BREAKDOWN: DeFi Degens Are Crypto’s Suicide Squad

A look at the subculture and ethos driving the white-hot DeFi space, which has grown from $2 billion to $9 billion in total value locked in just two months.

Presented by

Listen or watch all the new CoinDesk podcast episodes wherever you want.

ABOUT

A look at the subculture and ethos driving the white-hot DeFi space, which has grown from $2 billion to $9 billion in total value locked in just two months.

This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io.

Today on the Brief:

Traditional markets falter, led by tech stocks
Bitcoin falls under $11,000 for the first time since July
Stablecoins mint $100 million daily since mid-July

Our main discussion is about DeFi’s “degens.” NLW talks about:

The numbers behind DeFi’s recent run-up
What “degen” means in this context
Why degen is, in part, a reaction to previous bitcoiner critiques of Ethereum
Why degen is (in even bigger part) a reaction to a no-yield, artificially low interest world

HOSTS

CoinDesk

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

CoinDesk Podcast Network

1158 EPISODES

RSS

THE MINING POD: The Trumps Mine BTC Now: Inside American Bitcoin w/ Matt Prusak

Hut 8 is splitting its mining business into a new subsidiary, American Bitcoin, with backing from Eric Trump and Dona...

Apr 8, 2025

BITCOIN SEASON 2: Inside Bitcoin’s Darknet Markets

We’re exploring darknet markets, from their history with the Silk Road to how they function today. Bitcoin vs. Monero...

Apr 5, 2025

THE MINING POD: Hut 8’s Trump-Backed American Bitcoin, Galaxy’s $4.5B CoreWeave Deal, Tariff Impact on Bitcoin Miners

Two stories dominated headlines this week, and they both have to do with Trump: Hut 8 launches a new Trump-back subsi...

Apr 4, 2025

BITCOIN SEASON 2: Julian Assange’s Brother, Gabriel Shipton on Wikileaks & BTC

Julian Assange's brother Gabriel Shipton and Brian Laughlin announce Project Spartacus - an initiative to preserve th...

Apr 2, 2025

Page

290

COINDESK SERIES

0 EPISODE

The Mining Pod

Feb 10, 2025

1158 EPISODES

CoinDesk Podcast Network

The top stories and best shows in the blockchain world, delivered daily from the team at CoinDesk.

Dec 20, 2023

1318 EPISODES

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

0 EPISODE

Unchained

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

Dec 18, 2023