FYI - For Your Innovation

In this episode of The Brainstorm, Brett, Sam, and Nick explore the future of prediction markets, cutting-edge medical AI, and the surprising power of global events to reshape financialization. You’ll discover how the World Cup has catapulted prediction markets into the spotlight, with volume trending towards over $100 billion annualized. We also uncover a revolutionary medical scanning device that promises to do high-definition ultrasound in a fraction of the cost and time, and break down the implications of accessible, frequent scans—tracking disease progression and enabling personalized health insights—while sparking debate on regulations, data privacy, and consumer bioscience.

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In this episode of The Brainstorm, Brett, Sam, and Nick explore how SpaceX’s initial public offering (IPO) could revolutionize the space and satellite industries, with Elon Musk’s trillion-dollar vision focusing on Starlink satellites and AI orbital data centers. They discuss the intricate financial strategies that could propel SpaceX to $400 billion in revenue, and how Tesla’s Robotaxis signal a massive investment opportunity in space-enabled infrastructure. Finally, they breakdown the news of Fox acquiring Roku, unlocking synergies in the connected television era, and why understanding these shifts is crucial for future tech dominance.

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In this episode of FYI, Brett Winton and Chase Prather host Andy Tang, partner at Draper Associates, to discuss how venture capital is evolving alongside AI, deep tech, and shifting market dynamics. Andy reflects on his 20-year investing career, the growing importance of AI-native companies, and why the cost of execution is rapidly declining for startups. The conversation explores founder psychology, the role of contrarian investing, and how Draper approaches unconventional ideas ranging from artificial wombs to AI-generated companies and personalized cancer therapies. Andy also shares insights on venture ecosystems, market cycles, and the characteristics that separate enduring founders...

In this episode of The Brainstorm, Brett and Nick discuss Apple's latest AI strategy announced at the 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), including a major Siri upgrade. They explore how Apple's integration of Gemini models and on-device capabilities could transform Siri into a deeply personal AI companion. They also analyze the strategic moves of industry giants—Google, Microsoft, Anthropic, and SpaceX—and what their latest AI and data center investments mean for the future of computing, infrastructure, and enterprise value.

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In this episode of FYI, Brett Winton, Cathie Wood, and Charlie Roberts sit down with Bryan Johnson, founder of Blueprint and creator of Braintree. They explore his pursuit of extending human life and the broader philosophical shift toward valuing existence itself. Bryan shares the origin of his ideas, the role of AI in accelerating change, and why he believes humanity must rethink its priorities. The conversation also covers practical approaches to improving health today, including sleep, behavior, and measurement, alongside the long-term implications of longevity science.

In this episode of The Brainstorm, Brett, Nick and Sam are joined by Daniel Maguire to discuss Blue Origin's recent rocket explosion, which has sparked a pivotal discussion on the future of space launch dominance and AI infrastructure investments. They explore how industry giants like SpaceX might capitalize on these setbacks, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape with strategic infrastructure investments. 

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In this episode of Bitcoin Brainstorm, Rod Roudi is joined by Cathie Wood, Adam Back, Hunter Beast, Rob Hamilton, Ren Crypto Fish, and David Puell for a deep discussion on quantum computing and its implications for Bitcoin. The group examines the technical, financial, and governance challenges posed by advances in quantum technology, while also exploring the progress being made on post-quantum cryptography and Bitcoin security research. From institutional concerns and custodial infrastructure to migration paths and consensus-building, the conversation highlights how developers, researchers, and investors are collaboratively addressing one of Bitcoin’s most discussed long-term risks. 

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In this episode of The Brainstorm, Brett, Nick and Sam are joined by Daniel Maguire and Tasha Keeney to discuss the expected June 12th initial public offering (IPO) of SpaceX. SpaceX’s recently filed S-1 revealed a significant opportunity across launch, Starlink, AI compute, and orbital data centers. The team unpacks the bull and bear cases, Starship’s role, and whether SpaceX could become the backbone of future AI infrastructure.

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In this episode of FYI, Brett Winton is joined by David Puell, Nic Carter, and Alex Pruden to examine the potential risks quantum computing poses to Bitcoin. The group explores how advances in quantum technology could compromise cryptographic security, what a “broken” Bitcoin system might look like in practice, and the technical pathways for mitigation. They also debate upgrade strategies, trade-offs in post-quantum cryptography, and the controversial question of how to handle vulnerable coins, including those attributed to Satoshi.

00:00:00 Introduction to the discussion on Bitcoin and quantu...

Hyperliquid is revolutionizing global markets with its innovative blockchain, facilitating $3 trillion in annual volume and rivaling giants like Binance. In this episode, Lorenzo Valente reveals how hyperliquid's cutting-edge technology and products like perpetual futures are democratizing access to private markets and reshaping the future of trading.

