Michael Ippolito

Jason Yanowitz

2025 was a line in the sand moment for crypto.



Decades from now, we will look back at these years as 2009 &#8211; 2024. Then 2025. Then everything after.



It’s worth taking a moment to reflect on exactly why that is and what it means for the next decade.



Until this point, crypto could fairly be categorized as “the Wild West” with all the good and bad that entails.



We’ve had a decade of unprecedented innovation in computer science, cryptography, and finance, leading to innovations like 24/7 markets, permissionless financial products, and zero-cost global dollar payments.



Concepts and products that crypto introduced are now changing the world.



But throughout that same decade, frauds, speculation, and a lack of regulatory clarity damaged the optics of crypto and put a ceiling on the industry’s growth.



That all changed in 2025 with the administration’s regulatory embrace of crypto. In a complete reversal, the SEC went from fighting crypto to announcing “Project Crypto” and pledging to bring the world’s financial infrastructure onchain.



We also got our first major piece of positive crypto legislation (GENIUS). Several crypto companies went public. Stablecoins went mainstream. Prediction markets are the fastest growing product outside of AI. Billion-dollar M&amp;A is finally happening. DEXs are eating market share from CEXs. RWAs grew 4x. The list goes on…&nbsp;



For the first time ever, banks, payments providers, startups, and enterprises have an incentive to build onchain.



Everyone loves to compare crypto to the internet, so here is our analogy: We believe we just experienced the equivalent of 2002 for the internet.



The age of speculative capital driving crypto is over, and the slow grind up where innovations truly scale has only just begun.&nbsp;



This has profound implications for investors, builders, and society as a whole.



From our perspective, here’s what it means for Blockworks.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">We’re making our next big bet.</h2>



The theme of the last decade can be described as “assets moving onchain.” $300B moved into stablecoins. $100B moved into DeFi. Another $50B flowed into perps and related markets.



Now, we’ve entered a new era.&nbsp;



We believe the theme of the next decade will be real businesses building onchain.



If you squint, you can see what it looks like. Startups like Hyperliquid, Pump, and Aave generate hundreds of millions of revenue with just dozens of employees. Fintechs like Robinhood, Stripe, and Klarna launched their own chains and stablecoins. Institutions like BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, JPMorgan all transact on open, public blockchains.&nbsp;



The world is moving onchain. Slowly at first, then all at once.&nbsp;



In the next decade, we will go from $10 billion in onchain revenue today to more than $1 trillion.&nbsp;



Combined with AI, that shift onchain will create an explosion of opportunity and entirely new types of companies that have never existed before.



We’ve spent this past year positioning ourselves to win what we believe is the biggest opportunity we have ever seen since starting Blockworks.



The problem as we see it today: Even the most talented teams have to run multibillion-dollar protocols and onchain businesses on a patchwork of block explorers, internally built dashboards, and broken spreadsheets.&nbsp;



There is no single operating system and software platform for teams to run their business on.&nbsp;



Blockworks is going to solve that.&nbsp;



Our next phase is about turning the data platform we have built into a true operating system for onchain businesses.&nbsp;



We are building for a world where Blockworks is running the core data and workflows for millions of onchain businesses.&nbsp;



More on this in 2026!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2025 by the numbers</h2>



Thanks to our team, 2025 was our strongest year in our history. A few highlights:



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Sales: We grew ARR by more than 10x this year. Data and analytics ARR is now growing faster than any other line of business.</li>



<li>Profitability: We remained profitable, with positive net operating income and more cash on our balance sheet than the start of the year.</li>



<li>Massively scaled our data platform: Our data warehouse now contains more than 2.1 trillion rows of data flowing through 100+ pipelines that ingest data from 82 distinct sources. This data powers nearly 2,600 visualizations and 280 dashboards for 145 different companies.</li>



<li>Shipped 4 major analytics products: We launched Analytics 2.0, with a custom data warehouse, frontend, and studio product, and used that backbone to ship a dashboard builder, chart builder, and the first version of our API (which already has 378 metrics available).</li>



