The Crypto Playbook

2025 was a busy year for Crypto. Between landmark shifts in political regulation, the growth stablecoins and prediction markets, and the rise and fall of Bitcoin, there is a lot to watch out for in 2026. In this episode of Fortune’s Crypto Playbook, Jeff and Leo discuss who, where, and what they are watching in the coming year.

Year Ahead: Crypto 2026

Fortune_Crypto

It's no secret that President Trump and his family are cashing in on crypto. But how exactly does his crypto empire operate? Fortune journalist Ben Weiss has reported extensively on the Trump crypto businesses, and met the key players, including the President's sons. On this special episode, Weiss takes us inside and explains the business structure of Trump Crypto Inc.

Trump’s Crypto Empire

Digital asset treasuries have become the latest buzzword in crypto. Pioneered by Michael Saylor's Microstrategy, publicly listed companies pop up to horde piles of crypto, from Solana to Dogecoin. But is this just another blockchain bubble? Tom Lee, the chair of one of the largest DATs, helps break down the asset class, arguing that only a few companies offer a real path forward.

Digital Asset Treasuries

While crypto started as a renegade reaction to the financial crisis of 2008, the industry has become increasingly intertwined with Wall Street. That trend accelerated this year with the rise of stablecoins and Trump administration's embrace of the technology, as traditional financial institutions became more comfortable with the world of blockchain. Citi's managing director of digital assets Artem Korenyuk explains what Wall Street sees in crypto—and why the relationship is likely to last this time around.

Wall Street Embraces Crypto

Company-backed blockchains have a checkered history but are suddenly hot again. In this episode, guest Jesse Pollak, the influential creator of Coinbase’s Base chain makes the case why this time is different.

Corporate Blockchains

Amid legislation in D.C., billion dollar acquisitions, and interest from Silicon Valley and Wall Street, stablecoins have become the buzziest technology in crypto. But how do they actually work, and will they break into the mainstream? In this episode, former Paxos executive and business school professor Austin Campbell helps explain the appeal—and what might come next.

Stablecoins

Tokenization is all the rage right now as firms rush to put real world assets on the blockchain. But why? The idea attracted hype in previous crypto cycles but never caught on. This time is different, says Kraken CEO Arjun Sethi, whose firm is putting hundreds of stocks on chain. Sethi explains why the time is right and how this will benefit companies and consumers.

Tokenization

After starting as a renegade industry, crypto companies spent years—and tens of millions of dollars—fighting for legitimacy in D.C. This year, the effort paid off, with Congress passing a bill to create guardrails around stablecoins. Longtime D.C. veteran Kristin Smith of the Solana Policy Institute breaks down the history of the industry's political efforts and what comes next.

The Politics of Crypto

Since he quit his lumberjack job to become Coinbase’s first employee way back in 2013, Olaf Carlson-Wee has been on the cutting edge of crypto. Now the founder of one of the industry’s first and most influential venture capital firms, Carlson-Wee shares his insights on where crypto is going next—making a compelling case for the role of AI agents, next-gen wallets and even memecoins.

The Next Era of Crypto

You've probably heard of someone who got rich off Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency. And it's just as likely you've heard of someone who put their hard-earned money into crypto only to get fleeced by a scammer. On the latest episode of Crypto Playbook, Jeff and Leo take a clear-eyed look at the investment case for crypto, and speak with a longtime venture capitalist who bets on crypto for a living. If you're tempted to take a flyer on the fast-growing digital asset industry, tune in to learn of potential bets—and how to avoid getting burned.

Investing in crypto: How to put your money in crypto without getting swindled

When Bitcoin launched in 2009, it rapidly found favor with libertarians and privacy advocates. They weren’t the only fans. Criminals came to love it too as a global, pseudonymous way to transact in everything from fraud to drugs to hit men. On the third episode of the Crypto Playbook, Jeff and Leo examine the more notorious features of the crypto landscape with the help of Chainalysis CEO Jonathan Levin, a pioneer in teaching law enforcement agencies to track crypto crime. 

Crypto crime

A look at the darker side of the industry

Litecoin. Dogecoin. Fartcoin. What the heck are all these “alt-coins” and how did so many of them come to achieve multi-billion dollar market caps? The second episode of Crypto Playbook explores the flurry of cryptocurrencies that came after Bitcoin, and takes a hard look at whether they offer real value as a technology or an investment. With insight from special guest Dan Morehead, founder of Pantera Capital and an OG in crypto venture capital.

The wide world of crypto

Bitcoin is the cornerstone of the crypto industry thanks to its impeccable pedigree and bulletproof security. That’s been true ever since the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto published his vision for Bitcoin in 2008, but its role has changed over time. On the inaugural episode of Crypto Playbook, Jack Mallers, the renowned “Bitcoin maxi” helps break down its journey from an outlaw currency to $2 trillion Wall Street behemoth.

Bitcoin then and now

The incredible evolution of the original cryptocurrency

The Crypto Playbook

Year Ahead: Crypto 2026

Latest episode

Episodes (13 episodes)

Year Ahead: Crypto 2026

Trump’s Crypto Empire

Digital Asset Treasuries

Wall Street Embraces Crypto

Corporate Blockchains

Stablecoins

Tokenization

The Politics of Crypto

The Next Era of Crypto

Investing in crypto: How to put your money in crypto without getting swindled

Crypto crime

The wide world of crypto

Bitcoin then and now