode ends with predictions: Frackers sees a cautious market rebound, Nish calls it sideways. But both remain long-term bullish, still think there will be a Bitcoin all-time high this year.
Keywords
crypto, market trends, investment, tariffs, AI, blockchain, pension funds, media influence, Bitcoin, Ethereum, CZ, Broadcom, Pump.fun, meme coins, SSI, Thinking Machines Lab, Mira Murati, Ilya Sutskever, Sam Altman, Jony Ive, io Products, AI iPhone killer
Chapters
00:00 – Marketsin Meltdown: What Just Happened?
02:15 – FromLehman to Today: War Stories and Wipeouts
05:11 – TeslaTanks, Bitcoin Holds: Who’s Really Losing?
06:18 – Ethereum’sCollapse, Solana’s Shriveling, and the Meme Coin Freeze
10:10 – GoodNews Buried: Why Bullish Stories Got Snowed Under
10:51 – CZ’sNext Moves: From Binance to Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan
11:30 – Trump’sSEC Pick, Ripple’s SEC Endgame, and the Rise of Pro-Crypto Policy
12:36 – OpenAI’s$40 Billion Raise, and Sam Altman Buying the AI device maker from Jony Ive and…himself?
15:17 – JonyIve’s $60M AI Theater and the weird world of AI startups, with Mira Murati ofThinking Machines Lab
18:32 – Alphabet,Nvidia, and the $30B Valuation of Ilya Sutskever’s Safe Superintelligence
20:13 – TariffChaos, EU-China EV Drama or Partnership, and the Brexit Chlorinated ChickenPlot Twist
22:34 – Predictions:Sideways, Comebacks, and Bitcoin All-Time Highs?
Links
OpenAIreportedly buying JonyIve's and Sam Atlman's startup
Frackers on "theiPhone killer with AI"
ex-OpenAICTO Mira Murati's newAI-startup Thinking Machines raising $2 B
OpenAIco-founder Ilya Sutskever's newAI-startup SSI raising at $30 B valuation
new Stanfordreport: AI isimproving, complex challenges remain difficult
Chinaand EU in talks about electric vehicle pact
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Pleaseremember: the NFA Podcast is Not Financial Advice!