Galaxy Brains

Galaxy Brains

Welcome to Galaxy Brains, hosted by Alex Thorn, Head of Research at Galaxy. Our weekly podcast provides insights and analysis on trends and events across the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Each week Alex will be joined by members of the research team to discuss the latest developments on all things crypto and blockchain technology.

Episodes

July 17, 2025 49 mins
Alex Thorn talks with Alex Leishman (River) about building a bitcoin-only brokerage, how stablecoins interact with bitcoin, why small businesses are beginning to own BTC, the importance of Proof of Reserves, building with Bitcoin Core, and much more. Alex also talks with Beimnet Abebe (Galaxy Trading) about Jay Powell and the Federal Reserve’s independence. This episode was recorded on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. ++ Follow us on...
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Alex Thorn is joined by Jason Urban, Global Head of Trading at Galaxy, to break down the rise of crypto treasury companies and the evolving institutional crypto landscape. They discuss the explosion of publicly traded firms holding crypto assets, questions around systemic risk, and what sets these new vehicles apart from legacy players like MicroStrategy. Jason also shares insights on the growth of Galaxy’s trading and lending b...
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Alex Thorn is joined by Zane Glauber and Harry Austin from Galaxy’s Strategic Opportunities team to explore the future of blockchain infrastructure. They discuss recent regulatory shifts around staking, the evolution of institutional staking, and the growing role of blockchain infrastructure in capital markets. The conversation covers validator operations on Solana, on-chain governance, ETF integration, L2 decentralization, and how...
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In this episode of Galaxy Brains, Alex Thorn records live from Washington, D.C., where he’s attending the third annual Bitcoin Policy Summit, hosted by the Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI). He welcomes BPI Executive Director Matthew Pines to discuss the growth of the summit, Bitcoin’s evolving role in U.S. policy conversations, and key legislative efforts like the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act. They explore how Bitcoin intersec...
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Alex Thorn talks to Austin Campbell, NYU professor and founder of Zero Knowledge Consulting, about the passage of the GENIUS Act, prospects for market structure in the House, and what a tie-up between crypto and traditional finance means for both. Alex also talks to Beimnet Abebe (Galaxy Trading) about the Federal Reserve’s latest FOMC meeting, geopolitical risks affecting the market, and what the risk of stagflation means for mark...
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On this week’s episode of Galaxy Brains, Peter McCormack, Chairman of Real Bedford FC, joins Alex Thorn to reflect on his journey after What Bitcoin Did from local activism in Bedford to building a grassroots economic revival using Bitcoin. Peter discusses his legal battle with Craig Wright, the potential for Real Bedford to adopt a Bitcoin treasury strategy, and why localism, free speech, and economic reform are essential. Plus...
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Alex Thorn talks with Sam Abbassi, founder of Bitcoin Proof of Reserves company Hoseki, about Michael Saylor’s comments on proof of reserve, the strategic bitcoin reserve, and bitcoin’s auditability. Alex also talks with Beimnet Abebe about economic data, inflation, the Federal Reserve, and markets. This episode was recorded on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. ++ Follow us on Twitter, @glxyresearch, and read our research at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.g...
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Alex Thorn talks to Prof. Brad Rettler (University of Wyoming) about evaluating bitcoin through first principles and whether it’s a net positive or negative for the world. Brad also explains the Bitcoin Research Institute, a first-of-its-kind institution solely focused on producing academic grade research on Bitcoin. Alex also talks to Beimnet Abebe (Galaxy Trading) about bitcoin’s new all-time high and pressure in fixed income mar...
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In this episode of Galaxy Brains, Alex Thorn is joined by Galaxy Founder and CEO Mike Novogratz for a wide-ranging conversation on markets, Bitcoin momentum, and the company’s upcoming Nasdaq listing. They discuss crypto’s recent drawdown and rebound, the rise of Bitcoin treasury strategies, macro headwinds and dollar risks, and how stablecoin legislation could bolster U.S. financial leadership. Mike also shares why Galaxy is doubl...
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In this episode of Galaxy Brains, Alex Thorn is joined by Zack Shapiro, Head of Policy at the Bitcoin Policy Institute, to examine the DOJ’s criminal case against the developers of Samourai Wallet and its far-reaching implications for open-source software, financial privacy, and the future of non-custodial Bitcoin tools in the U.S. Alex also speaks with Natalia Li, Head of U.S. Policy at Galaxy, about the Senate’s stablecoin legisl...
