#35 - The Third Winter of Crypto (feat. Michael Sonnenshein, CEO at Grayscale Investments)

In this episode of Investing In Integrity, Ross Overline spoke with Michael Sonnenshein, CEO at Grayscale Investments. For context, Grayscale is the world’s largest digital currency asset manager, and its flagship product, the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, or GBTC for short, has had major ups & downs in the last couple years – just like Bitcoin. Ross & Michael dig into some of the major controversies and flashpoints in crypto, from the recent collapse of FTX, to Grayscale’s clash with the SEC over launching a Bitcoin spot ETF. A decade-long crypto veteran, Michael describes the present moment as a “third winter” in the backdrop of a possible recession, but argues there is ample reason to be bullish. With measured optimism, Michael answers some of the core existential questions about crypto, from its viability as an asset class, to whether NFTs and memecoins are useful innovations. Michael also shares some thoughts on leadership, gained from working at one of the most dynamic and unpredictable edges of finance. We hope you enjoy this timely conversation on some of the hottest issues in crypto! 00:00 - Intro 18:04 - SEC Lawsuit, Regulation 31:23 - Crypto as an Asset Class, Recession Context 36:06 - Rapid Fire