Tassilo 🦇🔊 Web3 & AI

Ethereum believer. Airdrop hunter. Bankless citizen. DeFi defender. Founder and

[Tassilo 🦇🔊 Web3 & AI @tassiboss]

@BaseHubHB @base 👀

[Tassilo 🦇🔊 Web3 & AI @tassiboss]

@RyanSAdams If demand stays the same and ETH price doubles a tx is twice the price in $ terms, is that not right?

Transaction uses 21,000 gas, gas price = 20 gwei = 0.00042 ETH.
- At $2,000/ETH → fee = $0.84
- At $4,000/ETH → fee = $1.68

What am I missing?

[Tassilo 🦇🔊 Web3 & AI @tassiboss]

Too long to watch? Here's my summary:

1️⃣ 🤖 Sam Altman on the AI Bubble

OpenAI’s Sam Altman admitted that AI is in a bubble, citing over-excitement and inflated valuations. With Nvidia comprising 14% of the NASDAQ, fears that AI-driven capex may not translate into real productivity rattled markets. Still, the view is that selective AI adoption will reshape entrepreneurship more than big enterprise workflows.

2️⃣ 📉 Market Pullback & Macro Worries

Crypto and tech markets faced a pullback, with Bitcoin down ~6.5% and ETH down ~10% on the week. Concerns include a possible AI bubble (95% of AI pilots failing to deliver profits, per MIT) and stagflation risks from weak job data and sticky inflation. Despite the red candles, Ryan and David frame this as a healthy correction in a broader bullish trend.

3️⃣ 🏦 Institutions Buying Into ETH

Institutional flows into crypto are accelerating, with ETH ETFs seeing $3B of net inflows in August, outpacing Bitcoin’s $1B. Over 5% of ETH’s total supply is now held in ETFs, closing in on Bitcoin’s 6.3%. Meanwhile, treasury companies like Tom Lee’s and Bitmine are rapidly accumulating billions in ETH, signaling that institutions are entering Ethereum in a big way - even faster than Bitcoin.

4️⃣ 💸 The “Treasury Meta” Debate

ETH-focused treasury companies (e.g. Tom Lee’s fund, Sharplink, Ethzilla) have quickly amassed billions in ETH holdings, pushing ETH treasuries near 2.5% of total supply. However, their MNAV premiums are collapsing toward 1.0, raising the question of whether the treasury play is losing steam. Ryan and David argue this is expected normalization rather than the end of the meta.

5️⃣ 🐂 Bull Market Indicators Still Calm

CoinGlass analyzed 30 historical bull market top signals - from MVRV ratios to dominance metrics - and none are flashing red. Lending activity is also modest, about half of the 2022 peak, suggesting no overheating. Takeaway: the market is still in mid-cycle, with dips seen as buying opportunities rather than top signals.

6️⃣ 🇺🇸 Policy Shifts: From New York to the Fed

New York lawmakers proposed a controversial 2% crypto transaction tax, reinforcing its image as anti-crypto. In contrast, Wyoming launched a state-backed stablecoin, signaling openness to innovation. At the federal level, Fed Vice Chair Michelle Bowman urged regulators to embrace crypto, even suggesting Fed staff hold small amounts to better understand it.

[Tassilo 🦇🔊 Web3 & AI @tassiboss]

Yap early, yap only, yap often.

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Just claimed my social card and I'm accumulating Yap points in real-time.

Claim yours 👉 https://t.co/2jDdJBhiNH

[Tassilo 🦇🔊 Web3 & AI @tassiboss]

Too long to watch? 👇 Summary 👇

The Ether Machine: How ETH Becomes the Internet’s Reserve Currency

⏲️ TL;DR:
Andrew Keys and David Merin from The Ether Machine discussed their strategic approach to managing substantial Ethereum holdings, emphasizing active management over the use of derivatives like call options. They plan to grow their holdings through direct purchases of Ether and enhancing yields via staking and potential DeFi strategies, aiming to differentiate themselves from other firms that might rely on less direct exposure methods. The conversation highlighted their vision for contributing to and leveraging institutional finance strategies within the Ethereum ecosystem.

