Coinbase Markets Podcast

We unpack the latest cross asset price action in response to surging oil prices and what elevated energy prices could mean for inflation, the Fed, and broader risk sentiment. We then explore why AI agents may become one of the most important structural themes in crypto, as autonomous software increasingly needs wallets, payments, settlement, and coordination rails to transact at scale. We also discuss Ethereum’s evolving institutional story, including why activity and liquidity may be re-centering around Ethereum L1 as the fee gap versus L2s narrows and upcoming upgrades improve the base layer’s execution capacity. Finally, we look at crypto’s deeper move into household finance through products like crypto-backed mortgages and 401(k) access, and why that could mark an important next phase in the asset class’s institutionalization. Key sections: (00:00 - 14:07) Iran, oil, and the macro backdrop: why the breakout above $100 in crude oil futures matters, how elevated energy prices are tightening financial conditions, and implications for risk assets. (14:07 - 20:08) Why AI agents matter for crypto: how the narrative has shifted from model training to inference, reasoning, and persistent agents, and why autonomous software may need crypto-native payments, wallets, and settlement rails to function as real economic actors. (20:08 - 27:48) Where value may accrue in the AI-agent stack: foundational rails, coordination layers, and integrity layers, plus how x402, Base, and tokens tied to agent coordination or decentralized intelligence fit into that framework. (27:48 - 37:43) Ethereum’s institutional moment and the L1/L2 narrative shift: why lower mainnet fees and upcoming upgrades may be helping activity, liquidity, stablecoins, and tokenized assets re-center around Ethereum L1. (37:43 - 42:17) Crypto-backed mortgages and 401(k)s: why crypto’s integration into core household financial products could be a meaningful next step for institutional adoption, even if the long-term structure still depends on greater regulatory clarity.Speakers: David Duong, CFA - Global Head of Investment Research (X: DavidDuong) Colin Basco - Research Associate (X: colin_basco) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, we step back from the macro noise and focus on the biggest crypto stories of the week: (03:11 - 05:18) Why tokenization, stablecoins, AI agents, and onchain commerce are emerging as core crypto infrastructure themes. Plus, Coinbase Asset Management’s tokenized bitcoin yield fund on Base and what it says about institutional demand for compliant onchain products. (05:18 - 08:51) Why Hyperliquid’s launch of an S&P 500 perpetual matters beyond a single product: the significance of securing an official S&P license, why this helps validate Hyperliquid as more than a crypto-only venue, and how it could set a precedent for more licensed benchmark exposure to move onchain. (08:51 - 18:58) Breaking down the new SEC-CFTC digital commodity taxonomy: how it reduces legal ambiguity, why that matters for institutional allocation, and why it may benefit altcoins (18:58 - 26:21) Ethereum’s emerging supply sink: why BlackRock’s staked ETH ETF changes the demand story, how staking and treasury holdings are reducing ETH’s tradable float, and why that could become increasingly important for Ethereum’s long-run supply-demand profileSpeakers: David Duong, CFA - Global Head of Investment Research (X: DavidDuong) Colin Basco - Research Associate (X: colin_basco) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week, we unpack some major crypto market themes: The Iran shock has turned oil from a background variable into an active transmission channel for inflation and volatility, complicating the Fed’s path to rate cuts just as labor data quietly weakens in the background. What will the Fed do at its FOMC meeting this week? Bitcoin has outperformed U.S. equities and large‑cap tech on a risk‑adjusted basis since the start of March, helped by prior deleveraging and a cleaner positioning backdrop, which supports the view that we may be moving past “peak pessimism” – though the confirmation signal is still pending. Altcoins are showing strong relative performance, signaling a return to risk appetite, with AI-related sectors breaking out and gaining momentum following events like the Nvidia conference. That includes tokens like BItTensor’s TAO as well as Venice’s VVV. Meanwhile, Meta’s acquisition of Moltbook (a social network for AI agents) highlights the growth of agentic commerce.Speakers: David Duong, CFA - Global Head of Investment Research (X: DavidDuong) Colin Basco - Research Associate (X: colin_basco) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, we unpack the latest escalation in the Iran conflict and why the move in oil matters for markets, inflation expectations, and the Fed. We discuss how a headline-sensitive geopolitical risk premium has made oil the key macro transmission channel again, why the duration of any supply disruption matters, and what that could mean for bitcoin if this evolves from a short-lived shock into a longer war of attrition. We also explore why crypto-native venues like Hyperliquid have benefited from weekend price discovery in oil and other macro assets, and why we think open interest matters more than raw volume when judging the durability of Hyperliquid’s moat. Finally, we lay out the key BTC levels and trading scenarios for the week ahead: why $73K remains the pivotal breakout zone, how negative gamma around $75K could accelerate a move toward $80K if reclaimed, and why we continue to favor trading the reaction at key levels rather than blindly front-running moves. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, we unpack the latest escalation in the Iran conflict and why the Strait of Hormuz standoff may be affecting market volatility and inflation-risk. We discuss the initial stability in markets before sentiment sobered on Tuesday as spillover fears grew, with oil rallying as gold fell. We then pivot to Block’s 40% workforce cut, explicitly framed as an AI-driven operating model shift, and argue it’s less a one-off layoff story and more a signal of what markets may increasingly reward: credible “AI-to-margins” narratives that reshape competitive incentives. From there, we connect AI-driven restructuring to bitcoin through two macro paths: 1) a productivity-led disinflation tailwind that loosens financial conditions versus 2) a near-term demand shock that triggers risk-off first. Finally, we highlight bitcoin’s key levels and map out the trading scenarios to watch this week.Speakers: David Duong, CFA - Global Head of Investment Research (X: DavidDuong) Colin Basco - Research Associate (X: colin_basco) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, we explore AI’s role in the recent cross-asset sell off and talk about what levels to watch on bitcoin in this mostly technically driven market. Negative gamma near the $60-70k zone may exacerbate downside moves, while positive gamma closer to $85-90k levels may pin price action to the upside. Indeed, despite Strategy (MSTR) buying BTC and Bitmine buying ETH over the last week, the price action largely continues to look lackluster. We talk about why this and other factors have contributed to our decision to change our market outlook from cautiously optimistic to neutral in 1Q26. We also discuss Vitalik Buterin’s recent write up on the future of Ethereum Layer-2 networks.Speakers:David Duong, CFA - Global Head of Investment Research (X: DavidDuong)Colin Basco - Research Associate (X: colin_basco) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode, we sit down with Project 11 CEO Alex Pruden to unpack what quantum computing really means for bitcoin’s long‑term security — without the hype or doom scenarios. We break down realistic timelines for “cryptographically relevant” quantum computers, which parts of bitcoin are actually at risk, and why open blockchains may be better positioned to upgrade than legacy finance. The conversation also highlights Coinbase’s Independent Advisory Board on Quantum Computing and Blockchain and how the council is helping the industry plan calmly for a post‑quantum future.Guest: Alex Prudent, CEO of Project 11Speakers:David Duong, CFA - Global Head of Investment Research (X: DavidDuong)Colin Basco - Research Associate (X: colin_basco) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week we discuss the sharp decline in crypto prices, which fell alongside gold after the nomination of Kevin Warsh as Fed chair, seemingly disproving the gold-to-bitcoin rotation narrative. We explore the lack of a clear marginal buyer for BTC, the increasing bearish positioning in the derivatives market, and the challenge for long-term holders. We also analyze the potential of digital asset treasuries as buyers, concluding their impact lessens as prices drop, and discuss recent positive regulatory developments regarding the crypto market structure bill, with prediction market odds for passage before May now at 74%. Finally, it seems systematic trading strategies are looking for a strong reclaim of the $81K-82K range as the key technical level for a shift in BTC regime - we breakdown what this means for market players.Speakers:David Duong, CFA - Global Head of Investment Research (X: DavidDuong)Colin Basco - Research Associate (X: colin_basco) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The global macro landscape is shifting fast, and this week we dive into how it’s influencing bitcoin’s price. We’ll explore potential for a rotation between bitcoin and gold as precious metals come back into focus. Then, we look at the dramatic appreciation of the Japanese Yen and what speculation about US and Japanese authorities strengthening the currency means for crypto. We’ll also cover the potential impact of new tariffs in South Korea and Canada and how that’s playing into hedging strategies. Finally, with the Fed’s latest decision looming, we unpack the broader struggle for capital: in a world where the DXY is under pressure and the European fiscal outlook remains weak, what is the ultimate alternative asset? Tune in for a deep dive into the forces driving crypto markets right now. Speakers:David Duong, CFA - Global Head of Investment Research (X: DavidDuong)Colin Basco - Research Associate (X: colin_basco) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week, we step back from the day‑to‑day price action and bring on Richard Galvin, Executive Chairman & CIO at Digital Asset Capital Management (DACM), to frame the 2026 crypto cycle. We dig into how his TradFi background has shaped DACM’s investment philosophy, where he’s positioning across BTC and alts, and which tail risks he worries about most this year. The conversation covers how to characterize the current market setup, the themes that could define 2026 for professional allocators, the macro backdrop versus crypto beta, and how evolving regulation and