<li>Expanded data beyond just onchain data: We added offchain datasets for ETFs, fundraising, M&amp;A, centralized exchanges, and more. This will be important as we add more offchain data for companies in 2026.&nbsp;</li>



<li>Token transparency framework: After presenting to the SEC and receiving their support, we introduced the Token Transparency Framework, an open disclosure standard for crypto projects. TTF is already being used to rate leading protocols and we’re now in active discussion with exchanges, financial institutions, and other data providers to integrate the framework across the industry.</li>



<li>Podcasts: Our podcast network is by far the most listened to network in crypto. Our creator-led shows now reach several million professionals and investors across finance, crypto, and tech.&nbsp;</li>



<li>Social: We’ve built a community of 800,000+ followers across our creators and brands.</li>



<li>Events: DAS New York was our best conference ever: It was the first time a sitting US president has addressed a crypto conference.</li>
</ol>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Day after day</h2>



When we started Blockworks in December 2017, the mission was simple: Build the best source of crypto insights and information for investors and professionals.&nbsp;



Since then, we’ve built a global team of nearly 100 people. Millions of people listen to our podcasts. Tens of thousands have attended our events. Hundreds of institutions read our research and consume our data.&nbsp;



If you zoom out, the story of Blockworks is not a string of funding rounds, product launches, or headline hires. We are a company that has survived multiple bear markets, stayed default alive, and quietly compounded into something much more ambitious than we ever believed possible.



As we head into 2026, we are more convinced than ever that crypto will improve the world by broadening access to assets, increasing transparency, and reducing financial friction. Blockworks will play an instrumental role in that world.



For those that want it, the crypto opportunity has truly never been bigger or more important to humanity.



See you in the trenches,



Jason and Mike



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Blockworks

2025 Reflections

The story of crypto is a story about adoption. In the beginning, crypto was purely a retail game. This was the bootstrap era.



Anonymous founders. White papers and dreams. Bitcointalk threads. Discords and Telegrams. If you wanted in, you had to live on Twitter/X and dig through governance forums and GitHub repos at 2 am.



Fun era. Important era. But from an institutional perspective, mostly uninvestable.



Then came the second phase: the scale-up era.



Exchanges professionalized. Custody got solved. DeFi protocols like Uniswap and Aave found product-market fit. Onchain businesses started to look less like toys and more like companies. Podcasts, newsletters, conferences and research gave the industry a real narrative layer.



That opened the door for the first serious capital.



Today, we are entering a new phase: the institutional era.



Stripe has a chain. Robinhood has a chain. Banks are issuing stablecoins. Prediction markets are integrating with major news outlets. Real revenue and cash flows are accruing onchain.



And the marginal buyer is changing.



For most of the last decade, flows came from two places: retail and crypto venture. Now, the next dollar is coming from liquid token funds, multi-asset hedge funds, asset managers, macro shops, family offices, and eventually, pensions and endowments.



The institutions want to buy our tokens.



We still make it way too hard for them.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Institutional Gap</h3>



If you sit inside a fund and try to build a serious Solana allocation, you run into the same problems again and again:



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Everything is fragmented. Data, docs, dashboards, governance, research, Twitter threads. Fifteen tabs open. No canonical place to diligence an ecosystem or a token.</li>



<li>You do not trust the numbers. Public aggregators are often wrong or inconsistent. Labels change. Definitions change. One bad input flows into your model or IC memo and the idea dies.</li>



<li>Nothing is written in your language. Most materials are built for crypto natives. Not for investment committees that think in revenue, retention, unit economics, risk, users, cash flows and execution.</li>
</ol>



This is not a talent problem or an interest problem. It is an information problem.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Introducing Lightspeed IR</h3>



Today, Blockworks is partnering with the <a href="https://x.com/solana">Solana Foundation</a> to launch <a href="https://lightspeed.vip/get-access">Lightspeed IR</a>, an investor-relations platform built for professional investors and token issuers.