🧙‍♂️Who are Andrew Keys and David Merin?
Andrew Keys is the co-founder and chairman of The Ether Machine, an institutional Ethereum investment platform. He is a prominent figure in the crypto industry, having previously been an early member of Consensys where he created the first Ethereum Blockchain-as-a-Service with Microsoft, co-founded the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (the world’s largest open-source blockchain consortium), and launched DARMA Capital, a $1 billion CFTC-registered commodity pool operator. Keys is regarded as a trailblazer for institutional Ethereum adoption, and his insights are valued because of his deep experience building foundational Ethereum infrastructure and his influential role in shaping industry standards.

David Merin is the co-founder and CEO of The Ether Machine, specializing in institutional Ethereum finance and infrastructure. Before this, he was head of corporate development at Consensys, where he led over $700 million in fundraising, executed five acquisitions, and drove more than fifty strategic investments, playing a key role in Consensys' evolution into a leading Ethereum software company. Merin’s credibility comes from his extensive experience in scaling blockchain enterprises and his leadership in high-stakes institutional finance and strategy within the Ethereum ecosystem.

💡What’s the central idea or thesis of the episode?
The central idea revolves around the institutional investment strategies for Ethereum, specifically focusing on how The Ether Machine plans to accumulate and manage a large holding of Ether without employing in-the-money call options, and instead actively managing the asset for yield generation. Andrew stated, 'the well overwhelming, let's call it 99% of our strategy is around the active ownership and yield generation of Ethereum.'

⚡️ What was the most surprising, bold, or controversial thing said?
The most striking statement was about their strategic approach to Ethereum investment, distinguishing their method from others in the industry. Andrew clarified, 'We've seen others say that they own X Ether but with an asterisk that that's an in-the-money call option and we are not going to be employing in the money call options for our exposure.'

⚙️ What project, action, or tool did they recommend (explicitly or implicitly)?
The discussion implicitly recommended the strategic acquisition of Ether through direct purchases and re-investments rather than using derivatives like call options. The Ether Machine utilizes active investment management techniques to generate yields through staking, and plans to expand into DeFi strategies as mentioned by Andrew.

⛓️ What does this episode reveal about the state of crypto/Web3 today?
The episode illustrates a growing sophistication in institutional investment strategies within the crypto space, particularly Ethereum. It highlights a trend toward more direct and engaged investment practices that include staking and yield generation as opposed to speculative derivative positions. This tendency echoes a broader industry shift towards more sustainable and fundamental value-driven investment approaches in crypto.

[Tassilo 🦇🔊 Web3 & AI @tassiboss]

No time to watch? 👇 Summary 👇

How The U.S. Controls The Global Economy

TL;DR:
Edward Fishman discusses the strategic use of economic sanctions by the United States, highlighting their effectiveness as a tool of foreign policy that replaces traditional military action. He emphasizes the dominance of the U.S. dollar in global economics and how it facilitates the implementation of sanctions. The episode also touches on the emergence of alternatives such as China's digital currency and decentralized cryptocurrencies, which could challenge U.S. financial hegemony. Fishman provides insights into historical and current uses of economic warfare, outlining how technology now plays a crucial role in these processes.

Who is Edward Fishman?
Edward Fishman is a senior research scholar at Columbia University, recognized for his expertise in American foreign policy, particularly in economic statecraft and sanctions. He previously spent nearly a decade working in the U.S. government, where he played a significant role in designing sanctions against countries such as Iran and Russia, giving him firsthand insight into how economic pressure shapes global power dynamics. Fishman’s authority stems from his practical policy experience, academic rigor, and recent authorship of "Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare," making his perspectives on the evolving landscape of sanctions and dollar supremacy exceptionally well-informed and influential.

