The Breakdown

AI is reprogramming the social fabric — and nobody can agree whether that’s a good thing.

Kevin O’Leary, investor and entrepreneur, joins us to share his framework for navigating the AI era across investing, data centers, and crypto.

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:33) One Shot, One Opportunity

(03:20) Two Wolves

(06:02) Nexo Ad

(06:36) Interview with Kevin O’Leary

(08:56) Datacenters as a Political Issue

(12:13) How Kevin Uses AI

(14:39) Nexo Ad

(15:36) What Makes an AI Company Worth Investing In?

(17:39) Thoughts on Negative Sentiment

(19:09) How Does Crypto Fit Into This?

(23:26) Marty Supreme Role

(25:27) Developing Taste

(29:45) Advice for Future Generations

FOLLOW GUEST

› Kevin O’Leary — https://x.com/kevinolearytv

FOLLOW THE SHOW

› David — https://x.com/dcanellis

› The Breakdown — https://the-breakdown.carrd.co/

SPONSORS

› NEXO

Nexo is the premier digital wealth platform. Receive interest on your crypto, borrow against it without selling, and trade a range of assets. Now available in the U.S with 30 days of exclusive privileges. Get started at http://nexo.com/breakdown

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to the Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

DISCLAIMER

As always, remember this podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely their opinions, not financial advice.

x402 just got a lot bigger. The Linux Foundation is now backing it — and maybe Amazon, Google, Stripe, Mastercard, and American Express along with them.

In this episode, David sits down with Jordan Liu, co-founder of AIsa — one of earliest builders in the x402 ecosystem, with over 20 million microtransactions already processed.

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:42) What AISA Builds

(02:55) X40 Goes Linux

(07:30) Nexo Ad

(08:07) Adoption and Micropayments

(19:58) Nexo Ad and Blockworks IR Promo

(21:38) Adoption and Micropayments (Con’t)

(25:06) Protocols Roadblocks Future

FOLLOW GUEST

› Jordan Liu (AIsa) — https://x.com/AIsaOneHQ

FOLLOW THE SHOW

› David — https://x.com/dcanellis

› The Breakdown — https://x.com/TheBreakdownBW

SPONSORS

› NEXO

Nexo is the premier digital wealth platform. Receive interest on your crypto, borrow against it without selling, and trade a range of assets. Now available in the U.S with 30 days of exclusive privileges. Get started at http://nexo.com/breakdown

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to the Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

DISCLAIMER

As always, remember this podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely their opinions, not financial advice.

AI agents are coming online fast — and the payment rails for that world are being built right now.

David breaks down the race between Coinbase’s x402 and Stripe’s Machine Payments Protocol, the rise of agentic commerce, and why crypto may have a natural edge, before sitting down with Jordan Liu of AIsa.

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(01:30) Tool Time

(03:45) AI-doption

(05:48) Nexo Ad

(06:30) When in Doubt, Incentivize

(07:36) Interview with Jordan Liu

(12:24) Nexo Ad and Blockworks IR Promo

(14:09) Interview with Jordan Liu (Con’t)

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› Jordan Liu (AIsa) —https://aisa.one/

› David — https://x.com/dcanellis

SPONSORS

› NEXO

Nexo is the premier digital wealth platform. Receive interest on your crypto, borrow against it without selling, and trade a range of assets. Now available in the U.S with 30 days of exclusive privileges. Get started at http://nexo.com/breakdown

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to the Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

DISCLAIMER

As always, remember this podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely their opinions, not financial advice.

While The Breakdown is between seasons, we’re bringing some of our favorite conversations from across Blockworks onto the feed.

In this episode of Forward Guidance, Felix Jauvin sits down with Fed Governor Stephen Miran at DAS to discuss why he believes inflation fears are overstated, why the Fed may still be too restrictive, and how AI, deregulation, and stablecoins could all shape the future of monetary policy.

FOLLOW GUEST

› Federal Reserve – https://x.com/federalreserve

FOLLOW THE SHOW

› Felix – https://x.com/fejau_inc

› Forward Guidance – https://x.com/ForwardGuidance

› Telegram – https://t.me/+CAoZQpC-i6BjYTEx

› Blockworks – https://x.com/Blockworks

›David https://x.com/dcanellis

TIMECODES

(00:00) Introduction

(02:36) Why Miran Dissented

(05:10) Nexo Ad

(05:44) Looking Through Oil Shocks

(07:32) AI And Deregulation Disinflate

(11:04) The Case For Neutral

(13:26) What Sets Neutral Rates

(17:03) Nexo Ad and Blockworks IR Promo

(18:47) Where “Running It Hot” Narrative Fails

(26:01) Skinny Master Accounts

(28:00) Stablecoins And Dollar Demand

SPONSORS

› NEXO

Nexo is the premier digital wealth platform. Receive interest on your crypto, borrow against it without selling, and trade a range of assets. Now available in the U.S with 30 days of exclusive privileges. Get started at http://nexo.com/breakdown

DISCLAIMER

Nothing said on Forward Guidance or The Breakdown is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only. Any views expressed are opinions, not financial advice. Hosts and guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

While The Breakdown is between seasons, we’re sharing a panel from Digital Assets Summit featuring the team behind Inflection Point. The conversation explores how investors should think about crypto valuations, what gives L1s value, and why there’s still no shared framework for pricing blockchain networks.

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Follow Blockworks Research: https://x.com/blockworksres

Follow Inflection Point: inflectionpoint.carrd.co

Follow Matt: https://x.com/Matt_Hougan

David: https://x.com/dlawant

Michael: https://x.com/marcryptonio

Marc: https://x.com/marcarjoon

Follow David: https://x.com/dcanellis

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Nexo is the premier digital wealth platform. Receive interest on your crypto, borrow against it without selling, and trade a range of assets. Now available in the U.S with 30 days of exclusive privileges. Get started at http://nexo.com/breakdown

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(04:46) Crypto Valuation Models Are Broken

(10:01) Nexo Ad

(10:42) Revenue Isn’t the Answer

(16:23) One Asset Class or Many?

(18:43) Nexo Ad and Blockworks IR Promo

(20:23) Network Effects Need Revenue

(26:03) Blockspace Isn’t A Commodity

(31:20) Institutions Need Intellectual Permission

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Disclaimer: Nothing said on The Breakdown is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Host and guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.