In this episode of the ATX DAO podcast, hosts Tom and Ash cover the latest crypto industry news and notable departures from the space. They discuss the growing shift of talent and capital from crypto into AI and what that could mean for both industries going forward. The conversation touches on the CFTC's Innovation Advisory Committee announcement and what it means for the regulatory path ahead, along with a broader look at where crypto regulation stands today and how different countries are positioning themselves around innovation. They also also get into how taxation is affecting founders and making it harder to take risks and build companies in the space. With markets moving and economic uncertainty on the rise, the episode explores what builders and investors are navigating right now, and wraps up with a conversation on the future of work and what startup culture looks like in this new era.

To learn more about ATX DAO:

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Connect with the ATX DAO Podcast team on X (Twitter):

• Ash: ⁠@ashinthewild⁠

• Tom: @Tommyg_25

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Summary

In this episode of the ATX DAO podcast, hosts Tom, Luke, and Ash dive into the rapidly evolving world of stablecoins, examining their speculative expansion and the growing expectation that significant new USDT and USDC issuance is on the horizon. The discussion highlights how stablecoins are quietly becoming core infrastructure within the global financial system, particularly as economic epicenters increasingly rely on dollar-backed digital assets for trade, liquidity, and stability. The conversation explores the geopolitical forces accelerating adoption, from Venezuela’s inflation crisis to the broader implications of sanctions and cross-border settlement, and what this means for US dollar dominance in the digital era. It also analyzes the competitive landscape of stablecoin issuers, the potential rise of state-backed tokens, institutional positioning in crypto markets, and how shifting liquidity dynamics could shape the next phase of the industry.

To learn more about ATX DAO:

• Check out the ⁠ATX DAO ⁠website
• Follow ⁠@ATXDAO⁠ on X (Twitter)
• Subscribe to our newsletter
• Connect with us on ⁠LinkedIn⁠
• Join the community in the ⁠ATX DAO Discord⁠

Connect with the ATX DAO Podcast team on X (Twitter):

• Ash: ⁠@ashinthewild⁠
• Luke: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Luke152⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Tom: @Tommyg_25

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Summary

In this episode of the ATX DAO podcast, hosts Tom, Luke, and Ash delve into the dynamic world of cryptocurrency, reflecting on the highs and lows of 2025 and making bold predictions for 2026. They discuss the impact of major events like the passing of the Genius Act, the rise of Bitcoin ETFs, and the evolving landscape of stablecoins. The conversation also explores the potential of various blockchains, including Avalanche, Ethereum, and Solana, and the role of privacy-focused L1s in the future of crypto.

Check out our friends at Tequila 512:

• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tequila512.com⁠⁠
• Socials: ⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Facebook⁠

To learn more about ATX DAO:

• Check out the ⁠ATX DAO ⁠website
• Follow ⁠@ATXDAO⁠ on X (Twitter)
• Subscribe to our newsletter
• Connect with us on ⁠LinkedIn⁠
• Join the community in the ⁠ATX DAO Discord⁠

Connect with the ATX DAO Podcast team on X (Twitter):

• Ash: ⁠@ashinthewild⁠
• Luke: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Luke152⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Tom: @Tommyg_25

Support the Podcast:

• If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and share it with your network.
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In this episode of the ATX DAO Podcast, Luke, Ash, and Tom take a culture-first approach to the creator economy, starting with a nostalgic dive into Power Rangers, Sailor Moon, Care Bears, and Voltron. What begins as a playful conversation about childhood media quickly becomes a lens for understanding fandom, incentives, and why people engage with content in the first place, drawing clear parallels to today’s Web3 and social platforms.

The discussion then turns to creator coins, tipping mechanics, and onchain social networks, with the hosts questioning whether these models genuinely support creators or simply add unnecessary complexity. Drawing on past Web3 experiments and real-world examples, they explore the tradeoffs between universal currencies and creator-specific tokens, the limits of tipping culture, and what sustainable creator monetization in crypto might actually look like.

Check out our friends at Tequila 512:

• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tequila512.com⁠⁠
• Socials: ⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Facebook⁠

To learn more about ATX DAO:

• Check out the ⁠ATX DAO ⁠website
• Follow ⁠@ATXDAO⁠ on X (Twitter)
• Subscribe to our newsletter
• Connect with us on ⁠LinkedIn⁠
• Join the community in the ⁠ATX DAO Discord⁠

Connect with the ATX DAO Podcast team on X (Twitter):

• Ash: ⁠@ashinthewild⁠
• Luke: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Luke152⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Tom: @Tommyg_25

Support the Podcast:

• If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and share it with your network.
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In this episode of the ATX DAO Podcast, we sit down with Josh, founder of Projective, to explore why power bills are rising across the U.S. and why the real challenge isn’t technology, but outdated infrastructure financing. Josh shares how a spike in his own New York City power bill led him to uncover deeper issues around grid capacity, energy demand, and the difficulty developers face when trying to bring new solar projects online.