We are starting with Solana because they sit at the intersection of crypto nativity and institutional relevance. They have real users, real applications, real revenue, and a cracked founder ecosystem. The story is there — it just needs to be delivered in a way institutions can underwrite.



Lightspeed IR is a gated, professional environment for:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Liquid token funds</li>



<li>Institutional allocators and asset managers</li>



<li>Family offices</li>



<li>Solana ecosystem teams and large token holders</li>
</ul>



What you get in one place:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>High-fidelity onchain data&nbsp;on the Solana network and leading applications, powered by Blockworks’ data infrastructure</li>



<li>Institutional research&nbsp;that turns raw onchain activity into simple, fundamental frameworks and IC-ready memos</li>



<li>Ecosystem intelligence and IR workflows&nbsp;for roadmap updates, KPI packs, governance changes, token events and direct communication between teams and allocators</li>
</ul>



If you run a fund, Lightspeed IR becomes your Solana starting point.



If you build on Solana, it becomes your investor hub.



In a world of noise, Lightspeed IR is the signal.



We launch in Q1.



<a href="https://lightspeed.vip/get-access">Complete this form</a> to be the first to know when we go live.



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</ul>

Blockworks launches investor relations platform with Solana

Westie

Even the best dashboard can only take you so far.



Sometimes you need direct access to the numbers in your own environment: feeding models, powering tools, automating the boring stuff.



Your models, dashboards, and reporting pipelines are starving for rock-solid onchain data, yet you’re still babysitting CSVs and wrestling with unreliable sources.



We’re unclogging that pipe today. Blockworks Data API connects our entire warehouse straight to your stack so you can build, ship, and iterate at lightning speed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why Data API?</h2>



Earlier this year, we promised two flavors of access: customize inside, retrieve outside. <a href="https://blockworks.co/news/dashboard-builder">Dashboard Builder</a> nailed the first, Data API will deliver the second.



With Data API, you’ll be able to:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Pull what you need, when you need it. No copy-paste, no manual exports.</li>



<li>Integrate anywhere. Python notebooks, Excel models, BI dashboards, cron jobs, in-house apps.</li>



<li>Trust the source. Every call hits the same validated warehouse that powers <a href="https://www.blockworksresearch.com/">Blockworks Research</a>.</li>



<li>Go deep when it matters. Pull the complete onchain story in a single call, powered by proprietary metrics that reveal what really drives a protocol.</li>
</ul>



From daily reporting to backtesting to automating investor updates, the possibilities are wide open.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A measured rollout</h2>



We’re starting small:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Private beta: A select group of partners will get early access over the coming weeks.</li>



<li>Waitlist now open: We’ll expand access gradually as we scale infrastructure and refine endpoints.</li>
</ul>



If you want to be part of the first wave beyond our beta testers, <a href="https://blockworksco.typeform.com/api-waitlist">join the waitlist</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What’s next</h2>



Coming soon, we’re shipping Chart Builder, a no-code workspace inside Blockworks Research that lets you pick the exact metrics you want and turn them into custom charts or tables in seconds. No coding, no extra infrastructure, just immediate insights.



Together, these tools will make Blockworks Research more than a platform: It will be your complete crypto analytics workspace.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The bigger picture</h2>



Blockchain transparency should make rigorous analysis easier.



Today, data collection and cleanup still waste too many hours.



Data API is our next step in removing that friction so you can spend less time wrangling and more time acting.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://blockworksco.typeform.com/api-waitlist">Join the waitlist</a></h2>



<a href="https://blockworksco.typeform.com/api-waitlist">The waitlist is live</a>. Sign up, get in line, and we’ll keep you posted as we open the gates.



Questions or ideas? Reach us anytime at research@blockworks.co.



