July 8: Bitcoin Slips as Middle East Tensions Return

Podcast Show Notes SummaryAfter returning from a short camping trip, Matt breaks down another volatile day for crypto as Bitcoin slips following renewed tensions in the Middle East after the collapse of the Iran ceasefire. He also covers India's continued push toward stricter crypto policies, Kalshi's latest courtroom loss in New York, and why prediction markets remain caught between financial regulation and gambling laws.The episode also dives into new data showing USDT processed $95 billion in commercial payments during the first half of 2026, while USDT and USDC now account for 83% of the entire stablecoin market. Matt explains why stablecoins are quietly becoming one of the most important pieces of financial infrastructure and why their growth may be a bigger long-term story than Bitcoin's daily price action.Finally, Matt discusses Tom Lee's BitMine purchasing another 40,000 ETH, bringing its holdings close to 5% of Ethereum's circulating supply, and shares his concerns about whether large institutional ownership and Ethereum's move to Proof of Stake could eventually create decentralization issues.Happy Hodling, Everyone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.