The hottest Crypto Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Crypto Topics

Inside Look: City DAO, Community-Governed City on the Blockchain

Crypto Good • 3 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
🔮 Crypto DAOs Blockchain Governance NFTs Decentralization
  1. City DAO is the first community-governed city on the blockchain with a unique Network State concept, started in Wyoming.
  2. Notable figures like Vitalik Buterin and Brian Armstrong are early citizens of City DAO, participating through Citizen NFTs.
  3. City DAO's governance model has evolved over time, exploring trends like moving away from direct democracy and focusing on productivity in decision-making.

Step 6: Fundraising and Legal

Crypto Good • 3 implied HN points • 15 May 23
🔮 Crypto Fundraising Legal NFTs
  1. Step 6 involves fundraising through tools like crypto wallets and multi-sig wallets in web3.
  2. Web3 fundraising options include platforms like Gitcoin and Giveth, DAO proposals, and support from foundations like Near and Celo.
  3. Innovative fundraising avenues in web3 include retroactive funding, impact certificates, and decentralized fundraising concepts.

Moments of Market Stress: What They Reveal Heading into 2026

Coin Metrics' State of the Network • 0 implied HN points • 30 Dec 25
🔮 Crypto Market structure Network Infrastructure Stablecoins Liquidity Risk Risk management
  1. Stress events in 2025 — from memecoin frenzies to exchange hacks and minting errors — tested blockchains and markets but mostly revealed resilience, with networks processing transactions and venues absorbing shocks without cascading failure.
  2. Operational and interface failures (like signer workflows and a centralized minting account) caused some of the largest incidents, showing that UI, process controls, and organizational risk management matter as much as cryptographic security.
  3. Fragmented liquidity and venue-specific mechanics amplified liquidations and led to localized stablecoin dislocations, underscoring the need for aggregated liquidity views and stronger cross‑venue risk tools.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Crypto Trends To Watch in 2026

Coin Metrics' State of the Network • 0 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
🔮 Crypto Institutional Adoption Market structure Regulation Tokenization Stablecoins Exchanges Payments Staking
  1. The crypto universe is growing, but capital is getting more selective. Money is concentrating in more liquid, established tokens with clearer fundamentals and stronger tokenomics.
  2. Crypto is converging with traditional capital markets as spot ETFs, corporate treasuries, bank charters, and staking products bring steadier institutional demand and make crypto an income‑generating allocation.
  3. Stablecoins and tokenization are becoming the backbone of onchain adoption; cheap, high‑volume stablecoin transfers and production‑scale tokenized equities, treasuries, and funds are unlocking new payments and investment use cases.

Step 4: Community Organizing

Crypto Good • 0 implied HN points • 06 May 23
🔮 Crypto Community Organizing Tools Documentation
  1. Using essential tools like a space for community and writing platforms is crucial for starting an Impact DAO.
  2. Documenting everything, including values, mission, and wins, is important for organizational knowledge and growth.
  3. Understanding the best ops structure like workstreams or pods is key in managing a DAO effectively.

Ending the Bitcoin energy drain

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 17 Dec 17
🔮 Crypto Bitcoin Energy Technology Competition Innovation
  1. Bitcoin mining consumes a significant amount of energy due to the proof of work mechanism, leading to high resource costs.
  2. The cost of running the Bitcoin network has drastically increased over time, surpassing the GDP of many countries, with no clear end in sight until around 2032 when the cap of 21 million Bitcoins is reached.
  3. Alternative cryptocurrencies with less energy-intensive mechanisms may eventually replace Bitcoin through competition, but for now, the excessive energy consumption continues.

The Friday Focus: Issue 79

The Weekly Update • 0 implied HN points • 31 Mar 23
🔮 Crypto Regulation
  1. The Friday Focus newsletter discusses the ongoing clash between American authorities and the crypto industry.
  2. This clash is a recurring topic in the newsletter.
  3. The newsletter provides a concise summary of this week's focus on the clash.

Is Crypto Ready for Some U.S. Regulation?

Reverie by Daniel Cawrey • 0 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🔮 Crypto Regulation Investments Blockchain Market Trends Legislation
  1. 2025 looks promising for cryptocurrency with many politicians showing support for it. The new government might create a better environment for crypto than previous administrations.
  2. Getting new regulations passed is tough, even if there is strong interest. It requires a lot of cooperation in Congress, which can be hard due to slim majorities.
  3. Some people in the crypto world actually prefer no regulations at all. They may resist rules that impact their trading habits.