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<ul class="wp-block-list">
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<li><a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/0xresearch">0xResearch</a>: Alpha in your inbox. Think like an analyst. </li>
</ul>

Data API: Blockworks Data, Anywhere

Even the best data loses its edge when scattered.



Dashboard Builder, the latest addition to <a href="https://www.blockworksresearch.com">Blockworks Research</a>, allows full control over how you view and use Blockworks data.



Earlier this year, we <a href="https://blockworks.co/news/blockworks-evolution-into-a-data-powerhouse">laid out an ambitious plan</a>: double‑down on data, put better tools in the hands of crypto professionals, and increase transparency.



With Dashboard Builder, investors can surface critical signals in moments and protocol teams can track growth and retention without dashboard gymnastics.



We continue to stand by our vision: improve the data, improve the industry.&nbsp;



Now, let’s improve how you see that data.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why Dashboard Builder?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Custom Dashboards" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1095973023?h=a8be1a2978&amp;dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963" width="1024" height="576" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share"></iframe>
</div></figure>



Dashboard Builder is our first step toward in-platform customization. Now, you can shape and arrange data right inside Blockworks Research, bringing the visuals you need into one place.



The Builder allows you to:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Tell your own story. Combine metrics that matter to your thesis rather than relying on our default layouts.</li>



<li>Work faster. Eliminate the tab‑hopping routine and surface insights in seconds.</li>



<li>Share with context. Present a clean narrative to teammates or clients. No extra screenshots required.</li>



<li>Curate an investment thesis. Pin the KPIs that prove or disprove a trade idea and watch them update every single day.</li>
</ul>



We rebuilt the front‑end around a true drag‑and‑drop canvas. Drop in any Blockworks chart, table, or text box and it snaps into place instantly.&nbsp;



Under the hood, every tile pulls from the same validated data warehouse, so the quality data you trust stays intact no matter how you slice it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Coming soon: The complete toolkit</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Coming Soon" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1095972653?h=94a37482d8&amp;dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963" width="1024" height="576" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share"></iframe>
</div></figure>



Dashboard Builder is the first of several releases aimed at giving you full control over Blockworks data.&nbsp;



This summer you can expect:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Data API: Programmatic access to raw and normalized data for Python notebooks, Excel models, or any in‑house system.</li>



<li>Chart Builder: A no‑code environment to design custom visuals directly in the platform.</li>
</ul>



Together, these tools combine both flavors of access — customize inside, retrieve outside — and transform Blockworks Research into a true end‑to‑end analytics workspace from ingestion to visualization to distribution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The bigger picture</h2>



Blockchain transparency should make rigorous analysis easier. But today, data collection and cleanup are still harder than they should be.&nbsp;



Our mission is to remove that friction so investors and operators can make decisions on solid ground.



Data wrangling should not be a full time job. That is where the hours disappear.



Less time downloading CSVs. More time finding alpha.



Dashboard Builder shrinks the gap between &#8220;I saw it&#8221; and &#8220;I acted on it,&#8221; pushing you closer to effortless crypto insights.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Try it today</h2>



Dashboard Builder is <a href="https://www.blockworksresearch.com">live inside the platform</a>. Spin up a custom view, kick the tires, and let us know where we can improve. Plus, keep an eye out for our Data API and Chart Builder launching later this year.



Questions or ideas? Reach us anytime at <a href="mailto:research@blockworks.co">research@blockworks.co</a>.

Dashboard Builder: Our Data, Your Way

Dan Smith

Today, the crypto market operates without a single, standardized disclosure framework.&nbsp;



Because of this, the market is left without key information about token supply and vesting schedules, insider incentives, and basic financial data in a fast-moving environment. This information gap fuels mistrust and, ultimately, results in the misallocation of investor capital.&nbsp;



In an effort to close that gap, Blockworks is proud to release the <a href="http://blockworks.co/token-transparency">Token Transparency Framework</a>. Blockworks led this effort with our partners <a href="https://twitter.com/TheiaResearch">Felipe Montealegre</a> of Theia, <a href="https://twitter.com/0xLouisT">Louis Thomazeau</a> of L1D, and <a href="https://x.com/cosmo_jiang">Cosmo Jiang</a> of Pantera.



