In this year-end recap of the Chopping Block podcast, four crypto experts dive into the highlights of 2024, discussing the year’s biggest successes, failures, surprises, and what’s on the horizon for 2025. Key successes included Hyperliquid, the rise of American crypto firms, and the resurgence of DeFi. On the flip side, the downfall of the AppChain thesis, a prevailing sense of financial nihilism, and the collapse of Frentech were marked as significant setbacks. Notable surprises featured the popularity of tap-to-earn games and an absence of major hacks. Looking ahead to 2025, they predicted a significant rise in Bitcoin prices followed by a correction, a boost in AI coin market capitalization despite limited user adoption, and the rise of AI-driven crypto scams. The experts also discussed other intriguing topics, such as innovative mechanisms like pump bonding curves and yield amplification, standout memes including Justin Sun's AI-generated birthday photo and Pudgy Penguins, and inspiring comeback stories from Coinbase and Bitcoin ETFs.
