Crypto Curious

Crypto had a week. And then some...

💎 Richard Heart: from crypto showman to custody: The flamboyant founder of HEX has been detained in Istanbul, with authorities reportedly seizing millions in cash, crypto wallets, firearms and enough designer bags to stock a boutique. We look at the allegations, the legal battle ahead and what it means for HEX holders.

🏦 Debanking wasn't just a conspiracy theory: For years, crypto businesses said banks were cutting them off without clear explanations. Now, a review by America's banking regulator has found restrictive policies at all nine of the major...

Welcome to the Crypto Curious podcast, brought to you by the Bamboo App.

If you're new to crypto, check out our early episodes, where we break down the basics and help you get your head around the crypto world.

Big week in crypto. And this time, the question is whether AI could crack the encryption protecting our crypto wallets — years before quantum computers were expected to pose a threat. An Ethereum researcher has warned the industry to prepare for “bunker mode”, and Vitalik Buterin has weighed in. So, how worried should we actually be?

This week, we’re joined by Sergej Kunz, co-founder of 1inch and one of the early builders in DeFi.

Sergej built the first version of 1inch at a hackathon in New York over a single weekend in 2019. Before crypto, he worked as a security engineer in Germany, including at Porsche. Now he’s launched Aqua, a shared liquidity layer designed to tackle one of DeFi’s biggest problems: fragmented and underused liquidity.

We talk about the weekend that started 1inch, building through multiple crypto cycles, why so much liquidity sits unused, and what Aqua i...

This week we've got a pretty good snapshot of where crypto is heading, because while the banks are finally getting serious about blockchain, some of the blockchains that promised to change finance are discovering that staying alive is actually quite difficult.

First up, SWIFT; the system that moves money between pretty much every bank on Earth, has switched on its own blockchain ledger, with 17 major banks already piloting it. And yes, there's a very familiar Australian name in that group.

Then we've got Blast. A blockchain that once had more than $2.3 billion locked...

Welcome back to the Crypto Curious.

This week we've got 3 big stories to cover - starting with a $387 million attack on Bitget, allegedly linked to North Korean hackers — but the really interesting part might be what Bitget did next, and the crisis playbook it had ready to go.

Then, your stocks just went DeFi. Coinbase's tokenized shares are now being accepted as collateral on Aave, bringing traditional assets directly into the world of decentralised lending.

And finally, Europe is switching on the digital euro. The ECB has activated its first live sy...

Before we get into this week's stories… we need to talk about Bitcoin, because the group chats are ON FIRE.

Bitcoin has smashed through $85,000, with both Bitcoin and Ethereum up around 10% this week — and technical traders are getting very excited about what that breakout could mean.

But while the charts are doing their thing, Washington has been having a slightly different kind of week.

The big US crypto bill failed in the Senate… and within 48 hours, the regulators basically said, "Fine, we'll do it ourselves."

We've also got a...

This week in crypto we've got hackers who stole $320 million in Bitcoin… then gave most of it back and asked for a $47 million thank-you payment.

Yep. Apparently even crypto criminals are negotiating their bounties now.

We've also got Jack Dorsey making the ultimate establishment move — Block has applied for a US banking charter to custody Bitcoin and stablecoins. Because apparently the road to decentralisation now goes through the banking regulator.

And finally, the LAPTOP update we've been waiting for. Hunter Biden's memecoin launched, briefly rocketed to a $1.6 billion implied market cap…...

It's never a dull week in crypto, folks.

First up, Hunter Biden is launching a memecoin called LAPTOP — aimed squarely at people who've lost money on the Trump memecoin. And the timing is pretty extraordinary, because memecoin trading is roaring back, with Robinhood Chain posting record volumes.

Then, Bitcoin miners are quitting Bitcoin for AI. Some of the biggest players in the industry are shutting down mining operations and turning their power-hungry warehouses over to AI — because apparently GPUs are now a better business than Bitcoin.

And finally, El Salvador's Bitc...

