CRYPTO 101 Podcast Episode Summary

Episode: Crypto Rundown: The McRib Is Back & The Government Reopens?! What Does This Do for Crypto?!
Date: November 12, 2025
Hosts: Bryce Paul (“TiVo”) & Brendan Viehman
Special Guest: Brian

Episode Overview

This week’s Crypto Rundown explores the effects of the U.S. government reopening on the crypto markets, the unexpected market signals (like the return of McDonald’s McRib), and a rapid-fire breakdown of key developments: regulatory shifts, major buys by institutional players, ETF news, the meme and NFT landscape, and a spirited reflection on prediction markets and future trends. The hosts maintain their signature mix of data-driven analysis, speculation, banter, and “alpha” for the retail crypto crowd.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Government Reopening: Market Relief and Trade Opportunities

• [01:16–03:02]
  The hosts highlight the market’s positive reaction to news that the U.S. government shutdown was averted.
  • Market impact: Positive sentiment, tick-ups across Bitcoin and Ethereum, with the shutdown relief coinciding with the start of holiday travel season.
  • Brian: “People are going to probably be able to get on a plane to enjoy their loved ones for Thanksgiving. And the market really liked it yesterday in particular.” (01:55)
  • The use of Poly Market to track government shutdown odds, with the team’s call (at 25% odds, rising to 95%) serving as an example of leveraging prediction markets for actionable “alpha.”
  • Brian: “We gave it out as not financial advice, just a couple friends looking at Poly Market...you could have bought in at 25% and it shot up to 95%...that’s a quick couple bucks there that you could have made.” (03:02)
  • The conversation underscores how macro news can drive sharp market moves, but the need remains for caution due to lingering uncertainties (jobs, CPI/PPI data, direction of the Fed).

2. Crypto Price Action: Relief Rally, Expectations, and Institutional Movements

• [09:58–12:07]
  Brendan notes the shift in crypto market sentiment from “extreme fear” to cautious optimism and bets on a “Santa Rally” year-end surge.
  • Brendan: “I really believe the end of the year could really be spectacular for crypto...bitcoin is still kind of the asset to own or dollar cost average into.” (09:58)
  • Discussion about psychological and technical levels (Bitcoin holding above $100K, the importance of the 50-day moving average), with specific references to charts and recent “wicks” below support.
  • Altcoins still lag; “altcoin season...certainly has not happened by any means.” (04:31)

3. Legislative Resumption and Regulatory Moves

• [12:07–16:53]
  • With Congress back in session, emphasis on how crypto regulation and new bills will start moving again; long-term bullishness for the sector.
  • Trump’s “tariff dividend” ($2,000 checks) makes the rounds on social, echoing COVID-era stimulus.
    • Brian: “Back to when the COVID checks came. And that was a huge liquidity boost...if this $2,000 [dividend] happens again, that could be a catalyst.” (14:29)
    • However, clarification from Trump’s advisors dims expectations for direct checks.
  • IRS Guidance: New pathways for crypto ETPs and ETFs to offer staking, potentially enabling a new era of dividend-producing staking funds.
    • Brendan: “It removes a big barrier for regulated funds to include staking as part of their investment offerings, which will absolutely boost adoption. I think this is huge news.” (16:53)

4. The McRib Indicator – A Crypto Meme Come True

• [17:51–21:28]
  The return of McDonald’s McRib becomes a tongue-in-cheek—but data-referenced—market signal.
  • TiVo claims boots-on-the-ground confirmation and shares a social media “timeline flooded” with McRib returning, which historically has coincided with crypto rallies.
  • Brendan: “I think it’s the strongest indicator of all of crypto that the McRib is back. Bitcoin, like two X’s every time this McRib comes back. If it does, I’ll get a McRib tattooed on myself!” (20:28)
  • Caution: “Not financial advice, but it is quite a delicious strategy, if you will...” (21:28)

5. Whales, Institutional Buys, and Influencers

• [21:28–24:18]
  • Michael Saylor’s MicroStrategy adds $50M in Bitcoin; Vivek Ramaswamy’s company adds $162M Bitcoin.
  • Tom Lee’s bullishness discussed through insider meta-analysis—his “hair trend” correlates with conviction!
  • Brendan: “Smart money’s buying as…a lot of like smaller retail people might be getting spooked and selling. But…back to this McRib, because I can’t shake it...” (23:13)
  • Reference to BitMine (BMNR) and ARK's aggressive ETH accumulation, with real-time portfolio numbers shared.

6. Long-Term vs. Short-Term Mindsets

• [27:04–29:46]
  • Tom Lee (guest clip): “I’d like to correct something… I’ve never thought retail was wrong...The person who’s buying stocks because they have a long term view…is going to get this market right…anyone who operates with a long term view is the smart money.” (27:04)
  • Importance of not being shaken out by short-term volatility; institutional managers may be more short-term driven due to benchmarks (only 22% are outperforming YTD).
  • Brian: “So, what does that mean for the end of the year?...if you got shook out, then you might have to get back in. It's called window dressing…” (30:09)

7. ETF Momentum & XRP Army

• [32:42–35:44]
  • Hints at an XRP ETF; acknowledgment of the “cult-like” resilience and tenacity of the XRP community.
  • Discussion of upcoming interviews and end-of-year perspectives from ETF insiders.