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In this episode of The Brainstorm, Brett, Frank and Sam explore the groundbreaking deal between SpaceX and Anthropic, focusing on the implications for AI compute infrastructure, space-based data centers, and the economics behind data centers. 

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In this episode of FYI, Lorenzo Valente sits down with ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood and Changpeng Zhao (CZ), founder of Binance, to examine his journey from early life in China to building the world’s largest crypto exchange. CZ shares how Binance scaled rapidly, the regulatory challenges it faced, and how the crypto industry has evolved over the past decade. The conversation also covers institutional adoption, stablecoins, AI’s role in accelerating innovation, and CZ’s outlook on Bitcoin, exchanges, and the future of global finance.

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In this episode of The Brainstorm, Brett, Nick and Sam offer a comprehensive analysis of mega-cap tech companies, focusing on CapEx trends, AI integration, user engagement, and market demand. They discuss Meta's AI strategies, cloud spending, and the evolving landscape of digital entertainment and enterprise productivity.

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In this episode of The Brainstorm, Brett, Nick and Sam explore how AI is reshaping technology, from coding to consumer devices, and how SpaceX's acquisition of Cursor at a $60 billion valuation could redefine the future of technology. They delve into the strategic layers of AI, revealing insights into SpaceX's long-term advantage and the potential revolution in space launches and satellite deployment.

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In this episode of FYI, Brett Winton and Charles Roberts sit down with Michael Stewart of M12, Microsoft’s venture fund, to examine how AI is reshaping software, infrastructure, and investment strategy. Michael explains how M12 identifies emerging signals across the AI ecosystem, from generative AI adoption to enterprise spending shifts. The conversation covers the evolution from SaaS (software as a service) to AI-driven models, pricing dynamics, and the growing importance of compute efficiency. They also discuss future opportunities in consumer AI, material science, and the need to rethink the data center as demand for AI accelerates.

In this episode of The Brainstorm, Brett, Nick and Sam explore the emerging landscape of digital identity verification, focusing on World ID and its implications for online security, business models, and advertising. They discuss the technical challenges, regulatory hurdles, and future potential of proof of humanhood in a bot-dominated world.

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In this episode of The Brainstorm, Brett, Nick and Sam explore the latest developments in AI models like Mythos, the strategic moves of companies like Anthropic, OpenAI, and Meta, and the future of social networks in an AI-driven world. They discuss the implications of AI safety, compute constraints, market dynamics, and innovative social trust networks.

If you know ARK, then you probably know about our long-term research projections, like estimating where we will be 5-10 years from now! But just because we are long-term investors, doesn’t mean we don’t have strong views and opin...

In this episode of The Brainstorm, Brett, Nick and Sam explore the transformative impact of public and private space initiatives, focusing on how NASA's missions and SpaceX's innovations are accelerating progress toward lunar bases and Mars colonies. Discover the economic implications of SpaceX's reusable rockets and AI-powered satellites, and how these advancements are shaping a trillion-dollar industry.

If you know ARK, then you probably know about our long-term research projections, like estimating where we will be 5-10 years from now! But just because we are long-term investors, doesn’t mean we don’t have strong view...

In this episode of The Brainstorm, Nick and Sam are joined by Nicole Kagan, Head of Research at Kalshi. They discuss how prediction markets could revolutionize risk management across every industry you can imagine. From macroeconomic trends to cultural phenomena, she's uncovering how financializing uncertainty creates vast new opportunities for entrepreneurs, investors, and even governments.

If you know ARK, then you probably know about our long-term research projections, like estimating where we will be 5-10 years from now! But just because we are long-term investors, doesn’t mean we don’t have strong views and opini...

In this episode of The Brainstorm, Brett, Nick, and Sam delve into Elon Musk's ambitious Terafab project, a revolutionary semiconductor manufacturing facility poised to transform the future of AI and space infrastructure. Discover how Musk's strategy integrates energy, manufacturing, and space into a cohesive ecosystem, aiming to produce trillions of chips and power space colonization. Join us as we explore the implications of this $20 billion venture and its potential to reshape global technology and innovation.

If you know ARK, then you probably know about our long-term research projections, like estimating where we will be 5-10...

In this episode of The Brainstorm, Brett, Nick, and Sam are joined by Frank Downing to discuss how XAI is shifting gears, aiming to turn that raw power into practical, revenue-generating products. Elon Musk’s latest moves reveal a daring strategy: leveraging Tesla’s custom chips, SpaceX’s orbital infrastructure, and a close-knit integration of AI and hardware. The question is, can XAI reinvent itself with this vertical integration, or will it become just another seller of compute?

If you know ARK, then you probably know about our long-term research projections, like estimating where we will b...

