CBDC in the crosshairs: Congress debates the future of the digital dollar

Layer-1s are still the backbone of crypto, but in 2025 their role is evolving. With Ethereum’s L2 ecosystem booming, modular blockchains on the rise and real-world adoption gaining momentum through stablecoins and tokenized assets, the question is no longer just about scalability. It’s about utility, users and where the next wave of growth will come from.

In this episode of Decentralize with Cointelegraph, we sit down with Algorand Foundation’s Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer Marc Vanlerberghe to explore the state of layer-1s today, the barriers to mainstream adoption, and the innovations that could define blockchain’s future. 

(01:08) Regulation and industry developments
(03:12) The state of layer-1s vs. layer-2s in 2025
(06:40) Barriers to adoption and rethinking wallets
(11:58) Tackling user growth and engagement
(17:26) Roadmaps, strategies and industry alignment
(23:20) Enterprise use cases and tokenization
(29:16) Looking ahead: the future of crypto 
(32:12) Takeaways for retail and institutional users

This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis.

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The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

Europe’s landmark crypto law, the Markets in Crypto-Assets, promised a unified market across 27 member states. But less than a year into rollout, national regulators are already pushing back on its central feature: passporting.

Is MiCA bringing the clarity Europe’s crypto industry needs or adding a new layer of uncertainty? In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, we hear from the head of compliance and European regulatory affairs at CoinShares and the executive director of the European Crypto Initiative about passporting, regulatory arbitrage and whether MiCA can truly keep Europe competitive on the global stage.

(00:39) MiCA and the single-market promise
(01:31) Member State pushback on passporting across the EU
(02:51) Regulatory competition and arbitrage risks
(04:32) The challenge of 27 having national authorities
(07:17) Compliance pressure on smaller firms
(10:23) Clarity and consistency as the real test for MiCA’s success
(14:27) MiCA implementation still in progress
(15:40) Europe’s leadership moment in crypto regulation
(16:00) MiCA’s global ripple effects and the GENIUS Act

This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis.

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The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

China is considering launching a yuan-backed stablecoin, a surprising pivot after years of cracking down on crypto and pushing the digital yuan. What’s driving this move, and what does it mean for global markets and US dollar dominance?

In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, host Savannah Fortis speaks with Martin Chorzempa (Peterson Institute for International Economics) and Patrick Tan (ChainArgos) to unpack the policy ambitions, market realities and trust challenges facing a Chinese stablecoin. From Hong Kong to Belt and Road nations, could Beijing’s latest experiment reshape the future of money, or is it destined to remain a symbolic play?

(01:40) – Intro: China’s stablecoin push
(03:04) – The digital yuan’s (CBDC) struggles
(04:54) – Stablecoin potential in cross-border payments
(07:33) – China’s offshore vs onshore yuan
(08:45) – Can the yuan challenge dollar stablecoins?
(10:55) – Why the dollar still dominates
(12:29) – The trust problem for China’s stablecoin
(17:33) – Stablecoins as geopolitical instruments in 2025

This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis.

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Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com.

If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review!

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

In this episode of Decentralize with Cointelegraph, venture capital investor and Bitcoin advocate Tim Draper joins Cointelegraph reporter Vince Quill for a deep dive into the shifting tides of Bitcoin adoption. From the slow but inevitable embrace by institutions to the macroeconomic headwinds threatening the US dollar, Draper lays out why FOMO, regulatory clarity and technological freedom are converging to push Bitcoin into the mainstream.

He also shares his take on whether Bitcoin’s famous four-year halving cycle still matters, or if bigger macro forces are now in play. Tune in to hear his takes!

(01:00) Why institutions are moving into Bitcoin 
(02:59) Institutional FOMO and bank custody scramble
(04:44) Is Bitcoin FOMO risky? Treasuries, El Salvador and “gunpowder” analogy 
(07:30) Retail still lagging; “dinosaur” risk for holdouts 
(08:35) How they buy: boardrooms, SPACs, MicroStrategy, Fidelity 
(10:17) Why Big Tech rejected BTC treasuries 
(11:19) “Irresponsible not to own Bitcoin” 
(12:10) Dollar vs Bitcoin: Inflation, satoshis, escape valve 
(15:34) Halving cycle damped: Macro drivers take over 
(17:07) Dollar extinction? Could BTC be a budget fix?

This episode was hosted by Vince Quill and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis.

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Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com.

If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review!

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

In this week’s Byte-Sized Insight, we explore the fast-growing world of crypto treasury companies: publicly traded firms using digital assets as strategic reserves. With billions in capital raised, these companies are giving investors new, regulated ways to gain exposure to not only Bitcoin (BTC) but assets like BNB and SOL. 

Host Savannah Fortis speaks with David Namdar, CEO of BNB Network Company (formerly CEA Industries), and Joseph Onorati, CEO of DeFi Development Corporation, to unpack why these vehicles are emerging now, how they work, and what they could mean for the future of institutional crypto adoption.

(01:05) – Why crypto treasury companies matter now
(03:02) – The MicroStrategy playbook
(04:30) – Evolution beyond Bitcoin
(06:05) – Why BNB?
(08:42) – The big billion demand
(10:47) – Enter DFDV: The Solana treasury company
(12:42) – The Power of validator yield
(16:07) – Who’s buying these stocks?
(18:57) – The future of crypto treasury companies

This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis with original music by Savannah Fortis.

Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph.
Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com.

If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review!

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

This week on Byte-Sized Insight, we dive into the groundbreaking passage of the GENIUS Act, examining its profound impacts on stablecoins and global crypto markets. 

Joined by Fabian Dori, chief investment officer at Sygnum, we discuss how new US regulations are reshaping institutional confidence, redefining stablecoin use cases and prompting Europe to rethink its crypto strategies. Plus, we explore what’s fueling the stablecoin boom and why traditional banks are wary of crypto firms gaining banking licenses.

(00:08) Introduction: Exploring the GENIUS Act
(02:09) Fabian Dori on the significance of the GENIUS Act
(03:23) Institutional adoption and the future of stablecoins
(04:09) Controversy: The ban on yield-bearing stablecoins
(04:51) How stablecoins differ from tokenized money-market funds
(05:25) Europe’s response: Digital euro and regulatory pressures
(07:40) How Sygnum navigates regulatory changes
(08:26) Traditional banks push back on crypto licenses
(09:55) What’s driving the stablecoin market boom?
(11:39) Final thoughts: Stablecoins reshaping global finance.

This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis.

Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph.
Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com.

If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review!

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.