In this week’s Bits + Bips, Austin Campbell, Ram Ahluwalia, and Chris Perkins dig into a macro environment that’s suddenly turning more supportive: QT ending, institutions stepping in, improving liquidity signals, and major catalysts across global markets. But while the setup may be bullish, one corner of crypto isn’t participating at all: DATs, which Ram calls “a death spiral.” The hosts debate whether altcoins can recover, whether Strategy pushed its structure too far, if banks’ unrealized losses still matter, and why the return of ICO-style launches may say more about regulation than mania. Show highlights: 0:00 Intro 3:16 Why Ram says we are still in goldilocks economy 5:07 What is missing in the markets according to Chris and how retail is so hurt 11:07 Why the dollar has been on an uptrend, contrary to what people think 13:17 The importance of banks sitting on so much unrealized losses 18:24 Nvidia’s earnings and whether we are in a buying opportunity 22:21 Whether banks will be negatively affected by stablecoins growth or they are fine 25:05 What Austin and Ram disagree on whether the 50-year mortgage is good 28:25 Whether MSTR should be excluded from the MSCI index 32:56 Why Ram is “very bearish on DATs” and the importance of their operating businesses 45:19 Why Chris finds it fascinating the revival of the ICOs 51:19 Whether there’s a new operations choke point going on in crypto Hosts: Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Austin Campbell, NYU Stern professor and founder and managing partner of Zero Knowledge Consulting Christopher Perkins, Managing Partner and President of CoinFund Links: Unchained: MON Rallies 40% After Mainnet Launch Fortune: Suddenly, the Fed interest rate cut in December looks like it is very much back on the table Nvidia didn’t save the market. What’s next for the AI trade? The Index Exclusion That Ends an Era: How MicroStrategy’s Exile Redefines Corporate Finance Saylor fights back Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices