BREAKDOWN: Why Crypto's 'Rogue State' Narrative is a Risk to the Industry
Blockchain conferences in Iran plus Iran-focused hedge funds using crypto to work around sanctions: should we be worried?
ABOUT
Crypto tokens weren’t the only thing that saw a major pump yesterday. The total value locked in DeFi ascended to new heights. While part of this can be explained simply by the rise in ETH price, it also reflected traders turning to DeFi platforms as a way to get more exposure to the market action without selling their core assets.
For all the exciting price action, not everything is pointing in a positive direction. These market moves don’t seem to reflect new market participants, for example, and anecdotally, times remain tough for projects trying to fundraise.
In our final segment, we look at a blockchain conference in North Korea that the UN suggests simply attending may violate international sanctions, an Iran-focused hedge fund that uses cryptocurrency to work around international restrictions, and ask whether this sort of activity presents a narrative risk to the industry as a whole?
HOST
CoinDesk is the world leader in news, prices and information on bitcoin and other digital currencies.
We cover news and analysis on the trends, price movements, technologies, companies and people in the bitcoin and digital currency world.

EPISODES

How BitFuFu Is Leveraging Cloud Contracts For International Growth
From Ethiopia to Oklahoma, BitFuFu is turning recurring revenue into gigawatts of power.
Mar 18, 2025
BITCOIN SEASON 2: Is Bitcoin's Lightning Network A Success?
It’s 10 years since the invention of the Lightning Network! Is it a success or failure?
Mar 15, 2025
SEC Dropping Crypto Cases Is No ' Free Pass' for Fraud
SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce joins CoinDesk with the latest updates on the crypto task force.
Mar 14, 2025
EPA Slashes Regulations, Canaan Secures $200M, CoreWeave's OpenAI Deal and NYDIG's Mawson Beef
All your Bitcoin mining news in 30 minutes or less!
Mar 14, 2025

The Mining Pod
Feb 10, 2025

CoinDesk Podcast Network
The top stories and best shows in the blockchain world, delivered daily from the team at CoinDesk.
Dec 20, 2023

Markets Daily Crypto Roundup
Tune in as CoinDesk runs down daily action in bitcoin markets and some of the most important recent industry development.
Dec 19, 2023

Unchained
Unchained, your no hype resource for all things crypto by former Forbes senior editor Laura Shin, author of The Cryptopians.
Dec 18, 2023