This framework provides token projects with the ability to communicate a basic set of information to the market.&nbsp;



Designed as a one-time filing, the Token Transparency Framework focuses on 18 criteria, including:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Supply schedules</li>



<li>Market maker and exchange listing agreements</li>



<li>Related party transactions</li>



<li>Revenue streams</li>



<li>The relationships between equity and token</li>



<li>Foundation token allocations</li>



<li>Offchain entity structures</li>



<li>Financial disclosures</li>
</ul>



More available information means the industry can accelerate toward optimized best practices. Beyond the token issuers themselves, key players in the market directly benefit from this effort:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Professional investors access streamlined due diligence processes.</li>



<li>Market makers gain a simplified method to evaluate counterparty risk.</li>



<li>Centralized exchanges can accelerate listing velocity via structured data and disclosure.&nbsp;</li>



<li>Retail participants receive otherwise obfuscated information.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



The Token Transparency Framework represents an opportunity to improve capital allocation in the industry by helping projects signal credibility, allow investors to better underwrite risk with standardized disclosure of information, and prevent bad actors from profiting off ambiguity.&nbsp;



Blockworks views a grassroots disclosure framework as complementary to SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce&#8217;s Safe Harbor 2.0 and SEC Chair Paul Atkins&#8217; views on DeFi. Effective self-regulation better positions the industry for future success.



To this end, the Blockworks team <a href="https://www.sec.gov/file/ctf-memo-jito-labs-blockworks-061325">met with the SEC</a> on June 13 to discuss the framework and solicit feedback.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Initial Cohort</h2>



The framework is now live with an initial cohort of project submissions, including Jito, Aerodrome, Raydium, Stride, Jupiter and Morpho. Completed submissions are publicly available on the Blockworks website, and we encourage other token projects to reach out and apply.&nbsp;



I have immense respect for all teams that participated in the initial round of disclosures. There is no precedent for transparency; these are the first movers that set a new bar.&nbsp;



The transparency scores of the initial cohort all exceed 35, showcasing high visibility into each project’s operations. This will serve as a credible signal in a field of noise that will show the market these players are long-term oriented.&nbsp;



We were excited to see this push previously inaccessible information to the market, especially in responses related to the relationship between token and equity, any advisory billings to the foundation, and market maker agreements.



To put the scores of the initial cohort into perspective, we independently scored four recently launched projects that we believe have taken advantage of the lack of disclosure in this industry. The transparency scores of the problem group range from 8 to 13 — a stark contrast to the initial cohort. Yet, each of these tokens was still listed on a centralized exchange.&nbsp;



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Note, these scores are just for comparative purposes, as we did not reach out to these teams for additional information outside of what is already publicly available.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Framework Details</h2>



The framework’s criteria are divided into four categories:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Project and Team</li>



<li>Token Supply and Allocation</li>



<li>Transactions &amp; Market Structure</li>



<li>Financial Disclosure</li>
</ul>



Investors gain visibility into the operations of businesses and limit the risk of manipulation and abuse through transparent disclosure of these criteria. Negative events across the market in recent months prove the need for a standardized transparency standard.



Each criterion is weighted 0–3 by materiality. Then, it is calculated and aggregated into a &#8220;transparency score&#8221; that reflects the project’s transparency.



Importantly, this score is not a quality assessment on the team or project. Rather, it is a measure of the project or team’s overall transparency.&nbsp;



The responses, scores, and the framework itself will all be open source and publicly available to access.



Blockworks calls on the community to provide feedback on the criteria, for projects to complete the framework, for exchanges to use the framework as a resource in the listings process, and for investors to leverage the framework for due diligence.&nbsp;



We view this as a working document subject to future improvements and iteration. For a deeper conversation, reach out at <a href="mailto:research@blockworks.co">research@blockworks.co</a>.