What’s the central idea or thesis of the episode?
The central idea of the episode revolves around the power of economic sanctions as tools of American foreign policy and the role of the US dollar in maintaining global economic dominance. Edward Fishman explores how sanctions replace traditional military methods with financial measures to exert pressure and control internationally. He asserts, 'Sanctions are more powerful than tanks and missiles,' indicating a shift from physical to economic warfare.

What was the most surprising, bold, or controversial thing said?
The most controversial insight provided by Edward Fishman was his discussion on how the U.S. uses financial chokepoints as a weapon, forcing countries like China, India, and Turkey to comply with U.S. sanctions against Iran. He explained, 'If you were processing payments for Iranian oil, you have to comply with our policy or we're going to cut you off from the dollar,' highlighting the aggressive enforcement of U.S. economic policy.

What project, action, or tool did they recommend (explicitly or implicitly)?
Fishman implicitly endorsed the continued use of the U.S. dollar's dominance as a tool to enforce sanctions and maintain American influence over global economics. Through discussing the strategic use of financial chokepoints, he suggests leveraging economic power through control of global financial systems is key to U.S. policy.

What does this episode reveal about the state of crypto/Web3 today?
The episode reveals the potential role of cryptocurrency and Web3 as alternatives to traditional financial systems which are heavily influenced by U.S. policy. Edward discusses the emergence of digital currencies like China's ECNY and decentralized cryptocurrencies as options nations may consider to evade U.S. sanctions, indicating a significant shift in the financial landscape.

[Tassilo 🦇🔊 Web3 & AI @tassiboss]

No time to watch? Here's my summary:

1. Crypto Market Cap $4 Trillion
The total cryptocurrency market cap has reached $4 trillion, reflecting growing acceptance and investor confidence amid a surge in institutional and retail investment.

2. Ethereum's Price Momentum
Ethereum climbed 9.5% over the past week, reaching $3,720. The rise indicates market confidence as the network grows and upgrades continue, pointing to Ethereum's strong position in DeFi and NFT ecosystems.

3. Genius Bill is Law
The Genius Bill signed last Friday formalizes regulatory standards for stablecoins, potentially boosting their adoption and significance in the broader financial landscape.

4. Poly Market Enters the US Arena
Poly Market acquires a US-compliant onshore exchange, signaling a strategic move towards regulatory alignment in the crypto space, aiming to boost trust and security for users.

5. ETH ETF Inflows
Ethereum ETF, $ETHA, became the third fastest ETF to achieve a $1 billion valuation. This reflects Ethereum's strengthening position as a choice asset for institutional investors.

6. Roman Storm Trial
Roman Storm's legal team seeks mistrial citing a witness's irrelevance in the case, as the they may not have used Tornado Cash.

7. Jim Kramer Advocates for Crypto as a Hedge
Jim Kramer endorses Bitcoin, suggesting it as a hedge against national debt and a long-term investment for future generations' financial security.

8. Google Searches for Altcoins Skyrocket
Google searches for altcoins reached a four-year high, signaling increased public interest and potential expansion in the crypto investment landscape.

Want to know more? Watch the full episode :)

[Tassilo 🦇🔊 Web3 & AI @tassiboss]

looking forward to it

[AKINDO | The world’s first Buildathon Platform🌊⚒️ @akindo_io]

One month from now marks 10 years since Ethereum launched. A decade of hackathons. Billions in grants.

Still no products people truly use. That ends today.

Introducing the Buildathon Manifesto.
https://t.co/ScNMoIGz4Y

A new paradigm for the future of blockchain
#Buildathon

[Tassilo 🦇🔊 Web3 & AI @tassiboss]

@RyanSAdams Glad that you’re better and back. Can’t wait for the rollup 👀

[Tassilo 🦇🔊 Web3 & AI @tassiboss]

wow my Bankless Score is 85 :)

I've just got my 2024 Onchain Wrapped by @bankless and my Spirit Animal is @brian_armstrong - Brian "Apex" Armstrong.

