Podcast: Blockchain.com CEO Says Bitcoin Maxis are Wrong About Bitclout and DeFi

Jason and Peter Smith talk about the market’s ebbs and flows and Peter’s company, Blockchain.com.

share

In the latest episode of Blockworks’ podcast “Empire,” Jason Yanowitz , co-founder of Blockworks, sits down with Blockchain.com CEO Peter Smith.

Peter has been in the crypto space for a long time — and he’s learned a thing or two about how the market ebbs and flows. He’s come to the conclusion that bitcoin’s success — as well as the success of his own company — doesn’t depend on other projects’ failures. They also talk about:

  • Richard Branson’s investment
  • What talking to early investors was like
  • Bitcoin’s international impact
  • Bitcoin’s tumultuous growth
  • DeFi
  • What’s the first thing someone should do to get into DeFi?
  • What’s the hottest trend in crypto companies right now?

Check out what they had to say in the video below. 👇

On “Empire,” once a week, Jason interviews individuals that have built the crypto industry to talk about their struggles, bold moves and tough decisions. For any NPR or Guy Raz fans out there, you can think of “Empire” like a “How I Built This” for the bitcoin and crypto industry.

Episodes are released every Thursday morning. 

Subscribe to Empire today on Apple or Spotify. Watch episodes on YouTube.

Tags

Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily, with Byron Gilliam.

Upcoming Events

Javits Center North | 445 11th Ave

Tues - Thurs, March 24 - 26, 2026

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

recent research

Research Report Templates (3).png

Research

South Korea is emerging as one of the most important global hubs for regulated digital assets, and Upbit sits at the center of this shift. Naver’s proposed acquisition could create the country’s dominant super app for payments, trading, and digital finance. This report breaks down the numbers, the regulatory tailwinds, the economics of the deal, and why the merger may unlock one of the most attractive asymmetries in Korea’s public markets.

article-image

Lido unveils a new buyback plan while BTC treasury companies slip below mNAV — can either model can truly return value?

article-image

If financial nihilism has driven you into memecoins, zero-day options, and sports betting, consider financial optimism instead

article-image

A new Sui-based protocol promises to unlock Bitcoin’s idle liquidity and eliminate wrapped-token risk

article-image

Could blockchain rails finally realize Ted Nelson’s non-linear, pro-creator “docuverse”?

article-image

What does Uniswap’s proposal to activate protocol fees and unify incentives mean for UNI token holders?

article-image

A recent mistrial illustrates how juries need more background information when it comes to judging complex systems like Ethereum