Byte-Sized Insight by Cointelegraph

2025 was a year of major shifts for crypto and not just in headlines, but in what actually matters for builders: fundamentals, real-world use cases and sustainable revenue.

In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, we are joined by Leonard Dorlöchter, co-founder of peaq, to break down what quietly worked in 2025 and what the industry should be paying attention to in 2026. Leonard explains how DePIN began gaining real traction, why “fundamentals started mattering more,” and how the industry may be maturing while also losing sight of Web3’s original decentralization ethos. 

The conversation also explores the rise of AI agents and robotics, new standards for machine-to-machine coordination, and what it could look like when devices, machines and autonomous agents begin transacting onchain as part of a global machine economy.

(1:58) Leonard introduces peaq and the “machine economy”
(4:03) 2025 shift: fundamentals and real revenue start to matter
(5:24) Web3 maturity vs. losing the decentralization ethos
(7:33) Blockchain as neutral global infrastructure and governance layer
(10:45) 2025 breakthroughs: physical AI and new standards for agents
(12:18) Why machine coordination is moving onchain
(13:31) Breaking down “machine economy” onchain vs offchain
(14:01) Example: tokenized machines, peer-to-peer energy, shared ownership
(17:51) Trust, reputation and efficiency in an open-machine economy
(20:23) Real-world adoption: robot in production in Hong Kong, onchain rewards
(22:06) 2026 outlook: robotics protocols, onchain goods/services, sovereign agents
(25:12) Policy gap: regulation progress but not fully aligned with Web3 ethos
(28:42) Why peaq partnered with VARA, machine economy free zone sandbox
(30:12) Builder advice for 2026: validate value, traction and real revenue
This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis.

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The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

2025 marked a turning point for crypto not in price cycles or hype, but in how the industry is actually used, regulated and understood.

In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, we’re joined by Matthias Bauer-Langgartner, Head of Policy for Europe at Chainalysis, to break down what really happened in crypto in 2025, using data, not headlines.

We dig into how 2025 became the year of the stablecoin, how stablecoins now dominate on-chain activity and crypto crime, why illicit crypto flows surged even as adoption went mainstream and how crypto crime has taken on a more geopolitical dimension. The conversation also goes into how regulators, particularly in Europe, have matured in their approach, what MiCA changed on the ground and what crypto companies should be preparing for as they head into 2026.

You don’t want to miss it! 
(00:08) Welcome to Byte-Sized Insight + 2026 series kickoff
(01:20) Introducing Matthias Bauer-Langgartner and Chainalysis
(03:47) Where the global crypto industry stands in January 2026
(04:40) On-chain growth and the rise of stablecoins
(05:58) Stablecoins overtake Bitcoin in transactional volume
(09:02) Why regulators focus on stablecoins first
(11:06) Institutional adoption and MiCA’s impact in Europe
(13:18) Are European regulators more confident after 2025?
(17:38) Who really has leverage in crypto now?
(19:49) Crypto Crime Report 2025: record illicit flows
(21:44) Nation-state crypto crime and sanctioned stablecoins
(23:17) Why stablecoins dominate illicit activity and why that matters
(28:15) Top policy, crime, and security trends for 2026
(32:10) Cybersecurity, DORA, and real-time on-chain monitoring
(34:27) Advice for crypto companies entering Europe in 2026
This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis.

Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph.
Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com.

If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review!

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

The UK is taking a major step toward fully regulating crypto markets.

This week on Byte-Sized Insight, we break down the Financial Conduct Authority’s sweeping new consultation covering crypto exchanges, staking services, lending, and decentralized finance  and what it could mean for the future of the UK crypto industry.

We’re joined by Perry Scott, Head of UK Policy at Kraken and Chair of the UK Cryptoasset Business Council, to unpack what’s actually new in the proposals, why the October 2027 timeline matters and whether regulatory clarity could make the UK more competitive globally.
(00:00) Welcome to Byte-Sized Insight
(00:45) UK launches sweeping crypto consultation
(03:20) Why this is a turning point for UK crypto
(05:00) Perry Scott on the scale of the proposals
(06:45) The 2027 timeline: “the firing gun has been fired”
(08:20) UK vs EU vs US: second-mover advantage
(09:45) Market structure and global liquidity
(11:05) Staking gets bespoke rules
(12:20) Crypto lending: from bans to guardrails
(13:35) How the FCA is approaching DeFi
(15:10) Will regulation drive firms offshore?
(17:20) What comes next for UK crypto
This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis.

Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph.
Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com.

If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review!

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

Europe was the first major region to roll out a comprehensive crypto framework, but now it’s rethinking how that framework is enforced.

In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, we break down the European Union’s proposal to centralize crypto supervision under the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), a move that would shift oversight of crypto-asset service providers away from national regulators and toward a single EU-level authority.

To understand what’s happening on the ground, we speak with Dr. Lewin Boehnke, chief strategy officer at Crypto Finance Group, who offers a rare perspective from both Switzerland’s mature crypto market and the EU’s newly regulated one. He explains why MiCA’s overall approach makes sense, where technical details are slowing adoption and why centralizing supervision under ESMA could actually help reduce friction rather than create it.
(1:55) Europe moves to centralize crypto oversight under ESMA 
(4:58) Why MiCA’s rollout has been slow, and why that’s not surprising
(5:24) Switzerland’s head start on institutional crypto adoption
(6:38) Why MiCA’s focus on regulating intermediaries makes sense
(7:48) The MiCA Article 75.6 ambiguity slowing banks down
(9:09) Why Europe’s quieter regulatory approach may be a long-term strength
(10:13) Uneven MiCA enforcement across Germany, Luxembourg, and Malta
(12:26) What Europe should prioritize in crypto regulation over the next year
This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis.

Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph.
Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com.

If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review!

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

Texas just became the first US state to purchase and hold Bitcoin, and it did so during a market downturn, while many institutions and state treasuries were selling or backing away from crypto entirely.

 In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, we break down alongside Lee Bratcher, founder and president of the Texas Blockchain Council, why Texas made a $5 million Bitcoin ETF purchase (with another $5 million earmarked for self-custodied BTC), how a years-long political history set the stage and what this move means for US crypto policy.

Is Texas making a bold strategic play  or taking on unnecessary risk? And could this be the spark that reignites the conversation around Bitcoin in public finance? 
(00:08) Texas becomes the first U.S. state to purchase and hold Bitcoin
(00:33) Why Texas buying Bitcoin during a downturn matters
(02:28) Texas’s long-term Bitcoin thesis and the significance of the timing
(03:38) Greg Abbott’s early Bitcoin advocacy: 11 years before Texas’s buy
(04:54) Abbott on Texas becoming a global hub for Bitcoin and blockchain
(08:05) Why Texas is treating Bitcoin as a multi-decade strategic asset
(09:34) How Texas’s Bitcoin purchase could influence other U.S. states and policymakers
(11:13) Texas’s energy, finance, and demographic advantages in Bitcoin adoption
(12:55) Closing insight: Texas and Bitcoin as long-term partners beyond market cycles
This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis.

Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph.
Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com.

If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review!

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.