213 - From Trump-Backed Bitcoin to Frozen Stablecoins: A Reality Check for Crypto
Crypto Curious
01/14/26
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This week we’re looking at a set of stories that all circle the same uncomfortable question: who really has the power in crypto right now?
👉🏼 We start with a Trump-backed Bitcoin mining company that’s seen a brutal sell-off — followed by insider buying that’s raising eyebrows and forcing investors to think about confidence, optics, and political branding in crypto equities.
👉🏼 Then we turn to an ICO that struggled to find demand, changed its rules mid-sale, and sparked backlash — reopening the debate around fairness, transparency, and whether token launches still work the way they used to.
👉🏼And finally, we zoom out to stablecoins, after Tether froze over $180 million in USDT — at the same time these tokens are being used as financial lifelines in places like Iran and Venezuela.
Three very different stories — but all pointing to the same tension between decentralisation, trust, and control.
Let's get into it 🚀
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TIMESTAMPS
1:29 Politics, market & crypto intersect
5:10 ICO fail. But Why?
11:52 Are Stablecoins really safe?
17:15 Short, sharp news bites
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SHOWNOTES
💥 Have you downloaded Bamboo’s 2026 Crypto Market Report? 💥
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If you’re enjoying these episodes please subscribe to our podcast on your preferred platform, leave a review, or share this episode with a friend or family member.
If you want to start investing in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Gold & Silver, you can download the Bamboo app here. Use the code CURIOUS for $10 in BTC when you sign up.
Follow the Crypto Curious Instagram here.
Join the Crypto Curious Facebook Group here.
*****
In the spirit of reconciliation, the hosts of Crypto Curious acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea, and community. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today.
*****
The Crypto Curious podcast is intended for educational and entertainment purposes. Any advice is general advice only and has not taken into account your personal financial circumstances, needs, or objectives.
Before acting on general advice, you should consider if it is relevant to your needs and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement. And if you are unsure, please speak to a financial professional.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more.
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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previous Episode
Welcome to the Crypto Curious podcast, and our first episode for the year!
I’m Tracey, and today Blake and I are unpacking a week that feels quietly important as we settle into 2026.
👉🏼 We’re starting with the return of ETF inflows into Bitcoin — not in a euphoric rush, but in a much calmer, more deliberate way. We’ll talk about what that says about market maturity, and why this may matter more for long-term investors than short-term traders.
👉🏼 Then we’ll dig into comments from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, who says the network may be closer than ever to solving crypto’s biggest technical trade-off — and why that confidence is worth paying attention to.
👉🏼 And finally, we’ll walk through the recent Ledger data breach — what actually happened, what didn’t, and why personal data leaks can still be a serious risk even when your crypto remains safe.
Let's get into it 🚀
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TIMESTAMPS
1:27 Crypto ETF inflows early pump?
4:14 Vitalik hints at change
8:40 Breaking news - Ledger data breach!!
11:46 Short, sharp news bites
****
SHOWNOTES
💥 Have you downloaded Bamboo’s first ever Crypto Market Report? 💥
****
If you’re enjoying these episodes please subscribe to our podcast on your preferred platform, leave a review, or share this episode with a friend or family member.
If you want to start investing in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Gold & Silver, you can download the Bamboo app here. Use the code CURIOUS for $10 in BTC when you sign up.
Follow the Crypto Curious Instagram here.
Join the Crypto Curious Facebook Group here.
*****
In the spirit of reconciliation, the hosts of Crypto Curious acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea, and community. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today.
*****
The Crypto Curious podcast is intended for educational and entertainment purposes. Any advice is general advice only and has not taken into account your personal financial circumstances, needs, or objectives.
Before acting on general advice, you should consider if it is relevant to your needs and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement. And if you are unsure, please speak to a financial professional.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more.
****
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next Episode
Welcome to the Crypto Curious podcast — brought to you by the Bamboo App.
I’m Tracey, and this week we’re looking at a set of stories that all point to one big shift: crypto adoption isn’t coming from where people expected.
👉🏼 We start with a $200 million Ethereum-backed bet on MrBeast — not a token launch, not an ad deal, but a signal that creators and distribution may matter more than exchanges or banks ever did.
👉🏼 Then we head to Washington, where US crypto laws have stalled yet again — and why this pause might actually be a sign that regulation is finally moving from rushed reactions to more thoughtful design.
👉🏼 And finally, we unpack the growing reality that the US government now controls around 3% of all Bitcoin — raising big questions about ownership, neutrality, and what it really means for Bitcoin to sit outside the system.
We’re also joined this week by Matthew Fraser — entrepreneur, long-time crypto investor, and educator — to help us ground these stories in what they mean for everyday investors thinking long term.
Let's get into it 🚀
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TIMESTAMPS
3:33 Tom Lee from Bitmine deploys $200million into Beast Industries
6:32 US Senate delays stall regulation yet again
10:19 3% of all Bitcoin controlled by the US Government
14:08 Short, sharp news bites
****
SHOWNOTES
$70 Trillion in global banking
💥 Have you downloaded Bamboo’s 2026 Crypto Market Report? 💥
****
If you’re enjoying these episodes please subscribe to our podcast on your preferred platform, leave a review, or share this episode with a friend or family member.
If you want to start investing in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Gold & Silver, you can download the Bamboo app here. Use the code CURIOUS for $10 in BTC when you sign up.
Follow the Crypto Curious Instagram here.
Join the Crypto Curious Facebook Group here.
*****
In the spirit of reconciliation, the hosts of Crypto Curious acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea, and community. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today.
*****
The Crypto Curious podcast is intended for educational and entertainment purposes. Any advice is general advice only and has not taken into account your personal financial circumstances, needs, or objectives.
Before acting on general advice, you should consider if it is relevant to your needs and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement. And if you are unsure, please speak to a financial professional.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more.
****
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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