Emily Parker

“First Mover” hosts dive into the biggest news moving the crypto markets today. FTX Crypto Exchange finalizes LedgerX acquisition. This comes after FTX raised over $420 million, which brings the firm’s valuation to $25 billion. FTX Founder and CEO Sam Bankman-Fried shares insights into the latest funding round and acquisition. Investment firm Republic Head of Crypto and Tokenization Andrew Durgee shares his markets analysis. Plus, CoinList CEO Graham Jenkin discusses a plan for expansion after raising $100 million in the latest funding round.

Oct 27, 2021

“First Mover” hosts take a look at the crypto markets as VanEck is launching its bitcoin strategy ETF today Meanwhile, Solana’s hitting a new all-time high, Economist is now on the NFT auction block, and it’s selling “Down the rabbit hole: The promise and perils or decentralised finance” cover as an NFT. Economist reporter Alice Fulwood joins to discuss.

Oct 26, 2021

“First Mover” hosts discuss today’s hot topics: Olumide Adesina, a Nigeria-based certified Investment Trader and CoinDesk Contributor, shares insights into the launch of eNaira, Nigeria’s central bank digital currency, and David Nage of crypto asset manager Arca and Haseeb Qureshi of Dragonfly Capital, weigh in on market movements as bitcoin holds steady above $60K. Plus, what Matt West, the first DeFi developer to run for Congress, has to say about his platform as he runs for Oregon’s congressional 6th District as a Democrat.

Oct 25, 2021

“First Mover” team discusses Valkyrie Funds launching the second bitcoin futures ETF in the U.S., under the ticker “BTF” on the Nasdaq this morning. CEO of Valkyrie Leah Wald shares insights into this launch. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) has replaced Binance as the world’s biggest bitcoin futures platform, thanks to the strong investor appetite for the recently launched ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF. Amar Gautam, CEO of Hyperlinq, provides analysis on the news and crypto markets. Plus, Lyn Ulbricht, mother and advocate for the founder of the now-defunct Silk Road website Ross Ulbricht, joins as CoinDesk’s Crypto Policy Week guest.

Oct 22, 2021

“First Mover” hosts discuss the top stories moving the crypto markets: more bitcoin futures ETFs are set to start trading today and Monday. Ex-U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Chris Giancarlo shares insights into bitcoin ETF regulation. Jacobi Asset Management wins approval to launch a physically backed bitcoin ETF in Guernsey. Jacobi Asset Management CEO Jamie Khurshid shares his insights behind the approval and his analysis on crypto markets in general. Plus, Clinique is expanding into Metaverse with its first NFT collection available for rewards members. Clinique Head of Metaverse Projects Cathy Hackl joins the discussion.

Oct 21, 2021

“First Mover” team dives into the top stories impacting the crypto markets today: Bloomberg is reporting ProShares bitcoin futures ETF BITO debuts as second-highest traded fund ever with about $1 billion traded on the first day, Galaxy Digital Research reveals top 10 things that show crypto is booming in its latest report, and Alex Thorn, Galaxy Digital head of firmwide research, shares details of this report. Plus, an investigative report from CoinDesk Reporter Anna Baydakova on a black market for verified accounts on major exchanges, and Blockchain Association Executive Director Kristin Smith Blockchain’s take on crypto regulations.

Oct 20, 2021

“First Mover” team dives into the top stories moving the crypto markets today. ProShares is launching the first bitcoin futures ETF in the U.S. “BITO” on the New York Stock Exchange today. Bitcoin price breaks the $62K resistance level on this news. Anderson Kill Partner Preston Byrne, MarketGauge Group Managing Partner Michele Schneider and Chamber of Digital Commerce Chief Policy Officer Teana Baker-Taylor join the discussions.

Oct 19, 2021

“First Mover” team dives into SEC’s pending decisions on three other bitcoin futures ETFs as ProShares just received the green light to start trading its bitcoin futures ETF on NYSE on Tuesday; SEC Defense Attorney Lisa Braganca shares her take into this highly anticipated event and her outlook for bitcoin futures ETFs in the U.S., Pete Flint, general partner at VC firm NFX and former CEO and co-founder of real estate website Trulia provides his analysis on the crypto markets as bitcoin is charging above $60K, and it’s policy week at CoinDesk, Steven Kelly, research associate at Yale University’s Program on Financial Stability will provide analysis on the crypto industry’s reckoning with regulation.

Oct 18, 2021

“First Mover” with breaking news: The SEC, facing a Monday deadline to act on the first bitcoin futures ETF application, will reportedly take no action, allowing the ETF to be approved automatically. Coverage includes CoinDesk’s Nikhilesh De breaking down the SEC process, the reaction from Matt Hougan of Bitwise, which has Bitcoin ETF applications pending, and FTX.US president Brett Harrison. Plus, Omer Ozden of RockTree Capital with crypto markets analysis.

Oct 15, 2021

Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly says cryptocurrency “has the right to exist and can be used as a means of payment.” The hosts of “First Mover” review Russia’s stance toward crypto with global regulatory expert Mary Beth Buchanan of Merkle Science. Also, Urs Bernegger of SEBA Bank discusses markets and the Swiss bank’s new program for earning yield with crypto.

Oct 14, 2021