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Artwork for Unchained

Unchained

Laura Shin
Bitcoin
Ethereum
Defi
Stablecoins
Cryptocurrency
Gold
Hyperliquid
Coinbase
Prediction Markets
Quantum Computing
Solana
Zcash
Aave
SEC
Blockchain
Tokenization
AI Agents
Crypto
CFTC
Iran

Crypto assets and blockchain technology are about to transform every trust-based interaction of our lives, from financial services to identity to the Internet of Things. In this podcast, host Laura Shin, an independent journalist covering all things crypto, talks with industry pioneers about how crypto assets and blockchains will change the way we earn, spend and invest our money. Tune in to find ... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes1138Founded10 years ago
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Artwork for Unchained

Latest Episodes

One side wins the OpenAI-Microsoft divorce, Ram calls a 19% earnings growth year 'bananas,' and Chris wants the US to hack back against DeFi exploiters. Here is the full rundown.

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Heads up!

If you haven’t yet, be sure to subscribe to Bits + Bip... more

Microsoft restructured its agreement with OpenAI, and Ram Ahluwalia has a clear verdict: Microsoft won.

In this segment from Bits + Bips, Ram explains the three things Microsoft secured from the new deal, walks through the contract-breach context th... more

People think of Aave and Morpho as competitors. But Morpho only lost $1 million when North Korea drained $300M from a DeFi protocol. The architecture explains why.

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Thank you to our sponsors! more

Luke Leasure and Shaunda Devens of Blockworks Research explain how three compounding failures, Kelp's one-of-one bridge signer, Layer Zero's permissive default settings, and Aave's failure to flag it as a collateral risk, set up the conditions for th... more

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Recent Guests

Yuval Rooz
Co-founder and CEO at Digital Asset
Digital Asset
Episode: Is Canton Permissionless? CEO Says Yes, but SuperValidators Need Approval
Alex Gluchowski
Co-founder and CEO of Matter Labs
Matter Labs
Episode: Is Canton Permissionless? CEO Says Yes, but SuperValidators Need Approval
Nader Al-Naji
Founder of BitClout/DESO
DESO/BitClout
Episode: How the DOJ and SEC Cases Against BitClout's Nader Al-Naji Collapsed
Nick Forster
CEO and founder at Derive
Derive/ Lyra (on-chain options platform)
Episode: How Onchain Options Could Replace the Basis Trade as Crypto's Yield Strategy
Kavita Gupta
Founder and General Partner at Delta Blockchain Fund
Delta Blockchain Fund
Episode: Bits + Bips: Bitcoin's Geopolitical Upturn and the $100K Question
James Seyffart
ETF analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence
Bloomberg Intelligence
Episode: Why Morgan Stanley Launched the Cheapest Bitcoin ETF on the Market
Justin Drake
Beacon Chain Buffen; Ethereum Foundation researcher
Ethereum Foundation
Episode: The Chopping Block: Who's Really Satoshi? Quantum Panic, and AI Eating Code
Sumeera Younis
Chief of Operations of the Crypto Task Force
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Episode: DEX in the City: How the SEC’s Crypto Task Force Is Rebuilding Trust with Builders
Michael Lewellen
Head of solutions engineering at Turnkey
Turnkey
Episode: How 'Booth Babes' at Crypto Conferences Could Lead to Big Hacks Like Drift's

Host

Laura Shin
Host of Unchained; independent journalist covering crypto and policy

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 2.3k ratings
  • Unchained is my favourite crypto-first podcast channel, so many great podcasters in this excellent network; love Laura's in-depth interviews, the VCs' perspective on The Chopping Block and the builders take on Uneasy Money.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    ATangy
    2 months ago
  • During a time of crisis, I came across what I thought was a legitimate charity online. They had a professional-looking website, emotional stories, and even testimonials from supposed donors. They claimed the funds were being used to support families in need, and it really tugged at my heart. I made a donation, then another, and soon after they kept reaching out with urgent appeals. Every message made me feel like I was directly helping vulnerable people, so I gave more than I could really afford... more

    Podchaser
    5
    gutmannaiden6
    7 months ago
  • I've been investing for years, both in traditional markets and in crypto. I always considered myself smart enough to spot red flags, but the truth is, even experienced investors can fall victim to the right scam. That's exactly what happened to me. The platform I dealt with looked professional in every way. They had a sleek website, convincing support staff, and even showed me trading dashboards that looked legitimate. I tested them with a smaller deposit and was even able to withdraw at first. ... more

    Podchaser
    5
    hunkmuller0
    7 months ago
  • Great show

    Unchained has kept its integrity much better than some others in the space. I love the roundtable format. Generally very high-quality discussion with much food for thought.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kfixbwhdisa
    United States9 months ago
  • On the Chopping Block…

    Overall, Unchained is great. Shin is an excellent interviewer and most of the time “in the loop”

    On all topics being covered. She does an excellent job of setting guests up and giving them time to follow through and elaborate.

    The other shows, the round tables with the macro guys.. those can be brutal listens sometimes. The pretentiousness from some of them is blatant and at times they will start speaking over each other, even guests. They ramble &.. just a very disjointed and strange show. So... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    5starok
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise in-depth, high-signal interviews and roundtables.
Praise for timely, well-sourced episodes and strong guest lineups.
High regard for coverage of complex topics like governance, regulation, and crypto policy.
Some negative feedback cites pacing or host tone in certain conversations.
Critiques often target interviewer style or guest selection, noting some episodes feel heavy with macro/regulatory content.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Onchain Options Could Replace the Basis Trade as Crypto's Yield Strategy
Q: What is the dominant on-chain options market today and what comes next?
Perps remain the dominant on-chain derivative, but there is growing interest in on-chain options and structured products. The speakers see a path where on-chain options expand beyond BTC/ETH to RWAs and tokenized assets, supported by better custody, liquidity networks, and education for institutions.
Anthropic's Mythos Is More Powerful Than the U.S. Government's AI. Does That Make Sense?
Q: What is Anthropic's Mythos and why is it controversial to withhold it from the public?
Anthropic claims Mythos is a powerful model that could pose national security risks, hence the selective access to 40 partners with credits; the panel discusses whether private gatekeeping is appropriate or dangerous, given the potential for exploits and the lack of comprehensive regulation.
DEX in the City: Why the Prediction Market Bans Could Just Be Beginning
Q: So how did the CFTC's leadership shape the recent push toward more guidance and rulemaking?
The new chair has prioritized movement from enforcement to regulation via guidance and rulemaking, focusing on traditional swaps, digital assets, and prediction markets, which signals a more deliberate, policy-driven approach.
How 'Booth Babes' at Crypto Conferences Could Lead to Big Hacks Like Drift's
Q: What practical steps should DeFi teams take immediately to harden their defenses against this kind of attack?
Implement defense-in-depth: use separate devices for signing, harden endpoint security, audit code beyond standard checks, rotate credentials regularly, adopt hardware wallets, and establish rigorous signing policies and credential governance.
How 'Booth Babes' at Crypto Conferences Could Lead to Big Hacks Like Drift's
Q: Why is there such a focus on DPRK as the likely actor, and what would constitute confirmation for you?
There is a high confidence level among security professionals, with discussions citing Mandiant and on-chain forensics; confirmation would require official attribution from a trusted authority, but many in the space treat it as DPRK or an equivalent actor given the indicators and pattern of behavior.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Unchained

What is Unchained about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A fast-paced, high-signal show that brings together crypto founders, investors, policymakers, and technologists to dissect governance, market structure, and regulatory developments shaping digital assets. Episodes frequently center on decentralized finance, tokenomics, prediction markets, AI's impact on crypto, and macro factors driving crypto cycles, often through roundtables or interview formats with diverse voices. Noteworthy are candid debates about DAO viability, real-world asset integration, and the evolving intersection of crypto with traditional finance and policy; the show also leans into timely geopolitical and regulatory headlines. For potential listeners, the breadth of guests and the willingness to challenge conventional wisdom... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Unchained?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Unchained:

1. Bankless
2. Empire
3. On The Brink with Castle Island
4. The Pomp Podcast
5. CoinDesk Podcast Network

How many episodes of Unchained are there?

Unchained launched 10 years ago and published 1138 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Unchained?

Recent guests on Unchained include:

1. Yuval Rooz
2. Alex Gluchowski
3. Nader Al-Naji
4. Nick Forster
5. Kavita Gupta
6. James Seyffart
7. Justin Drake
8. Sumeera Younis

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