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<ul class="wp-block-list">
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A new framework for token market transparency

Michael McSweeney

Blockworks is excited to announce a major step forward in the evolution of two of the most trusted names in crypto and macro content. <a href="https://blockworks.co/podcast/thebreakdown">The Breakdown podcast</a> and the <a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/thebreakdown">Blockworks Daily newsletter</a> are coming together under a single unified identity: The Breakdown.



This rebrand is more than a new name — it’s a powerful convergence of formats, voices and audiences. Following the <a href="https://blockworks.co/news/blockworks-acquisition-the-breakdown">acquisition of The Breakdown podcast</a> by Blockworks, this move reflects a broader vision: to deliver high-level, insightful crypto macro content under one cohesive banner.



For years, both the podcast and the <a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/thebreakdown">newsletter</a> have built loyal, engaged communities who turn to them for clear perspectives and curious analysis. Now, with their strengths combined, The Breakdown is becoming more than just a podcast or an email update — it’s becoming the central hub for smart, daily crypto macro insights.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What’s changing — and what’s not:</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>One unified brand: The podcast and newsletter will now share the same name — The Breakdown — creating a stronger, more recognizable identity across platforms.</li>



<li>Same trusted focus: Expect the same daily, high-quality crypto and macro coverage you know and rely on.</li>



<li>Evolving formats: While the core mission stays the same, we’re refreshing how we deliver stories — from inbox to audio to YouTube.</li>



<li>Bigger, better reach: Whether you’re a longtime listener, a daily reader, or both, we’re meeting you where you are.</li>



<li>New energy, same depth: The podcast is entering a new era with fresh perspectives and potential new voices — while still honoring its foundation.</li>
</ul>



This is just the beginning. As we unify <a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/thebreakdown">The Breakdown</a> into a single, powerful brand, we’re building something even more dynamic — a trusted destination where curious minds come to understand the financial world of tomorrow.



Stay tuned. Big things ahead.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/the-breakdown">The Breakdown</a>: Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily.</li>



<li><a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/0xresearch">0xResearch</a>: Alpha in your inbox. Think like an analyst. </li>
</ul>

The Breakdown just got bigger: Podcast and newsletter unite under 1 name

<a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/thedrop">Subscribe</a> to The Drop newsletter



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



A new voice in crypto coverage for gaming, tokens, NFTs and more has arrived.



This afternoon, we’re officially launching <a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/thedrop">The Drop</a>, a newsletter delivered Monday through Friday with the latest news, analysis and more from the crypto ecosystems’ buzziest apps, games and tokens.



As we shared when we first acquired The Drop brand back in October from founder Gannon Breslin, our goal here is to focus on what I like to call the “application layer” of crypto.&nbsp;



This is the diverse, buzzy and occasionally messy ecosystem comprising games, NFTs, SocialFi and other areas. It’s where the users are once they move beyond pure financial use cases —&nbsp;and The Drop is focused squarely on covering these daily comings and goings.



Get started by <a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/thedrop">subscribing for our launch issue</a>, set to debut later today.&nbsp;



The Drop is led by <a href="https://x.com/pixiekate13">Kate Irwin</a>, a veteran crypto journalist, whose previous stints at PCMag and Decrypt give her a unique window into this rapidly changing corner of crypto.&nbsp;



Keep an eye out for daily missives on what’s driving the narratives and markets, as well as <a href="https://x.com/Blockworks_/status/1896645785862930548">X Spaces</a> with key movers and shakers. You can expect more of these sorts of events from the Blockworks news team as a whole.



Didn’t subscribe yet? Don’t worry, <a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/thedrop">I got you</a>.



Since last spring, Blockworks’ newsroom has pursued a newsletter-first strategy with the intended goal of delivering journalism beyond the article-based model pursued by our peers in the market.&nbsp;



It’s not just pure information; our approach combines news, analysis and perspective to help you understand what’s happening in crypto today as it swiftly evolves, sometimes by the hour.