Transaction Priority & Block Building on Ethereum

Coin Metrics' State of the Network • 0 implied HN points • 24 Mar 26
🔮 Crypto Blockchain DeFi Infrastructure Market structure Consensus Security
  1. Transactions can be intercepted and reordered by searchers and builders before they are confirmed, creating MEV opportunities like sandwich attacks that can hurt regular users.
  2. Block builders gather public and private transaction flow and bid in a proposer-builder auction, so how they order transactions directly determines how much value they can capture.
  3. These incentives favor a few dominant builders and raise centralization and censorship risks, and common mitigations include private transaction submission, skipping the public mempool, and moving activity to Layer-2s.

A $50M DEX Swap With a $36K Outcome

Coin Metrics' State of the Network • 0 implied HN points • 17 Mar 26
🔮 Crypto DeFi Liquidity Market Data
  1. Huge single-block orders can catastrophically fail when routed into very shallow liquidity, turning a $50M swap into a roughly $36K outcome.
  2. Routing and aggregator failures, like stale quote‑verification, sent the trade into an illiquid pool. MEV bots and block builders then captured the bulk of the value instead of the trader.
  3. Better pre‑trade data and smarter execution—splitting large orders across time and venues (TWAP/algorithms), plus protocol guardrails or protected execution channels—are needed to reduce extreme price impact and limit MEV exposure.

Introducing the RON/PIXEL Liquidity Pool on Katana!

Ronin’s Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🔮 Crypto DEX Liquidity Gaming Market
  1. RON/PIXEL Liquidity Pool is introduced on Katana DEX for swapping using Ronin Wallet, making it convenient for users.
  2. For those preferring RON | RONIN for trading over Binance, the RON/PIXEL pool offers an alternative trading option.
  3. $PIXEL, the in-game digital asset for Pixels.xyz, is now available for trading with a total supply of 5 billion tokens.

How We Selected 15 Impact DAOs to Study #Season2

Crypto Good • 0 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
🔮 Crypto DAOs Impact
  1. The study focuses on Impact DAOs, digital organizations using web3 tools for coordination and transparency.
  2. Selection criteria include being an Impact DAO, diversity in categories, operational history, and tangible impact.
  3. The research process involved screening a list of 70+ Impact DAOs, selecting based on set criteria and recommendations.

Off to the right start?

Africa Crypto Report (ACR) • 0 implied HN points • 09 May 23
🔮 Crypto Blockchain Cryptocurrencies Regulations Digital Assets Taxation
  1. The Nigerian government approved the National Policy on Blockchain, indicating a significant step in utilizing blockchain technology in the country.
  2. The frameworks by the government distinguish between blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, aiming to shift the focus to broader blockchain applications.
  3. Questions remain unanswered about cryptocurrency regulations in Nigeria, as the government has taken measures against crypto since 2021.

What is the NFT Lore Layer?

skry • 0 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
🔮 Crypto NFTs Web3 Gaming Community Analytics
  1. The NFT Lore Layer consists of on-chain assets, storytelling, and a sub-community.
  2. Lore Layer projects redefine the concept of a 'platform' in Web3 by leveraging existing communities without being tied to a specific platform.
  3. Advances in gaming technology are enabling the integration of gaming, storytelling, and community building in the Lore Layer framework.

The Reason Blockchain Is Not Mainstream Yet.

Athena Scale • 0 implied HN points • 22 Jun 23
🔮 Crypto Blockchain Technology Finance Business Investment
  1. Blockchain technology is in the process of moving towards mainstream adoption, beginning with innovators and early adopters.
  2. The Chasm phase in technology adoption, characterized by hype and potential scams, poses a significant challenge for blockchain to reach the Early Majority.
  3. For blockchain to become mainstream, it needs to address issues like security, scams, and gain approval from risk-averse Late Majority and Laggards.

Step 1: Intro to Impact DAOs

Crypto Good • 0 implied HN points • 05 May 23
🔮 Crypto DeFi Blockchain Web3 Tokenomics
  1. Impact DAOs are decentralized organizations focused on doing good for people and the planet.
  2. Core purpose is crucial and should drive all actions, not just be an afterthought.
  3. Advantages of Impact DAOs include global participation, borderless setup, and decentralized decision-making.

Bitcoin ETFs, One Year Later

Coin Metrics' State of the Network • 0 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🔮 Crypto Bitcoin ETFs Market Trends Investment strategy Institutional Adoption
  1. In the past year, Bitcoin ETFs have gathered a lot of money, reaching about $115 billion in assets. This shows strong interest from both individual and institutional investors.
  2. BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF is leading the pack, holding around 540,000 BTC, while Grayscale has seen a drop in its holdings. This shift indicates a trend towards lower-cost investment options.
  3. Bitcoin ETFs are changing how people invest in crypto, making it more mainstream. They also help support the demand for Bitcoin, which in turn influences its price movements.