This week, we've got a very special guest joining us for this week's crypto news — Peter Stanhope, General Manager Australia at Nexo.

Peter has spent almost a decade at IG Australia, co-founded superannuation startup GigSuper, ran Capital.com's Australian operations, jumped the fence into crypto with Banxa, and now heads up Nexo here in Australia — just as they've launched regulated crypto-backed credit lines Down Under.

Welcome, Peter!

So what have we got for you this week?

First up, we're going inside Nexo with Peter to find out how a cr...

I'm Blake, and Tracey is taking a break this week, but you're not stuck with just me. We've got two great co-hosts joining us.

First, a returning favourite, seasoned digital asset investor Ben Ritchie is back on the show. And making his debut behind the mic, James Brannan.

And before we get into it, a quick favour: we'd love you to take our two-minute listener survey. Your feedback genuinely helps us make the show better, and there's a link in the show notes.

Now, Ben and James, you've picked quite a...

This week on Crypto Curious, we're fresh off our 1 million download celebration - and what a week to get back to the news desk. Thank you again for all the love on the reunion episode; now the crypto world has served up one of the wildest news weeks of the year.

👉🏼 First, XRP has fallen below $1 for the first time in almost 2 years - and the trigger was a hack that took just 97 minutes. We unpack how a flaw in a little-known bridge let attackers drain almost every coin it held, and why such a small exploi...

This is not a normal week...Because Crypto Curious has just hit 1 million downloads — and you can't have a celebration like that without getting the gang back together.

So joining us this week is the one and only Craig Jackson, our original partner in crypto, who was here for more than half of the almost five years we've been making this show.

👉🏼 We launched Crypto Curious in November 2021, right as Bitcoin hit its then all-time high of $69,000. Then came Terra Luna, Celsius, FTX, the NFT boom and bust, Bitcoin ETFs, two halvings, Trump Coin, th...

This week on Crypto Curious, we're also celebrating a milestone that's just around the corner. Next week's episode marks 1 million podcast downloads, and to celebrate we're bringing back our original co-host Craig for a special reunion episode. If you've been with us since the early days—or you're only just discovering the show—you won't want to miss it.

But first, there's plenty happening this week.

👉🏼 We're unpacking one of the biggest Bitcoin security stories in years after a hidden flaw in a trusted hardware wallet allowed more than $144 million worth of Bitcoin to be stol...

This week feels less like a crypto podcast... and more like the script of a Netflix crime series.

👉🏽 A night out in Bali ends with an Australian tourist allegedly losing $14,000 in crypto after handing over his unlocked phone to add someone on Instagram. But the story takes an extraordinary twist when it turns out the victim himself has been accused of some of crypto's most notorious scams.

👉🏽 Then we farewell one of the industry's true pioneers. BitMEX, the exchange that invented perpetual futures, changed crypto trading forever, survived regulators, billion-dollar lawsuits and presidential pardons... i...

Welcome back to Crypto Curious. Joining us in the studio this week is a very special guest, James Coombes, Chief Commercial Officer at Block Earner. James has helped lead one of Australia's biggest crypto success stories, with Block Earner launching Bitcoin-backed home loans, securing its Australian Credit Licence and taking home the 2026 Finnies Award for Excellence in Consumer Lending.

👉🏽 On the show today, we start by going behind the scenes at Block Earner to explore how Bitcoin-backed home loans actually work, what they've learnt navigating Australia's regulatory landscape, and why more Australians are choosing to put their...

This week, we're looking at three stories that all ask the same question: who really controls the money?

👉🏼 First, a crypto attacker walked away with $20 million from BonkDAO without hacking a single line of code. He simply bought enough voting power to pass a proposal that transferred the treasury to himself.

👉🏼 Then we head to Washington, where America's Strategic Bitcoin Reserve has stalled because two government departments are fighting over who gets to hold roughly $21 billion worth of Bitcoin.

👉🏼 And finally, Interpol has uncovered a $122 million romance-scam laundering network linked to a 20-year-old c...