The Drop is the next step in a continuing experiment in crypto journalism. We hope you’ll join us not only for The Drop, but <a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter">our other newsletters as well</a> —&nbsp;Forward Guidance, Lightspeed, 0xResearch, Empire, the Daily —&nbsp;each hand-crafted and focused on a critical crypto niche.&nbsp;



But like crypto itself, we’re only getting started —&nbsp;stay tuned and thanks for reading.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/the-breakdown">The Breakdown</a>: Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily.</li>



<li><a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/0xresearch">0xResearch</a>: Alpha in your inbox. Think like an analyst. </li>
</ul>

Blockworks presents: The Drop newsletter, coming to you daily

I am thrilled to announce our acquisition of The Drop, a web3 newsletter brand founded by Gannon Breslin.&nbsp;



Originally launched in 2021 to cover the rise of NFTs, The Drop has successfully grown to cover the entire web3 ecosystem, including gaming, culture, and memecoins. The brand has cultivated a very active audience of collectors, creators, investors, and builders.&nbsp;



The Drop joins Blockworks’ growing suite of brands, joining The Breakdown, Forward Guidance, Lightspeed, 0xResearch, Empire, Bell Curve, On the Margin, 1000x, and more. The acquisition comes just months after our <a href="https://blockworks.co/news/blockworks-acquisition-the-breakdown">acquisition</a> of The Breakdown.



The revamped Drop newsletter will be produced daily by the Blockworks editorial staff. The Drop will cover the evolution of new and existing web3 IP, with gaming and consumer experiences forming a major part of this coverage. The Drop will profile the projects, founders, and builders in this emerging sector of the industry.



The acquisition comes during a pivotal time for the web3 ecosystem. Despite a recession in the market for NFTs, major efforts continue among some of the space’s notable brands. The expansion of Pudgy Penguins’ NFT-tied merchandise line and the early-access version of the web3 game Off The Grid has become one of the Epic Store’s top free games.



The Drop’s founder Gannon Breslin on the acquisition: &#8220;When I started The Drop we focused heavily on community. Our community is the reason we’ve been able to not only survive, but thrive during all the ups and downs in the market. Blockworks has been the gold standard for the crypto media space for years and I couldn&#8217;t be more bullish for the future of The Drop and our community in their hands.”



The acquisition and relaunch of The Drop represents the next phase for Blockworks&#8217; evolving “House of Brands” media strategy.&nbsp;



Blockworks’ goal is to build an expansive portfolio of brands, each focused on a unique community within crypto. Each brand cultivates its own unique audience of podcast listeners and newsletter readers, with the cumulative goal of building a highly engaged and sustainable audience. In a historically difficult media environment, this approach allows Blockworks to build a sustainable crypto media business capable of covering one of the fastest growing industries in the world.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/the-breakdown">The Breakdown</a>: Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily.</li>



<li><a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/0xresearch">0xResearch</a>: Alpha in your inbox. Think like an analyst. </li>
</ul>

Blockworks acquires The Drop, a web3 newsletter brand

I am excited to announce that Blockworks has acquired The Breakdown, a podcast and newsletter network founded by Nathaniel Whittemore (NLW).



The Breakdown’s offerings, including its influential The Breakdown podcast, YouTube channel, dedicated newsletter, and the Bitcoin Builders podcast, are now integral parts of the Blockworks family.&nbsp;



Mike and I first met Nathaniel in 2018. We had just launched Blockworks, and he had just launched one of the early crypto newsletters. In 2020, when we decided to start building our editorial division, Nathaniel became a pivotal advisor, helping us shape our vision for a crypto-native media brand.



Over the years, we&#8217;ve seen Nathaniel elevate The Breakdown into the most trusted daily podcast in the industry. What sets The Breakdown apart is not just its frequency — published six times a week — but its depth. It delves into macroeconomics, geopolitics, and major power shifts, always framing these discussions within their implications for the crypto world.



