Gm! This week we're back with another roundup. We discuss the current state of the market as sentiment follows price lower. We deep dive into is it time to be bullish or is the cycle over, do fundamentals in crypto matter, the Michael Saylor impact, the Bybit hack aftermath, stablecoin regulation & much more. Enjoy!

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Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross.

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SKALE is the next evolution in Layer 1 blockchains with a gas-free invisible user experience, instant finality, high speed, and robust security. SKALE is built different as it allows for limitless scalability and has already saved its 50 Million users over $11 Billion in gas fees.

SKALE is high-performance and cost-effective, making it ideal for compute-intensive applications like AI, gaming, and consumer-facing dApps. Learn more at skale.space and stay up to date with the gas-free invisible blockchain on X at @skalenetwork

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ZKsync is the pioneering zero-knowledge technology powering the next generation of builders with limitless scale. Secured by math and designed for native interoperability, ZKsync enables an elastic, ever-expanding network of customizable chains.

Deeply rooted in its mission to advance personal freedom for all, the ZKsync technology makes digital self-ownership universally available.

To learn more about ZKsync, visit http://www.zksync.io

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Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors Empire podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER device and secure your crypto today.

Buy now at www.Ledger.com

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Mantle is evolving into the premier on-chain financial hub, supercharging the ecosystem that bridges blockchain with banking. The 2025 roadmap introduces three transformative products:

- Enhanced Index Fund (launching Q1) offering optimized crypto exposure to BTC, ETH, SOL and USD with built-in yield optimization - targeting $1B AUM

- Mantle Banking for seamless financial services

- MantleX for AI-powered innovation

Backed by a $4.5B treasury, Mantle is building the future of on-chain finance – accessible for everyone.

Learn more: https://x.com/Mantle_Official/status/1882017058680086805

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AO Mainnet is LIVE! Experience the future of decentralized computing: infinite parallel processing, secure TEE-powered computations, and LLMs in smart contracts. Built on Arweave, AO's modular design shatters scalability limits. 100% of tokens are distributed to Arweave holders and bridge depositors, with a fixed supply and halving. Explore AO today: https://ao.arweave.dev

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction 

(00:36) Why Is Crypto Nuking?

(04:20) Is The Cycle Over?

(07:53) State Of The Market

(15:51) Ads (ZKSync, Skale)

(17:37) The Michael Saylor Impact

(20:37) Do Fundamentals Matter?

(33:12) Ads (ZKSync, Skale)

(34:58) Time To Be Bullish?

(51:32) Ads (Ledger, Mantle, Arweave)

(53:58) How To Value Projects?

(55:35) Stablecoin Regulation

(01:00:06) The Bybit Hack Aftermath

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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, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.