Remy Blaire is joined by Gareth Jenkinson, the Head of Multimedia at Cointelegraph to discuss the ongoing tensions between traditional finance and decentralized finance (DeFi), particularly focusing on the contentious issue of stablecoin interest payments.

“The real conflict of interest here is between the cryptocurrency industry in general at large and of course traditional financial institutions i.e. banks.” – 01:44

Remy opens the conversation by highlighting the lobbying efforts of U.S. banks, led by organizations such as the Bank Policy Institute and the American Bankers Association, who are advocating for a blanket ban on interest payments for stablecoins. Gareth provides insight into the conflicting feedback the U.S. Department of Treasury is receiving from various stakeholders in the cryptocurrency sector. He notes that Coinbase has recently urged the Treasury to limit any ban on stablecoin interest payments exclusively to stablecoin issuers, while allowing non-issuers, like crypto exchanges, to continue offering interest on staked stablecoins.

As the discussion unfolds, Gareth emphasizes the underlying conflict of interest between the cryptocurrency industry and traditional financial institutions. He explains that banks are concerned about the potential disruption that DeFi poses to their business models, particularly as consumers gain the ability to earn interest on their assets without relying on traditional banking services. Remy and Gareth explore the implications of this conflict, considering how the traditional financial system is grappling with the reality of DeFi’s growing infrastructure and its impact on consumer behavior.

The conversation then shifts to the current state of the cryptocurrency market, with a particular focus on Bitcoin’s recent price action. Gareth shares his observations on Bitcoin’s disappointing performance, noting that it has fallen below the $100,000 mark multiple times during the week. He attributes this downturn to various macroeconomic factors, including the looming U.S. government shutdown and recent market downturns. Despite the short-term bearish sentiment, Gareth expresses optimism about Bitcoin’s long-term prospects, referencing predictions from industry experts that suggest a potential surge to a million dollars by 2028 or 2030, driven by monetary policy and institutional interest.

Remy Blaire is joined by Rick Horrow, CEO of Horrow Sports Ventures, to discuss the recent triumph of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have just celebrated their championship parade after winning back-to-back World Series titles. The episode opens with excitement surrounding the Dodgers’ Game 7 comeback, which attracted an impressive 51 million viewers, marking it as the most-watched MLB game in 34 years. Remy and Rick delve into the implications of this victory, including the potential for the Dodgers to become a dynasty, as they are already being touted as favorites to achieve a three-peat in 2026.

Rick shares his thoughts on the thrilling nature of the World Series, particularly the dramatic endings that took place in Toronto. He highlights the financial power behind the Dodgers, noting their staggering $416 million annual payroll, and reflects on the historical context of sports ownership, comparing the current valuation of teams to George Steinbrenner’s purchase of the Yankees 50 years ago for just $10 million.

The conversation then shifts to the star power of Shohei Ohtani, whose trading cards are currently in high demand, selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Rick discusses the market dynamics for Ohtani’s rookie cards, which have seen a significant price increase following his standout performance in the World Series. He emphasizes the uniqueness of Ohtani’s talent, suggesting that investors are wise to hold onto their cards, as their value may continue to rise.

Remy and Rick also explore the recent developments in the sports betting industry, particularly the impact of ESPN’s decision to end its partnership with Penn Entertainment in favor of DraftKings. Rick provides insights into the ramifications of this shift, speculating on ESPN’s strategy to find partners that align with their goals while maximizing revenue.

“ESPN doesn’t take it lightly. Everybody’s speculating, is ESPN getting out of the gaming business? No, of course not.” – 03:15

Remy Blaire welcomes Chuck Mounts, the Chief DeFi Officer at S&P Global Ratings, to discuss the recent partnership between S&P Global and Chainlink. This collaboration aims to bring stablecoin risk ratings on-chain, significantly transforming how decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols and investors assess the stability of stablecoins.

Remy begins the conversation by introducing the Stablecoin Stability Assessment (SSA), a product launched by S&P Global approximately a year and a half ago. Chuck explains that the SSA was developed to fill a critical gap in the market, providing stakeholders with insights into the risks associated with different stablecoins and their ability to maintain a one-to-one peg. He emphasizes that the SSA is distinct from traditional credit ratings, as it focuses specifically on de-pegging risk.

The discussion then shifts to the technical aspects of the SSA’s launch on a 3M Layer 2 base. Chuck elaborates on S&P Global’s blockchain-agnostic approach, highlighting the importance of enhancing market liquidity and price discovery. He notes that the Ethereum network was a logical starting point for integrating their benchmarks and analytics on-chain, while also expressing the company’s intention to expand to other networks in the future.

Remy and Chuck also explore S&P Global’s broader strategy regarding digital assets, including the introduction of a new on-chain index of crypto and crypto-related stocks. Chuck shares his enthusiasm for leveraging S&P’s historical expertise in data analytics and benchmarks to drive advancements in the digital asset market.

As they reflect on the recent SmartCon 2025 event in New York City, Chuck provides insights into the growing institutional adoption of blockchain technology. He observes a notable shift in S&P Global’s business mix, with an increasing number of traditional clients seeking products and services that blend on-chain and off-chain capabilities.

Remy Blaire engages in a compelling discussion with Matt Bromberg, the Chief Operating Officer at Wedbush Fund Advisors. The conversation centers around the current state of the U.S. stock market and the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI).

“This is a long-term investment strategy and theme that we have very high conviction on.” – 01:35

Remy opens the segment by highlighting the recent performance of major U.S. stock averages, which are currently in positive territory despite a recent downturn. She notes the warnings from the CEOs of Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley about a possible market pullback of 10 to 20 percent over the next 12 to 24 months. Despite these concerns, the discussion shifts to the factors fueling the market rally, including the AI trade and hopes for interest rate cuts.

Matt provides insights into the AI revolution, describing the market as being on the “runway, taxiing” toward significant advancements in AI. He acknowledges the hype surrounding AI but emphasizes that the fundamentals remain strong, with reasonable valuations and substantial investments from tech leaders. He expresses high conviction in the long-term potential of AI as a transformative investment theme.

As the conversation progresses, Remy and Matt analyze the recent stock movements of major tech companies, including Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple. Matt underscores the importance of valuation and the need to separate signal from noise in the AI sector. He points out that 2025 is expected to be a pivotal year for AI-related deals, particularly in the context of national security.

Matt explains that the current deal cycle differs from the speculative tech boom of the late 1990s, as companies are now making thoughtful acquisitions to facilitate innovation. He believes this disciplined approach indicates sustainable market conditions and a clear path to growth.

For retail investors looking to capitalize on the AI trade, Matt identifies opportunities across various sectors, including semiconductors, utilities, and hardware. He references the “Dan Ives AI 30” research report, which focuses on 30 companies driving the AI revolution and investing in future profitability.