Coin Metrics’ 2025 Crypto Outlook

Coin Metrics' State of the Network • 0 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
🔮 Crypto Digital Assets Market Trends Blockchain Investments Regulations
  1. Bitcoin is expected to reach between $140K and $170K in 2025. This growth will come from more people adopting it and from ETF purchases.
  2. Ethereum is predicted to perform better, aiming for a price of $7,500 to $10,000 due to rising demand and new technologies being developed.
  3. Stablecoins are set to grow a lot in 2025, potentially doubling in size. People will use more of them for payments and trading as they become more accepted.

Bitcoin’s 16th Birthday

Coin Metrics' State of the Network • 0 implied HN points • 07 Jan 25
🔮 Crypto Blockchain Investment Finance Technology Market Trends
  1. Bitcoin is 16 years old, and it has changed how we think about money. It started as a small idea and now is seen as a reliable alternative to regular money.
  2. Unlike traditional currencies, Bitcoin is not controlled by governments. This makes it appealing to people who want more control over their own finances.
  3. Over the years, Bitcoin has become more stable, making it a more credible investment option. Developments like Bitcoin ETFs have helped it gain trust in the financial world.

New Year, Same Stories 🌷

Association of Cryptocurrency Journalists and Researchers • 0 implied HN points • 16 Feb 23
🔮 Crypto Blockchain Cryptocurrency
  1. The crypto and blockchain industry continues to experience dramatic events and impact from major players like FTX and Alameda.
  2. Top stories in January 2023 highlighted issues like unregistered securities, AI-generated content, and crypto exchange controversies.
  3. Crypto research in January covered topics like zero-knowledge proofs, stablecoin analysis, and Ethereum network upgrades.

Taxation of Cryptocurrency Mining

Vitarbi • 0 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
🔮 Crypto Taxation
  1. When mining cryptocurrency, taxable events are the receipt and subsequent sale of rewards.
  2. Income tax is based on the fair market value of coins at the time of receipt.
  3. Capital gains tax is incurred based on the difference between fair market value at sale and cost basis.

Conducting the ETH Census

Coin Metrics' State of the Network • 0 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🔮 Crypto Technology Blockchain Data Analysis Economics Innovation
  1. Calculating Ethereum's total supply is a complex task due to its multi-layered system.
  2. The total supply of ETH as of January 20th, 2024, was 120,179,693.24908, but accurate tracking is essential to avoid double counting.
  3. Accurate supply metrics impact various aspects like wealth distribution, market capitalization, and index creation in the cryptocurrency space.

The Crypto AI Bubble Burst. Its Next Run Could Get Weird.

Reverie by Daniel Cawrey • 0 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🔮 Crypto Tokens Tokenization DeFi AI agents Markets Layer 2
  1. The AI-crypto hype cycle collapsed, but because both AI and crypto keep advancing, the sector is likely to come back in a new and stranger wave.
  2. Very cheap token launches and low onchain fees mean AI agents could be paid small amounts of crypto to perform tasks like trading or giving financial advice, creating real demand for tokens.
  3. Tokenization can unlock new markets (real‑world assets, ads, prediction markets), but coupling that with AI agents could lead to unpredictable, highly volatile market behavior and new systemic risks.

Bitcoin vượt 33K USD

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 0 implied HN points • 02 Jan 21
🔮 Crypto Bitcoin Altcoin DeFi
  1. Bitcoin has crossed $33K, just 17 days after passing $20K, indicating a rapid increase in value.
  2. Despite altcoins like XRP struggling, Ethereum is predicted to be accepted as digital silver by institutions, with the launch of ETH futures on CME in February.
  3. The rise of DeFi as an alternative to ICO scams allows for borrowing and lending through smart contracts, offering opportunities for yield farming and liquidity mining.

Ronin Market is bringing trading card stores onchain!

Ronin’s Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🔮 Crypto NFTs Marketplaces Tokenomics Partnerships
  1. Ronin Market partnered with Vietnam’s Mystic Crew to put physical trading-card inventory onchain via a Mystery Machine, so collectors can spin to win real Pokémon and One Piece cards and redeem them for shipment.
  2. Two new Counter-Strike 2 Fortune Spin machines are live: a 1 USDC 'CS Eco' with big but rarer top prizes and a 5 USDC 'CS Full Buy' with more frequent, modest rewards.
  3. Fortune Master Season 3 is live with Milestone Missions, a new Daily Check-In, and Instant Rebates to earn Fortune Coins; win odds have been boosted over 2x for the season and coin value is pegged to RON and USDC.