BREAKDOWN: Bitcoin, Stablecoins, DeFi and Privacy: How COVID-19 Is Changing Key Crypto Narratives
How a once-in-a-generation crisis is shifting the way with think and talk about different parts of the crypto industry - from bitcoin to DeFi to stablecoins.
ABOUT
On January 28th, Bloomberg’s Joe Weisenthal tweeted “Notable overlap on here between the most alarmist people tweeting about the virus and those who are obsessed with the size of the Fed balance sheet.”
There is no doubt that the bitcoin and crypto community broadly were far earlier in recognizing the potential significance of the Covid-19 crisis than most professional communities. Today , America preps for at least another month of lockdown and social distancing. The markets continue their chaotic swing as investors are simply unable to price in such a once in a lifetime event.
A question for the crypto community becomes: how is this impacting narratives about our own industry?
In this episode, @NLW looks at the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on narratives around:
- Bitcoin
- Stablecoins
- Digital Dollars and Central Bank Digital Currencies
- DeFi
- Privacy
HOST
CoinDesk is the world leader in news, prices and information on bitcoin and other digital currencies.
We cover news and analysis on the trends, price movements, technologies, companies and people in the bitcoin and digital currency world.

EPISODES
The Blockspace Pod: Bitcoin Craters, French Gov't Challenge MARA Acquisition, Cipher's Note Sees $13B But Interest
Bitcoin nukes to $65k as the industry faces a historic selloff. We cover a massive 13% difficulty drop, France’s push...
19 hours ago
Patrick Witt says 'let's not let perfect be the enemy of good' in stablecoin standoff
Feb 3, 2026
The Blockspace Pod: What’s Really Driving Bitcoin’s Price w/ Rory Murray
CleanSpark’s Rory Murray joins us to explain the macro forces driving bitcoin’s price and how the options market may ...
Feb 3, 2026

The Mining Pod
Feb 10, 2025

CoinDesk Podcast Network
The top stories and best shows in the blockchain world, delivered daily from the team at CoinDesk.
Dec 20, 2023

Markets Outlook
Tune in as CoinDesk runs down action in the crypto market and some of the most important recent industry development.
Dec 19, 2023

Unchained
Unchained, your no hype resource for all things crypto by former Forbes senior editor Laura Shin, author of The Cryptopians.
Dec 18, 2023