The crypto industry has matured rapidly over the past few years, but what's next?

This week on Crypto Curious, we sat down with Tamas Szabo, Group CEO of Pepperstone Crypto, to discuss the evolution of digital assets, where the market is heading, and what it will take for crypto to become part of everyday finance.

Whether you're new to crypto or have been following the industry for years, this conversation offers a thoughtful perspective on where we're headed next.

Let's get into it 🚀

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TIMESTAMPS

I'm Blake, and Tracey is taking a well-earned break this week, but I'm joined by a very special guest co-host, Jonno Newman from TRM Labs.

If you haven't come across TRM before, they're one of the world's leading blockchain intelligence firms, working with governments, law enforcement agencies and some of the biggest crypto businesses on the planet to investigate hacks, trace stolen funds and follow the money on-chain. Jonno, great to have you with us.

And you've picked a fascinating week to jump in. 👉🏼 To begin with we dive into Jonno's world. TRM Labs h...

This week, we begin in Europe, where Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, is being forced to wind down services across parts of the European Union after failing to meet the region's new MiCA licensing requirements. It's one of the clearest examples yet of regulators saying that even the biggest names in crypto have to play by a new set of rules.

Then we turn to an unlikely showdown. Nearly one hundred Catholic bishops and faith leaders have publicly opposed a major piece of US crypto legislation, arguing it could make human trafficking and financial crime...

This week, we're looking at three stories that all point to the same conclusion: crypto is becoming increasingly tied to the institutions it once claimed to replace.

👉🏼 We start in Washington, where newly appointed Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh has made his first major appearance — and markets didn't love what they heard. Expectations for interest rate cuts have been rapidly repriced, risk assets have come under pressure, and crypto investors are suddenly facing a very different macro environment than the one many expected at the start of the year.

👉🏼 Then we head to Wall Street, w...

Because tax time is upon us yet again, this week we are re-sharing this BONUS 💥 episode by a special guest - Shane Brunette of Summ. Shane founded CTC back in 2018 after dealing with his own crypto tax nightmare. He has worked closely with accountants and tax lawyers to make it easy for fellow cryptocurrency users to be tax compliant. Summ attracts platforms such as Coinbase and MetaMask, so this is an episode worth tuning into if you are an investing in any crypto.

As an official partner of Summ, Bamboo users can save 25 % on your first yea...

This week, we're looking at a market that's sending two very different messages at the same time.

👉🏼 On one hand, institutional investors appear to be getting cold feet. Spot Bitcoin ETFs have just recorded their worst outflow streak since launch, billions of dollars have left the market, and for the first time since Wall Street embraced Bitcoin, we're seeing the institutional investment thesis face a genuine stress test.

👉🏼 Then we head to Cardano, where founder Charles Hoskinson has stepped back from day-to-day leadership just as ADA falls below 20 cents for the first time in five year...

This week, we're looking at three stories that show just how quickly sentiment can change in this market.

👉🏼 First, Bitcoin has suffered one of its sharpest shocks of the year after US strikes on Iran rattled global markets. The world's largest cryptocurrency plunged below US$71,000, triggering almost a billion dollars worth of liquidations as traders rushed for the exits. We'll unpack what happened, why geopolitics suddenly matters again, and whether this was panic or something more significant.

👉🏼 Then we tackle a warning that's been making headlines across the crypto industry: quantum computing. But according to...

This week feels like one of those episodes where you can genuinely feel the crypto industry shifting under the surface.

👉🏼 First up, billionaire investor and Shark Tank star Mark Cuban has revealed he sold around 80% of his Bitcoin holdings, calling the asset “a disappointment” and saying it’s drifted away from its original purpose. We unpack why he said it, whether he’s wrong, and why the comments have sparked a surprisingly serious debate inside crypto circles.

👉🏼 Then we head over to Ethereum, where the Ethereum Foundation is facing growing scrutiny after a wave of senior resea...