In this episode of The Brainstorm, Brett, Nick, and Sam are joined by Alap Shah, CIO of Lotus Technology Management, and co-author of the viral Citrini Report. Alap reveals a provocative scenario: an acceleration in AI capabilities might wipe out a significant portion of white-collar jobs faster than expected, risking both economic disruption and widening inequality. He also teases his follow up report, being released in the coming weeks.

If you know ARK, then you probably know about our long-term research projections, like estimating where we will be 5-10 years from now! But just because...

In this episode of The Brainstorm, Brett, Nick, and Sam dissect how industry giants like Block are slashing 40% of their workforce overnight while accelerating AI adoption, challenging everything you thought you knew about employment, productivity, and economic growth. You’ll discover the real reason behind Jack Dorsey’s massive layoffs, surprising data on revenue-per-employee ratios, and the shift from tools to agentic systems.

If you know ARK, then you probably know about our long-term research projections, like estimating where we will be 5-10 years from now! But just because we are long-term investors, doesn’t mean w...

In this episode of FYI, Brett Winton and Nick Grous sit down with Leif Abraham, co-founder and co-CEO of Public. They examine how the brokerage landscape is shifting as digital-native investors seek more sophisticated tools, and why Public is focused on the top quartile of earners positioned to compound wealth. Leif discusses agentic AI workflows, generated assets, platform design trade-offs, prediction markets, and how Public is balancing short-term monetization with long-term customer lifetime value.

00:00:00 Public’s positioning in the modern brokerage landscape

00:07:17 The K-shaped eco...

In this episode of The Brainstorm, Brett, Nick, and Sam debate the implications of humanoid robots and AI on society, focusing on themes such as technological unemployment, the competition between the US and China in robotics, and the future of work in an increasingly automated world. They explore whether humanoid robots are overhyped or underhyped, the economic implications of AI, and the role of humans in a future dominated by automation. The discussion is punctuated by viewer questions, adding depth to the exploration of these pressing topics. 

If you know ARK, then you probably know a...

In this episode of The Brainstorm, Brett, Nick, and Sam are joined by Frank Downing to discuss the current state of the Software-As-A-Service (SaaS) industry, exploring whether it is dead or simply undergoing a transformation due to AI advancements. They delve into the competitive landscape, pricing power, and the challenges faced by traditional SaaS companies. The discussion also touches on the innovator's dilemma in the context of AI and how it affects companies' willingness to disrupt their own business models. Finally, they examine the dynamics of the crypto market and the shift towards institutional adoption.

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In this episode, ARK’s Cathie Wood and Brett Winton speak with Bryan Pellegrino and Simon Baksys of LayerZero, a leading interoperability protocol aiming to unify fragmented blockchain environments. The conversation covers LayerZero’s origins, the evolving landscape of crypto infrastructure, and the expanding role of stablecoins and tokenized assets. Bryan shares his personal journey from professional poker to crypto entrepreneur, and how LayerZero emerged from a need for seamless cross-chain communication.

Together, they explore the trade-offs in blockchain scaling, institutional adoption of crypto, and how LayerZero could power a future shaped by AI agents and...

In this episode, ARK CEO and CIO Cathie Wood sits down with Stefanie Drews, the newly appointed CEO of Amova (formerly Nikko Asset Management). Together, they explore the evolution of a decade-long partnership that helped shape both firms — and delve into Stefanie’s remarkable leadership journey as a woman at the helm of a global asset manager. From Amova’s recent strategic expansion in Asia to Stefanie's philosophy of integrating personal, professional, and purpose-driven goals, this conversation blends business insight with human depth. Stefanie also shares how her experiences as a single mother, an environmental advocate, and a structured leader...

Elon Musk envisions a groundbreaking future where AI infrastructure in space revolutionizes cost, innovation, and competition. This episode explores how SpaceX's satellite ambitions could transform AI, potentially dwarfing terrestrial data centers. We delve into the strategic merging of SpaceX and xAI, revealing a blueprint for the next decade's tech race. 

If you know ARK, then you probably know about our long-term research projections, like estimating where we will be 5-10 years from now! But just because we are long-term investors, doesn’t mean we don’t have strong views and opinions on breaking news. In fact...

Since inception, ARK has researched and published thoughts on the cryptocurrency ecosystem within Big Ideas and through articles, whitepapers, monthly Bitcoin reports and podcasts. Now, in coordination with Bitcoin Park, ARK is pleased to introduce a monthly conversation with leaders in the Bitcoin space, to discuss everything happening in the rapidly-changing and still nascent Bitcoin ecosystem. Published through the For Your innovation podcast channels, this monthly series aims to be informative and enlightening, including experts with diverse viewpoints.

In this episode, Cathie Wood and guests reflect on ARK’s decade-long Bitcoin journey—from early research to it...

