Podcast: How To Survive A Bear Market | Olaf Carlson-Wee

Olaf Carlson-Wee discusses the market crash, what’s next and his crypto investment thesis

article-image
share

On today’s episode of Empire, Olaf Carlson-Wee, Coinbase’s first employee and founder of Polychain, joins Jason and Santiago to discuss his views on the state of crypto.

Olaf Carlson-Wee reflects on crypto’s cycles and reoccurring themes and how they relates to the UST meltdown and today’s bear market. We then dive into Olaf’s investment philosophy, exploring his thoughts on the multichain future and what assets will accrue value. You’ll also hear Olaf’s unique take on the “one reason” DAOs should exist.

Don’t miss this fantastic episode with one of the most interesting and successful OGs in crypto.

Plus, hear more on:

  • UST’s fate and algo stablecoins
  • The market outlook
  • Layer-1 vs layer-2 blockchains
  • And so much more!

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

About the show

“Empire” is a twice-a-week show where we share the real crypto stories that aren’t heard elsewhere. On Mondays, Jason and Santiago Santos interview crypto industry movers and shakers to talk about their struggles, bold moves and tough decisions. Finish off the week with Friday’s weekly roundup episode that covers the top news and narratives of the week.

For any NPR or Guy Raz fans out there, you can think of “Empire” as a “How I Built This” for the bitcoin and crypto industry.

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


Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:

Tags

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

Upcoming Events

Old Billingsgate

Mon - Wed, October 13 - 15, 2025

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.png

Research

Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) represent low-hanging fruit in a massive market ripe for Web3-driven disruption. The global CDN market was valued at ~$28B in 2024, and is projected to surpass $140B by 2034, (18.75% CAGR) underscoring the immense demand for efficient content delivery.

article-image

US dollars might technically be worth less, but it’s still good news

article-image

Apps are doing well, as is casino gaming, says Tom Schmidt of Dragonfly

article-image

Sponsored

Machine DeFi brings programmable peer-to-peer finance into contact with tangible machines that generate real-world value

article-image

What happens to your investment portfolio when the companies driving returns are no longer in it?

article-image

Wow, the ETF hype sure didn’t last long

article-image

The private sector lost 33,000 jobs in June; analysts had projected payrolls to add 100,000 positions