Joining Blake and Tracey this week is a very special guest — Kate Cooper, CEO of OKX Australia. Kate’s spent more than a decade across media, financial services, and digital assets, and has become one of the most respected voices in the Australian crypto industry.

There's a lot to cover this week, so let's get straight into it:

👉🏼 The federal budget just killed off Australia’s 50% capital gains tax discount — a move some are already calling the end of the “HODL era.” If you invest in crypto, you’ll want to understand exactly what changed… and wh...

I’m Blake, and this week we’re joined by crypto educator and coach Will Wright — better known online as @cryptocoachwill — who’s built a strong following helping everyday people actually understand this space, instead of just chasing headlines and memes.

And honestly… this week feels like one of those moments where crypto starts looking a lot more mature than people expected.

Bitcoin has just had its biggest week of the year, briefly touching $82,000 for the first time since January before cooling off again. We’ll unpack what actually drove the move, why the rally stal...

This week… crypto feels like it’s being pulled in three completely different directions at once.

👉🏼 We’re starting with Meta — yes, Meta — quietly stepping back into crypto, four years after the Libra collapse. This time, it’s not a grand announcement or a new coin… it’s stablecoin payments to creators, flying a lot lower under the radar — and surprisingly, regulators aren’t pushing back.

👉🏼 Then we head into Bitcoin territory, where a proposed hard fork called “eCash” has reignited one of the oldest tensions in crypto — who actually gets to decide the rules? Especially when the plan in...

Welcome back to the Crypto Curious podcast brought to you by the Bamboo App - the easiest way to start investing small amounts in crypto!

👉🏼 This week we’re kicking off with Bitcoin, which is quietly putting together its strongest month in over a year, up 13% in April. After everything we’ve seen over the past few months, the question now is: what’s actually driving this move, and is it sustainable?

👉🏼 Then we head to Washington, where more than 120 crypto firms, including Coinbase and Ripple have drawn a line in the sand, urging the US Sena...

Welcome back to the Crypto Curious podcast!

This week… it feels like crypto just stress-tested itself — and not everything held up.

👉🏼 We’re starting with the biggest hack of 2026 so far — a single exploit that drained $292 million from Kelp DAO, froze parts of Aave, and triggered a $5.4 billion run across DeFi. This wasn’t just a bad day… it exposed how quickly confidence can disappear when risk hits the system.

👉🏼 Then we get into one of the more controversial ideas we’ve seen in a while — a proposal to freeze dormant Bitcoin wallets, inc...

Welcome back to the Crypto Curious podcast!

Trace is away this week, so we have Blake and Jonno Newman from TRM Labs on the mic.

👉🏼 This week is one of those weeks where crypto is colliding with the real world in a big way: geopolitics, global finance, and regulation all hitting at once.

👉🏼 We start in the Middle East, where tensions around one of the world’s most important shipping routes have taken a very crypto turn, with reports that Bitcoin is being demanded as payment for safe passage.

👉🏼 Then...

This week, crypto didn’t just move… it reacted.

👉🏼 A potential ceasefire sent markets flying — then reality tapped everyone back on the shoulder.

👉🏼 A $285 million “April Fool’s joke” turned out to be anything but funny.

👉🏼 And just when you thought things couldn’t get more futuristic… Google entered the chat with a warning that could rewrite crypto as we know it.

From global politics to billion-dollar breaches to quantum-level threats — this isn’t just another week in crypto.

Let’s get into it 🚀

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TIMESTAMPS

This week’s episode is all about power — who has it, who’s fighting for it, and how it’s reshaping the future of crypto. We

👉🏼 We start in the US, where one of the most important pieces of crypto legislation — the CLARITY Act — is now at risk of falling apart. Not because the industry disagrees on the big picture, but because of one very specific battleground: stablecoin yield. And at the centre of it all, Coinbase is once again pushing back — raising big questions about influence, incentives, and who really gets to shape the rules of this industry.