This acquisition marks a significant expansion of our podcast network, enhances our advertising capabilities, and broadens our distribution channels. It also strengthens our ability to cross-promote our events and research, furthering our commitment to delivering top-tier information to crypto professionals and investors.



Looking ahead, our plan is to establish The Breakdown as the flagship daily podcast of Blockworks. We are also thrilled to share that NLW will continue to lead The Breakdown podcast as its host.&nbsp;



The Bitcoin Builders podcast will become our flagship Bitcoin podcast – more on that soon.&nbsp;



This is a momentous step for Blockworks, and we are excited about the opportunities this collaboration unlocks for our community.



 — Jason and Mike



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/the-breakdown">The Breakdown</a>: Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily.</li>



<li><a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/0xresearch">0xResearch</a>: Alpha in your inbox. Think like an analyst. </li>
</ul>

Blockworks expands ‘House of Brands’ model with acquisition of The Breakdown

Ben Strack

<div id="highlights-block_6285486c715ef" class="highlights">
 <ul>
 <li>Blockworks Research will first focus on DeFi and seeks to expand its coverage to other sectors</li>
 <li>Web application’s offerings to include project and tokenomics analysis, daily briefs with market updates, and protocol and project models</li>
 </ul>
 
</div>



Blockworks has launched a research offering designed for a range of investors and industry watchers seeking to learn more about DeFi and other crypto sectors.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The media company’s co-founders, Jason Yanowitz and Michael Ippolito, unveiled <a href="https://www.blockworksresearch.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the new web application</a> Wednesday during the Permissionless event in Palm Beach, which Blockworks is co-hosting.



Founded in 2018, Blockworks has spent the past few years building out its events and conferences, as well as its podcast network, editorial brand and newsletter.



“We’ve been building this huge community of investors who are investing into crypto with this core thesis that crypto will eventually become one of the largest asset classes in the world,” Yanowitz said. “Now, it’s time to go deeper.”&nbsp;



Blockworks Research will focus on DeFi (decentralized finance) and seeks to expand its coverage to other sectors. The company will publish research on segments such as layer-1s, layer-2s, DAOs, gaming and NFTs — starting at the product and protocol level.



The company has a 10-person research team and plans to scale the unit over time, Yanowitz said.



The offering was designed for crypto executives seeking to keep up with industry development, as well as builders, investors and retail traders.



In addition to data, Blockworks Research will offer project and tokenomics analysis, daily briefs with market updates, protocol and project models, corporate access calls, governance updates and access to analysts.&nbsp;



The launch comes after the crash of Terra’s algorithmic stablecoin, UST, and the blockchain’s other native token, LUNA. Though the timing wasn’t planned, Ippolito said, the recent events are a good reminder of the need for better data and analysis.



“There’s definitely a lot of…following people and not doing their own research,” he said. “So one of the things we feel we can give back to the community is providing good primary research, and hopefully that can advance the space.”



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/the-breakdown">The Breakdown</a>: Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily.</li>



<li><a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/0xresearch">0xResearch</a>: Alpha in your inbox. Think like an analyst. </li>
</ul>

Blockworks Unveils New Research Offering

Liz Coyne

<div id="highlights-block_613fab56321c7" class="highlights">
 
</div>



Digital Asset Summit 2021, New York City — Blockworks&#8217; Digital Asset Summit 2021 is our flagship US-based institutionally focused crypto <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/events/digital-asset-summit-2021-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conference</a> for asset managers and financial services professionals.



Hosted Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 14 &#8211; 15, this in-person event features leaders from the world of finance and digital assets discussing crypto from the perspective of industry practitioners.



While the event is sold out, we are thrilled to be able to bring you all the main stage content via livestream.



<a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/events/digital-asset-summit-2021-2/#form0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Follow this link and log-in to watch now.</a>

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