institutional adoption are really moving capital in this space.Speakers:David Duong, CFA - Global Head of Investment Research (X: DavidDuong)Colin Basco - Research Associate (X: colin_basco) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We cover a lot of ground in this episode including:the effect of geopolitical developments on cryptothe persistence of the BTC inflation narrativeMSCI’s deferred DAT decisionviral prediction marketsOn the macro side, the focus is on the US CPI print for December and whether this will impact the Fed’s decision making in 2026. Together, this helps tell us whether this crypto bounce is the beginning of a new leg higher or just an early‑year reset in positioning.Speakers:David Duong, CFA - Global Head of Investment Research (X: DavidDuong)Colin Basco - Research Associate (X: colin_basco) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We unpack our optimistic 1H26 crypto market outlook anchored on global liquidity support and rate-cut expectations, though energy prices and geopolitics represent potential tail risks. This may set the stage for momentum-led crypto performance and disciplined positioning. The discussion also covers the rise of tokenization—from tokenized equities to equity perps and higher collateral efficiency—and stablecoins moving beyond trading into payments and payrolls. Finally, the episode explores the social and market flywheel around prediction markets, the evolving privacy narrative, and a pragmatic take on the fundamentals vs. technicals debate using recent DeFi examples.Speakers:David Duong, CFA - Global Head of Investment Research (X: DavidDuong)Colin Basco - Research Associate (X: colin_basco) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this year-end episode, our Coinbase Research team wraps up 2025 by grading their crypto market predictions from the previous year and discussing key themes for 2026. The hosts score their prior year outlook on macro trends, tokenization, and the resurgence of DeFi/DEX volumes. Find out which calls earned high marks and where projections were “overly optimistic.” They then look ahead and share their optimism for a recovery in the first half, supported by the ongoing rate cutting cycle; the rise of prediction markets; the continued explosion in crypto derivatives; the endgame for application-specific chains; and the path for stablecoin growth in the year ahead.Speakers:David Duong, CFA - Global Head of Investment Research (X: DavidDuong)Colin Basco - Research Associate (X: colin_basco) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Crypto racked up some wins this week with Vanguard and Bank of America opening the door for their clients to trade the asset class, though many still wonder why BTC isn’t trading substantively higher given all the good news. Our Head of Research, David Duong, remains constructive due to favorable macro conditions but acknowledges that it’s hard to identify the marginal buyer at the moment. That said, he still thinks DATs are a meaningful source of demand. Meanwhile, the Fed decision is coming and a rate cut seems to be a lock. But what’s the consensus sentiment on the board? How will they interpret recent inflation trends? Fear of hawkish messaging seems to be pervasive. Separately, David and Colin debate the merits of trying to trade the potential nomination of Kevin Hassett to Fed Chair. Finally, we cover Ethereum’s latest upgrade and the implications for ETH's price.Speakers:David Duong, CFA - Global Head of Investment Research (X: Dav1dDuong)Colin Basco - Research Associate (X: colin_basco) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Coinbase Research dissects the post-Thanksgiving crypto landscape, marked by low liquidity and high volatility. We debate a “trend variant” approach to dollar cost averaging (DCA), explore the implications of the Fed ending quantitative tightening, and the market implications of a highly anticipated December Fed rate cut—stressing that the commentary’s tone will matter more than most meetings. The sell off from concerns over a Bank of Japan hike (leading to an unwind of JPY carry trades) seems to be over for now. We also examine the unsettling trend of AI-driven white-collar layoffs and its effect on the ‘K-shaped economy’. Finally, we dive into bitcoin’s key onchain and technical signals, from long-term holder distribution and bearish options positioning to the critical battle to reclaim the 50-day moving average and the $98K-100K support zone.Speakers:David Duong, CFA - Global Head of Investment Research (X: Dav1dDuong)Colin Basco - Research Associate (X: colin_basco) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Crypto markets have gone through a broad repricing as doubts about AI ROI, the unwind of the momentum trade, and renewed uncertainty around the December FOMC meeting collide. We unpack why this macro mix matters more than usual: a prolonged government shutdown has jeopardized October 2025 releases, adding to uncertainty about what comes next. That said, we think the signal from small business earnings still points to cuts. But the longer-time-frame trend reduces the room for speculation, making it hard to pick strong altcoin names. Should investors buy/hold/sell here? Is this the capitulation we were waiting for, or will there be a further purge? Tune in to hear our latest thoughts.Speakers:David Duong, CFA - Global Head of Investment ResearchColin Basco - Research Associate Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.