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In this episode of Galaxy Brains, Alex Thorn is joined by Matt Pines, Executive Director of the Bitcoin Policy Institute, for a deep dive into national Bitcoin strategy, including the concept of a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, the mechanics and potential of BitBonds, and the looming risks of quantum computing to Bitcoin’s cryptography. They explore how sovereign adoption, fiscal policy, and geopolitical shifts may shape the futur...
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In this episode of Galaxy Brains, Alex Thorn speaks with Zack Pokorny, Galaxy Research Associate, about MESA, Galaxy Research’s first-ever governance proposal. Designed to reduce Solana inflation through a more democratic voting framework, the proposal introduces multiple voting options rather than a binary outcome. Zack unpacks the motivation behind the proposal, compares it to SIMD-228, and explores how token emissions shape lend...
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Alex Thorn talks with Max Bareiss (Galaxy Lending) about the state of the bitcoin and crypto lending market. Alex also talks with Beimnet Abebe (Galaxy Trading) about markets. This episode was recorded on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. ++ Follow us on Twitter, @glxyresearch, and read our research at www.galaxy.com/research/ to learn more! This podcast, and the information contained herein, has been provided to you by Galaxy Digital Ho...
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Alex Thorn talks with James Check (Checkonchain) about the state of the bitcoin market. Alex and James discuss insights derived from onchain bitcoin data, what it tells us about bitcoin holder behavior, and what needs to change to build a base and move higher once again. Alex also talks with Connor Finemore (Galaxy Trading) about tariffs, treasuries, and trade wars. This episode was recorded on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. ++ Follow ...
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Alex Thorn talks with Arjun Sethi, GP at Tribe Capital and Co-CEO of Kraken, one of the world’s biggest and oldest crypto exchanges, about markets, regulatory shifts, and institutional adoption of bitcoin. Alex also talks to Beimnet Abebe (Galaxy Trading), about markets, tariffs, and the U.S. economy in 2025. This episode was recorded on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. ++ Follow us on Twitter, @glxyresearch, and read our research at ww...
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Alex Thorn talks with Anton Katz (Talos) about institutional crypto trading, adoption, and technology. Alex also talks with Connor Finemore (Galaxy Trading) about markets. This episode was recorded on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. ++ Follow us on Twitter, @glxyresearch, and read our research at www.galaxy.com/research/ to learn more! This podcast, and the information contained herein, has been provided to you by Galaxy Digital Holdin...
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Alex Thorn talks to Preston Pysh, host of the Bitcoin Fundamentals podcast and GP at Ego Death Capital, about the strategic bitcoin reserve, institutional bitcoin adoption, and macro markets. Alex also talks with Beimnet Abebe about markets and the FOMC meeting this week. This episode was recorded on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. ++ Follow us on Twitter, @glxyresearch, and read our research at www.galaxy.com/research/ to learn more! ...
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March 13, 2025 55 mins
Alex Thorn talks with Will Foxley (Blockspace Media) about the future of Bitcoin. Alex also talks with Beimnet Abebe about markets. This episode was recorded on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. ++ Follow us on Twitter, @glxyresearch, and read our research at www.galaxy.com/research/ to learn more! This podcast, and the information contained herein, has been provided to you by Galaxy Digital Holdings LP and its affiliates (“Galaxy Digita...
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Alex Thorn talks with Jake Chervinsky, Chief Legal Officer at Variant, about the presidential working group on digital assets, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and how Bank Secrecy Act and money transmission laws can be an existential threat to crypto. Alex also talks to Beimnet Abebe (Galaxy Trading) about markets. This episode was recorded on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. ++ Follow us on Twitter, @glxyresearch, and read our r...
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Alex Thorn talks with Marty Bent, managing partner at Ten31 and founder of TFTC, about bitcoin mining, artificial intelligence, strategic bitcoin reserve, bitcoin backed financial products, and bitcoin venture investing. Alex also talks with Beimnet Abebe (Galaxy Trading) about markets. This episode was recorded on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. ++ Follow us on Twitter, @glxyresearch, and read our research at www.galaxy.com/researc...
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