In this episode of FYI – For Your Innovation, ARK’s Cathie Wood speaks with Don Wilson, a pioneer in crypto market infrastructure and the founder of DRW and Cumberland. They discuss the accelerating shift of traditional finance onto blockchains, focusing on the emergence of the Canton Network, a public permissionless blockchain designed for institutions—with privacy and permissioning at its core. Don unpacks why Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation’s (DTCC’s) decision to tokenize U.S. Treasuries on Canton marks a turning point in institutional adoption, how Canton balances decentralization with control, and what makes it uniquely suited for real-worl...

In this episode of The Brainstorm, hosts Sam, Brett, and Nick are joined by Frank Downing to dig into “Clawdbot” (recently renamed to “Moltbot”) and why it went viral—highlighting its transparent file-based memory, extensible skills, and the shift from Q&A chatbots to more autonomous assistants. They then pivot to OpenAI monetization—discussing ads, lower-priced tiers, and a commerce take-rate via Shopify—plus what ads could do to user trust in chatbot answers. The episode closes with a quick Robotaxi check-in in Austin and a debate about what it means for scaling Tesla autonomy and legacy hardware.

If you...

In this episode of FYI – For Your Innovation, ARK's CEO Cathie Wood hosts a wide-ranging conversation with Marco Santori, CEO of Solmate, and Dr. Arthur Laffer, renowned economist and longtime ARK advisor. Together, they explore the evolving crypto landscape, regulatory shifts, and why Solana is emerging as a powerful foundation for next-generation financial infrastructure. Santori, previously Chief Legal Officer at Kraken and General Partner at Pantera, shares why he’s now focused on building Solmate atop the Solana blockchain—and why the Middle East is a critical part of that strategy. He explains Solana’s technical advantages, from base-layer speed to...

In this episode of The Brainstorm, hosts Sam, Brett, and Nick are joined by Cathie Wood to discuss a range of pressing economic and technological topics. The conversation kicks off with the implications of Jerome Powell's subpoena and the broader economic initiatives under the Trump administration. Cathie Wood shares insights on the impact of these policies on consumer sentiment, inflation, and the housing market. The discussion also delves into the dynamics between Apple, Google, and AI technology, highlighting the strategic partnerships shaping the future of digital assistants like Siri. The episode wraps up with a lively debate on the...

Since inception, ARK has researched and published thoughts on the cryptocurrency ecosystem within Big Ideas and through articles, whitepapers, monthly Bitcoin reports and podcasts. Now, in coordination with Bitcoin Park, ARK is pleased to introduce a monthly conversation with leaders in the Bitcoin space, to discuss everything happening in the rapidly-changing and still nascent Bitcoin ecosystem. Published through the For Your innovation podcast channels, this monthly series aims to be informative and enlightening, including experts with diverse viewpoints.

Guests on this month’s Bitcoin Brainstorm include:

In this episode of The Brainstorm, we discuss the latest developments in AI and technology, including NVIDIA's strategic moves with Groq and Meta's acquisition of Manus AI. We explore the implications of these acquisitions on the AI landscape, the potential for orchestration layers in AI models, and the competitive dynamics among major tech companies. The conversation also touches on the future of user interfaces and the evolving role of voice and text in consumer interactions.

If you know ARK, then you probably know about our long-term research projections, like estimating where we will be 5-10...

On this year’s final episode of FYI, we will be taking the opportunity to highlight some of the best moments from throughout the year. While we are grateful for every single guest that has joined the For Your Innovation podcast, here is a compilation of some of our favorite moments.

Key Points From Each Highlighted Episode:

In this episode, Brett Winton and Lorenzo sit down with Carlos Domingo, CEO and co-founder of Securitize, to explore how blockchain infrastructure is transforming capital markets. As a pioneer in the tokenization space, Carlos unpacks what it means to issue native securities—like stocks, bonds, and credit funds—on chain and why the modernization of legacy financial systems is long overdue. Carlos details Securitize’s role as a registered transfer agent and broker-dealer, their regulatory journey with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and why native tokenization (not synthetic derivatives) is essential for future growth. They discuss the promise of 24...

In this episode of The Brainstorm, we delve into the groundbreaking advancements in gene editing, focusing on its potential to transform healthcare. We explore the shift from treating rare diseases to tackling common killers like cardiovascular disease, and discover how CRISPR technology is paving the way for a new era in medical treatment.

If you know ARK, then you probably know about our long-term research projections, like estimating where we will be 5-10 years from now! But just because we are long-term investors, doesn’t mean we don’t have strong views and opinions on brea...

In this episode of The Brainstorm, we dive into the high-stakes battle between Netflix and Paramount over the acquisition of Warner Brothers, exploring the implications for the streaming industry. We also discuss Elon Musk's ambitious plans for space-based data centers and the potential impact on global technology infrastructure. 

If you know ARK, then you probably know about our long-term research projections, like estimating where we will be 5-10 years from now! But just because we are long-term investors, doesn’t mean we don’t have strong views and opinions on breaking news. In fact, we discu...