[Faro @FaroTrading]

Swell L2 is migrating to Optimism! ✨🔴

The move will see Swell L2 join the Superchain as an Optimistic Rollup built on the OP stack.

An Ethereum-aligned scaling solution, the OP Stack powers all blockchains in the Superchain with the same modular open source and MIT-licensed codebase, focused on parallel development, openness, and transparency.

The restaking hub for the Superchain

The biggest names in DeFi — including @base from @Coinbase, @unichain from @Uniswap, and @soneium from Sony — are all sharing infrastructure in the @Optimism Superchain. This collective of rollups adhere to shared standards and principles, and benefit from interoperability, shared updates and security, and access to grants and programs across the ecosystem.

As the restaking yield layer, Swell will bring restaking yield and security to the Superchain. This will be achieved through Swell L2's unique Proof of Restake mechanism, which will maximize the capital efficiency of staked assets and set a unique flywheel in motion to drive growth, liquidity, and security.

To meet Superchain requirements, small changes will be made to the design of Swell L2. These include the usage of ETH as the gas token for the rollup, and the dedication of a portion of sequencer revenue to the Optimism Collective.

As part of this strategic transition, Swell will move away from the Polygon CDK, but continues to believe in the aggregated ecosystem that Polygon is building.

Learn more in the blog: https://t.co/tKolARAu8v

[Tassilo 🦇🔊 Web3 & AI @tassiboss]

8⃣ Reasons to use Stablecoins – for TradFi

You can use this to convince others 🙌

1️⃣ Price Stability:
Stablecoins are pegged to stable assets like fiat currencies (i.e. USD), reducing volatility, which makes them suitable for payments and savings.

2️⃣ 24/7 Availability:
Stablecoins can be accessed and transacted at any time, regardless of banking hours, weekends, or holidays.

3️⃣ Instant Settlement:
Stablecoin transactions are settled almost instantly.

4️⃣ Low Transaction Costs
Stablecoins reduce intermediary fees, enabling low-cost transactions (few cents or dollars, depending on the network).

5️⃣ Financial Access & Autonomy:
Stablecoins provide access to financial systems, where users can lend, borrow, and earn interest without traditional banks. Users are in full control of their assets – an advantage in regions with restrictive or unstable banking systems.

6️⃣ Efficient Cross-Border Payments:
Stablecoins can be sent anywhere in the world. This makes them perfectly suitable for international transactions.

7️⃣ Programmability & Smart Contracts:
Stablecoins can be integrated into smart contracts, allowing automated and secure transactions. They can be used by AI agents in the near future.

8️⃣ Hedge Against Local Currency Volatility:
In countries with unstable or inflationary currencies, stablecoins offer a safe way to store value and protect against devaluation.

BUT stablecoin ≠ stablecoin. Do you know the differences?

#usdt #usdc #dai #stablecoins #stablecoin #defi #Blockchain #Crypto #AI #usecase #transaction #savings #lowcost #tradfi

[Tassilo 🦇🔊 Web3 & AI @tassiboss]

6. Secured Loans ($6.57 billion, 5.23%)

⏰ Time to Liquidate:
7-14 days

💬 Reasoning:
These loans are backed by liquid assets, meaning they can be liquidated relatively quickly under normal conditions. However, selling or transferring them can take time, because of legal or contractual processes.

[Tassilo 🦇🔊 Web3 & AI @tassiboss]

💰 Tether (USDT) reserves & liquidation periods 🤯

#Stablecoins are the backbone of the #Crypto industry.

With $119B in market cap, #Tether is by far the largest stablecoin.

But how stable is Tether really?

Lets look at Tethers reserve allocation & how quickly can they be liquidated (under normal market conditions)

[Tassilo 🦇🔊 Web3 & AI @tassiboss]

5. Other Investments ($3.53 billion, 2.85%)

⏰ Time to Liquidate:
7-30 days

💬 Reasoning:
These are longer-term, less liquid investments, including private equity and venture capital. These typically take longer to sell as they require finding buyers and negotiating terms.