By the end of the weekend, we were back below $69K, all triggered by a single geopolitical curveball. A post from Donald Trump on Truth Social referencing Iran was enough to rattle global markets, and with a key deadline expiring today, the uncertainty isn’t exactly behind us.

But while prices were reacting in real time, regulators were doing something far more deliberate.

In a move that could reshape the entire industry, the SEC and CFTC have, for the first time, formally identified 16 crypto assets — including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and XRP — as commodities, not se...

This week feels like one of those moments where crypto takes another step toward the mainstream while still attracting just as much criticism as ever.

👉🏼 We start with BlackRock, which has just launched a new kind of crypto ETF — one that actually pays investors to hold it. It’s a major shift in how these products work, and a signal that traditional finance isn’t just entering crypto… it’s starting to reshape it.

👉🏼 Then we look at Michael Saylor, who continues to double down in a way only he can. Another billion dollars into Bitcoin...

This week’s episode is all about a shift in power, from institutions stepping further into crypto, to global markets reminding us why Bitcoin exists in the first place.

👉🏼 First up, Wall Street makes another serious move into the industry. The New York Stock Exchange has taken a stake in a crypto exchange, while Kraken has just secured something even more surprising — access to a Federal Reserve bank account.

👉🏼 Then we look at one of Bitcoin’s biggest milestones yet. The network is about to mine its 20 millionth coin, leaving just one million left to be issued over...

Welcome back to the Crypto Curious podcast — brought to you by the Bamboo App.

I’m Tracey, and as always, I’m joined by Blake. This week feels like a stress test for the entire space.

👉🏼 Bitcoin dumped to $65,000 in the middle of a macro storm — tariffs, inflation data, no rate cuts — and instead of blaming the economy, crypto Twitter decided a Wall Street trading giant was secretly nuking the market at 10am every day.

👉🏼 We unpack the Jane Street conspiracy, what the data actually says, and why the real story is probably far less d...

🩵 Special episode today with Hassan Ahmed, Country Director and CEO of Coinbase Singapore.

With an impressive background coming from roles at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management (VP Strategy) & Venmo (Head of Business Operations), to eToro USA (launched their regulated crypto trading platform in the US); Hassan then ran GoTo Group (dual role as CEO of Coins.ph in the Philippines and SVP Strategy for GoPay Indonesia), before becoming Country Director/CEO of Coinbase Singapore - leading Southeast Asia operations since April 2021, Hassan has quite the rap sheet!

We'll be talking stablecoins, tokenization, agentic payments and...

Welcome to the Crypto Curious podcast, brought to you weekly by the Bamboo App.

This week we’re looking at how power in crypto is shifting, from social platforms to billionaire investors, to policymakers.

👉🏼 First up, Elon Musk is turning X into something that looks a lot like a live trading terminal — with crypto and stocks embedded directly into your feed. What happens when speculation sits inside the world’s biggest attention machine?

👉🏼 Then we unpack Mike Novogratz’s comment that “the age of speculation is over”, what he really meant, and whether crypt...

I’m Tracey, and this week feels like one of those defining moments where crypto shows its true colours.

👉🏼 Bitcoin has just had one of its most brutal weeks in years — billions liquidated, sentiment crushed, and a lot of newer investors getting a very real lesson in volatility. We unpack what actually happened, who got wiped out, and why long-term holders are quietly doing the opposite of panicking.

👉🏼 Then we shift gears to the builder side of the market, with the launch of MegaETH’s testnet and the growing push toward a faster, high-performance E...

Welcome back to the Crypto Curious podcast — brought to you by the Bamboo App.

We'll get straight into it - this week’s episode is all about conviction — who really has it, who thinks they do, and what happens when the market pushes back.

👉🏼 We start with Bitcoin sliding lower as markets react to Donald Trump’s pick for the next US Federal Reserve Chair, and why macro and liquidity still matter more than most people like to admit.

👉🏼 Then we look at MicroStrategy, which continues to buy Bitcoin aggressively — even as ETF flows cool...