Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
Gm! This week we're back to discuss the top stories of the week. We deep dive into the mechanics behind DATs, the WLFI token launch, Stripe's announcement of Tempo, onchain equities & more. Enjoy!
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Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM
Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel
Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz
Follow Empire: twitter.com/theempirepod
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Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh
Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from David Canellis.
Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts
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Get up to speed on the biggest stories in crypto each week. In five minutes.
Get the Bitwise Weekly CIO Memo delivered directly to your inbox at bitwiseinvestments.com/ciomemo/empire
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"Mantle is pioneering ""Blockchain for Banking"" as a revolutionary new category that sits at the intersection of TradFi and web3.
Key elements for Mantle as the ""Blockchain for Banking"":
- Transactions posted to the blockchain
- Compatibility with TradFi rails
- Integrated DeFi features
Mantle Network, the access layer — transforms Mantle Network into a purpose-built vertical platform — the blockchain for banking — that enables financial services on-chain. Mantle leads the establishment of Blockchain for Banking as the next frontier.
Follow Mantle on X (@Mantle_Official) for the latest updates on Mantle as the 'Blockchain for Banking'."
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Is your treasury losing value to inflation? Learn how to make digital assets like ETH and SOL productive with uncorrelated, protocol-driven staking rewards. A new report from Liquid Collective and EigenCloud outlines a practical guide for CFOs to integrate institutional-grade staking and restaking.
Read The Productive Treasury Report: liquidcollective.io/corporate-treasury-staking
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Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
04:24 Are DAT Mechanics Sustainable?
16:23 Do DATs Actually Unlock Token Access?
21:48 Ads (Bitwise)
22:34 Breaking Down The $WLFI Token Launch
33:46 Stripe Launches Tempo
49:12 Ads (Bitwise, Mantle, Eigenlayer)
51:27 Onchain Equities & Tokenization
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Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire 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. Santiago, Jason, Rob and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
Gm! This week we're back to discuss the top stories of the week. We deep dive into the mechanics behind DATs, the WLFI token launch, Stripe's announcement of Tempo, onchain equities & more. Enjoy!
--
Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM
Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel
Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz
Follow Empire: twitter.com/theempirepod
--
Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh
Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from David Canellis.
Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts
--
Get up to speed on the biggest stories in crypto each week. In five minutes.
Get the Bitwise Weekly CIO Memo delivered directly to your inbox at bitwiseinvestments.com/ciomemo/empire
--
"Mantle is pioneering ""Blockchain for Banking"" as a revolutionary new category that sits at the intersection of TradFi and web3.
Key elements for Mantle as the ""Blockchain for Banking"":
- Transactions posted to the blockchain
- Compatibility with TradFi rails
- Integrated DeFi features
Mantle Network, the access layer — transforms Mantle Network into a purpose-built vertical platform — the blockchain for banking — that enables financial services on-chain. Mantle leads the establishment of Blockchain for Banking as the next frontier.
Follow Mantle on X (@Mantle_Official) for the latest updates on Mantle as the 'Blockchain for Banking'."
--
Is your treasury losing value to inflation? Learn how to make digital assets like ETH and SOL productive with uncorrelated, protocol-driven staking rewards. A new report from Liquid Collective and EigenCloud outlines a practical guide for CFOs to integrate institutional-grade staking and restaking.
Read The Productive Treasury Report: liquidcollective.io/corporate-treasury-staking
--
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
04:24 Are DAT Mechanics Sustainable?
16:23 Do DATs Actually Unlock Token Access?
21:48 Ads (Bitwise)
22:34 Breaking Down The $WLFI Token Launch
33:46 Stripe Launches Tempo
49:12 Ads (Bitwise, Mantle, Eigenlayer)
51:27 Onchain Equities & Tokenization
--
Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire 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. Santiago, Jason, Rob and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.



![Market Sell Off, State of Crypto VC & Why Your Coin Isnt Pumping | Weekly Roundup
This week, Rob & Santi are back to discuss the top stories of the week. We deep dive into the recent panic in markets, Santis piece on crypto valuations, the state of crypto venture, Aaves app launch & more. Enjoy!
Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM
Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel
Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod
Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh
Referenced In The Show: https://x.com/santiagoroel/status/1990430092997050753
Zcash is encrypted Bitcoin. Your digital bill of rights securing your freedom for the 21st century.
Buy, store and spend ZEC privately using Zashi Wallet download today: https://electriccoin.co/zashi/
Katana is a DeFi-first chain built for deep liquidity and high yield. No empty emissions, just real yield and sequencer fees routed back to DeFi users.
Pre-deposit now: Earn high APRs with Turtle Club [https://app.turtle.club/campaigns/katana] or spin the wheel with Katana Krates [https://app.katana.network/krates]
This Empire episode is brought to you by VanEck.
Learn more about the VanEck Onchain Economy ETF (NODE): http://vaneck.com/EmpireNODE
An investment in the Fund involves a substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors. It is possible to lose your entire principal investment. The Fund may invest nearly all of its net assets in either Digital Transformation Companies and/or Digital Asset Instruments. The Fund does not invest in digital assets or commodities directly.
Digital asset instruments may be subject to risks associated with investing in digital asset exchange-traded products (“ETPs”), which include the historical extreme volatility of the digital asset and cryptocurrency market, as well as less regulation and thus fewer investor protections, as these ETPs are not investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”) or commodity pools for the purposes of
the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”).
Investing involves substantial risk and high volatility, including possible loss of principal. Visit vaneck.com to read and consider the prospectus, containing the investment objective, risks, and fees of the fund, carefully before investing.
© Van Eck Securities Corporation, Distributor, a wholly owned subsidiary of Van Eck Associates Corporation.
Uniswap’s Trading API offers plug-and-play access to deep onchain and off-chain liquidity, delivering enterprise-grade crypto trading without the complexity - from one of the most trusted teams in DeFi.
Click to get started with seamless, scalable access to Uniswap’s powerful onchain trading infrastructure. https://hub.uniswap.org/?utm_source=blockworks&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ww_web_bw_awa_trading-api_20251117_podcast_clicks
00:00 Intro
02:21 Why Your Coin Isn’t Pumping
21:15 Ads (Zashi, Katana)
22:32 Where Are We In The Cycle?
27:29 The State of Crypto Venture
35:54 Ads (Zashi, Katana)
37:10 What Will Outperform In The Next 5 Years?
42:34 Aave Launches Aave App
50:35 Ads (VanEck, Uniswap)
52:17 Monad’s ICO
01:03:09 Content of The Week
Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire 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. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed. Market Sell Off, State of Crypto VC & Why Your Coin Isnt Pumping | Weekly Roundup](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ztuiY-hVFZ0/mqdefault.jpg)