We dig into how Projective uses on-chain financing and real-world assets to fund community solar and energy infrastructure, creating a more efficient path from capital to the grid. The conversation covers state-backed power contracts, why solar is the most practical entry point today, and how crypto rails can modernize energy finance without sacrificing compliance or reliability.

Connect with Projective:

• X (Twitter): ⁠⁠https://x.com/ProjectiveFin
• Website: https://www.projective.finance/

Check out our friends at Tequila 512:

• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tequila512.com⁠⁠
• Socials: ⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Facebook⁠

To learn more about ATX DAO:

• Check out the ⁠ATX DAO ⁠website
• Follow ⁠@ATXDAO⁠ on X (Twitter)
• Subscribe to our newsletter
• Connect with us on ⁠LinkedIn⁠
• Join the community in the ⁠ATX DAO Discord⁠

Connect with the ATX DAO Podcast team on X (Twitter):

• Ash: ⁠@ashinthewild⁠
• Luke: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Luke152⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Tom: @Tommyg_25

Support the Podcast:

• If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and share it with your network.
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Summary

NightMKT brings a new twist to on-chain trading with a fast-paced, gamified experience built on Binance. Patrick and Mac join the show to break down how NightMKT turns trading into a competitive arena with seasonal formats, power-ups, steal mechanics, and retro-inspired visuals.

They walk through the project’s origins, the inspiration behind its chaotic trading dynamics, and what makes the platform unique for both everyday traders and heavy-volume participants. The conversation also explores user behavior on launch week, target markets, token selection, and the technical challenges of building a DEX wrapper that enables real-time sabotage and gameplay.

Get a full tour of NightMKT’s mechanics, from leaderboards to potions to the on-chain events tracker, along with insight into how the team is designing for user retention, community participation, and future multi-chain expansion.

Connect with NightMKT:

• Website: https://nightmkt.app/
• X (Twitter): ⁠⁠https://x.com/night_mkt
• Telegram: https://t.me/Night_MKT
• Discord: https://discord.gg/AQhymz2UqV

Check out our friends at Tequila 512:

• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tequila512.com⁠⁠
• Socials: ⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Facebook⁠

To learn more about ATX DAO:

• Check out the ⁠ATX DAO ⁠website
• Follow ⁠@ATXDAO⁠ on X (Twitter)
• Subscribe to our newsletter
• Connect with us on ⁠LinkedIn⁠
• Join the community in the ⁠ATX DAO Discord⁠

Connect with the ATX DAO Podcast team on X (Twitter):

• Luke: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Luke152⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Tom: @Tommyg_25

Support the Podcast:

• If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and share it with your network.
• Subscribe for more insights, interviews, and deep dives into the world of Web 3.

Summary

In this episode, Luke, Ash, and Tom unpack the turbulence sweeping through the crypto markets. From major liquidations to shifting macro forces like government shutdown fears, interest rates, and the rise of institutional actors. The group questions whether the classic narratives that shaped earlier cycles, including the four-year halving pattern, still hold up in a world dominated by ETFs, professional market makers, and global uncertainty. Their discussion blends humor with honest reflection as they explore why crypto feels markedly different today than it did even a few years ago.

The conversation also delves into lessons from past speculative manias, including NFTs, metaverse land grabs, and the era when “conviction plays” didn’t always pan out. From the mysterious staying power of XRP to the explosive growth of prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi, the hosts examine what speculation reveals about the industry’s culture and its future. Together, they paint a grounded but optimistic picture of where crypto may be heading as adoption matures and the ecosystem continues to evolve.

Check out our friends at Tequila 512:

• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tequila512.com⁠⁠
• Socials: ⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Facebook⁠

To learn more about ATX DAO:

• Check out the ⁠ATX DAO ⁠website
• Follow ⁠@ATXDAO⁠ on X (Twitter)
• Subscribe to our newsletter
• Connect with us on ⁠LinkedIn⁠
• Join the community in the ⁠ATX DAO Discord⁠

Connect with the ATX DAO Podcast team on X (Twitter):

• Ash: ⁠@ashinthewild⁠
• Luke: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Luke152⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Tom: @Tommyg_25

Support the Podcast:

• If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and share it with your network.
• Subscribe for more insights, interviews, and deep dives into the world of Web3.