8. Token Launchpads & AI/DeFi Ecosystem Innovation

• [35:44–38:57]
  • Three token launchpads announced in the Coinbase/Base ecosystem within 24 hours, including a focus on AI-powered platforms (Virtua, Luna Fun, OpenServe).
  • Coinbase’s new launchpad design penalizes quick sellers to curb pump-and-dump schemes.
  • Brendan: “Coinbase, hats off, they’re continuing to innovate…they’re just not sitting on their hands and collecting a check from all the fees. They’re continuing to deliver to the people that matter the most.” (38:44)

9. Meme Coin & NFT Market Pulse

• [39:08–54:36]
  • Zcash (privacy coin) recent “hockey stick” spike and correction—a lesson in being wary of parabolic runs.
  • Robinhood/Jupiter partnership: First mainstream U.S. brokerage integrating Solana SPL tokens.
    • Brendan: “Robinhood’s coming out with their own wallet offering SPL tokens...good for Solana, good for Jupiter, good for Robinhood.” (41:36)
  • NFT projects: Moonbirds launching merch, Wrecked Drinks expanding into retail, Pudgy Penguins targeting mass media and children’s TV.
    • Brendan: “...the [NFT] brands out there, even though the NFTs are, you know, seen a few red days here…they continue to grow the IP and brand, and I think they’re going to be around for quite some time.” (54:36)

10. Prediction Markets, Gambling, and Industry Consolidation

• [43:02–50:54]
  • PrizePicks partners with Polymarket, bringing prediction markets to the daily fantasy audience.
  • Brendan: “It does feel like there’s a movement here...bookies were the only way to, you know, place a bet. And then sportsbooks came out...Now you can’t turn on ESPN or ABC...without a parlay...Are we going to see a change...with prediction markets now?” (48:46)
  • Notes on the overextension and coming consolidation within sports betting and prediction markets, with industry examples via DraftKings and Penn.

11. Listener Q&A: HBAR (Hedera)

• [56:07–58:01]
  • Q: Thoughts on HBAR?
  • Brendan: “Haven’t been following it super closely...looks pretty flat for the past year which isn’t terrible. With...stablecoin settlement and tokenization...I could see it continue to do well, but it’s tough with altcoins right now.”
  • Hosts stress long-term perspective, careful position sizing, and self-education, especially as volatility continues.

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps & Attribution)

• “The market started to creep back up. And that’s, that’s normal because bitcoin, ethereum, crypto digital assets are still looked at as risk on assets.”
  — Brendan, [01:55]

• “We gave it out as not financial advice...and it shot up to 95%...that’s a quick couple bucks there that you could have made.”
  — Brian, [03:02]

• “I really believe the end of the year could really be spectacular for crypto...bitcoin’s kind of the asset to own or dollar cost average into.”
  — Brendan, [09:58]

• “I think it’s the strongest indicator of all of crypto that the McRib is back. Bitcoin, like two X’s on every. Every time this McRib comes back. If it does, I’ll get a McRib tattooed on myself.”
  — Brendan, [20:28]

• “Anyone who operates with a long term view is the smart money.”
  — Tom Lee, [27:04]

• “Smart money’s buying as, you know, a lot of like smaller retail people might be getting spooked and selling...These guys are not shaken up by a small 2% dip in the market.”
  — Brendan, [23:13]

• “Coinbase, hats off, they’re continuing to innovate...They’re just not sitting on their hands and collecting a check from all the fees. They’re continuing to deliver to the people that matter the most.”
  — Brendan, [38:44]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Government shutdown & Poly Market: [01:16–03:02]
• Market climate & holiday/Santa rally preview: [09:58–12:07]
• Regulatory restart, Trump’s $2k “tariff dividend” & IRS staking guidance: [12:07–17:51]
• McRib Returns, Market Meme Magic: [17:51–21:28]
• Major Buys/Institutional Moves/Tom Lee’s Alpha: [21:28–29:46]
• XRP ETF/Community Shoutout: [32:42–35:44]
• Coinbase Launchpads/AI Integration: [35:44–38:57]
• NFT/Meme Market Pulse: [39:08–54:36]
• Prediction Market Madness/Gambling Industry Reflection: [43:02–50:54]
• Community Q&A (HBAR): [56:07–58:01]

Conclusion & Tone

In classic Crypto 101 fashion, the episode fuses actionable market intelligence with irreverent humor and community engagement. The hosts celebrate retail resilience, champion DYOR (“Do Your Own Research”), and see opportunities as 2025 closes out—even as volatility, regulation, and meme magic keep everyone guessing.

Sign off celebrates Veterans Day, with gratitude to listeners and a reminder to catch next episode’s technical analysis deep dive.