Podcast: Russell LaCour and the Long-term Case For BTC Bullishness

“Inflated Expectations” explores the macroeconomic drivers of growth and the potential for the crypto-revolutionization of monetary regimes

article-image

Russell LaCour, CEO and CTO of Tantra Labs

share

In this episode of Blockworks’ podcast “Inflated Expectations,” Allison Reichel, Economic Strategist, sits down with Russell LaCour, CEO and CTO of Tantra Labs, to talk about causes of the bitcoin crash, re-surging Covid-19 cases, wealth inequality and Austrian economics.

They also cover:

  • algorithmic trading
  • why bitcoin could be worth the price of gold

Watch the full episode below:

Once a week, Reichel interviews industry experts, exploring the macroeconomic drivers of growth and the potential for the crypto-revolutionization of monetary regimes. 

Reichel is a Washington, D.C., based Economic Strategist, focusing on macroeconomic trends and the shifting crypto environment. In addition to her work at Blockworks, she is a PhD student in Economics, and also holds an M.A. and B.S. in Economics from George Mason University.

Subscribe to “Inflated Expectations” today on Apple or Spotify, or 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 (5).png

Research

ERC 8004 introduces a new trust layer for AI agents by standardizing onchain identity, reputation, and validation. As agents begin handling capital and coordinating autonomously, trust becomes the key constraint to broader adoption. The rollout mirrors the early x402 narrative, where adoption lagged the initial launch until major integrations and a viral use case pulled attention into the ecosystem. If ERC 8004 follows a similar path, downstream infrastructure tied to the standard could see outsized benefit as the narrative gains traction. The primary beneficiaries are likely to be agent frameworks and launchpads at the distribution layer, agent to agent coordination platforms that enable delegation and payments, and validation providers that offer stronger security and execution guarantees.

article-image

BTC finished the week up 1.6%, while L2s, RWAs and the treasury trade continued to grind lower

article-image

DTCC moves DTC-custodied Treasuries onchain via Canton, while Lighter’s LIT launches trading at a fees multiple in Hyperliquid territory

article-image

In the 90s, rapt audiences worldwide watched a coffee pot — will that fascination ever turn to crypto?

article-image

Some systems improve by failing — and crypto has no choice

article-image

Yield Basis introduces an IL-free AMM design that already dominates BTC DEX liquidity

article-image

Maybe tokenholders don’t need the rights that corporate shareholders have come to expect

Newsletter

The Breakdown

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

Blockworks Research

Unlock crypto's most powerful research platform.

Our research packs a punch and gives you actionable takeaways for each topic.

SubscribeGet in touch

Blockworks Inc.

133 W 19th St., New York, NY 10011

Blockworks Network

NewsPodcastsNewslettersEventsRoundtablesAnalytics