What if a financial system could run itself not by burning electricity, but by rewarding good behavior? That’s the promise of staking, a mechanism that powers many modern blockchains by turning users into network operators. 

In this week’s episode of The Clear Crypto Podcast, hosts Gareth Jenkinson and Nathan Jeffay sit down with StarkWare’s Noam Nisan to unpack how this trustless engine works, why it matters and what’s really at stake.

Understanding staking

Jeffay began by highlighting how staking is part of the backbone that keeps the blockchain running, and runs itself, with volunteers.

“By doing this, they’re saying, OK, we’re taking this task of running the blockchain seriously. Here’s some of our money. We’re putting it down. We’re showing that we’re serious about doing this.”

To help unpack this topic further and examine the deeper mechanics behind staking, the hosts are joined by Noam Nisan, principal researcher at StarkWare and a widely respected computer scientist who has held roles at Google and Princeton.

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“So we have this general system with operators… Why would they want to do that? The system, the protocol, incentivizes them to actually run the system,” Nisan explained. “Basically, it can give them tokens for operating the system.”

Staking offers what Nisan describes as two distinct types of security: computer science-based guarantees and economic disincentives for bad actors. 

“If a majority or supermajority, maybe two-thirds of the parties of the token of the staked amount are behaving properly… we can prove that the system acts correctly,” he said.

“But you also have what I would call an economic guarantee… if they destroy the system, very likely the value of the token… will go down. So they are the one losing.”

PoW vs PoS

Jenkinson, a vocal Bitcoin (BTC) supporter, posed the classic comparison: proof-of-work vs proof-of-stake. “Do you have any strong feelings about one or the other?” he asked.

“The truth is that it’s not clear.. it’s really a social question, I think.”

Nisan noted that both mechanisms involve trade-offs around cost, control, and decentralization. The episode also explores the role of staking in tokenomics and system design. Nisan unpacks how fee mechanics and inflation controls, such as Ethereum’s minting curve, help keep the ecosystem in balance.

To hear the full conversation on The Clear Crypto Podcast,  listen to the full episode on Cointelegraph’s Podcasts page, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And don’t forget to check out Cointelegraph’s full lineup of other shows! 

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Cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) can help investors protect their eroding purchasing power during an era of exponential currency debasement, according to analysts and industry leaders.

Investing in digital assets is becoming increasingly important in the “world of the exponential age and currency debasement,” according to Raoul Pal, founder and CEO of Global Macro Investor.

“You don’t own enough crypto. When you do, you don’t own enough NFT’s, as art is upstream of wealth. Both will never be this cheap again,” Pal said.

NFTs are “the single best long term store of wealth I know and you get to buy it before network effects kick in,” he added in another response.

Source: Raoul Pal

“There is some validity to the statement that NFTs, and in extension art, become a vehicle for the wealthy once a certain level of wealth is reached,” wrote Nicolai Sondergaard, research analyst at Nansen, calling it a “natural move” for asset diversification.

“For traders and investors, further down the wealth curve, NFTs are partially about speculating on future returns,” he told Cointelegraph, adding that NFTs also benefit from the allure of strong communities, beyond just wealth creation.

Related: German gov’t missed out on $2.3B profit after selling Bitcoin at $57K

Art NFTs may see a resurgence as “digital ownership gains acceptance among younger, tech-savvy cohorts,” if collections manage to move past the “speculative fervor,” according to Anndy Lian, author and intergovernmental blockchain expert.

Still, Lian said broader adoption depends on blockchain networks improving scalability and security to “instill confidence.” He added that art NFTs “must transcend hype, anchoring value in cultural significance or utility.”

Beeple’s “Everydays: The First 5000 Days.” Source: Christies

Some digital artists made millions of dollars through NFTs. Digital artist Mike Winkelmann, also known as Beeple, auctioned his “Everydays: The First 5000 Days,” NFT artwork for a record-breaking $69 million in March 2021.

Meanwhile, the largest NFT collections continue to lack upside momentum, unable to recover toward their 2021 highs.

CryptoPunks floor price, all-time chart. Source: NFTpricefloor

CryptoPunks, the largest NFT collection by market capitalization, is currently trading at a floor price of 46 Ether (ETH), 59% down from its peak of 113.9 ETH, recorded on Oct. 9, 2021, NFTpricefloor data shows.

Related: GENIUS Act ‘legitimizes’ stablecoins for global institutional adoption

NFT market set for recovery in early 2026, after Bitcoin cycle top

Despite the temporary lack of interest, NFTs could be poised to see more momentum after the profits from Bitcoin’s (BTC) cycle top start rotating into other digital assets.

“That likely puts the peak of the NFT market in Q1 2026, but don’t expect a repeat of the 21/22 euphoria that we saw in NFTs,” according to Yehudah Petscher, strategist at CryptoSlam NFT data platform and SlamAI.

“We’re likely an entire cycle away from NFTs having a parabolic run,” Petscher told Cointelegraph, adding:

“There is a perfect storm brewing for 2030: BTC at $1 million, a matured metaverse, AI reshaping labor economics (whether through universal basic income or universal high income, falling production costs, etc), AR/VR adoption, and NFT ownership equaling ownership of a brand.”

However, the previous NFT bull market was driven largely by metaverse speculation and wealthy traders, Petscher noted — factors that are mostly absent in the current cycle.

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

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As the question of stablecoin regulation heats up in the US Senate, so has the issue of which members are personally invested in cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency firms.

On May 19, the Senate voted to invoke cloture and move ahead with the GENIUS Act, which would provide a regulatory framework for stablecoins. The measure passed 66-32, with 16 Democrats supporting the bill.

Democratic concerns over corruption and politicians’ ties to cryptocurrency firms made the bipartisan move controversial. After the vote was finished, Colorado Senator Michael Bennet introduced the STABLE GENIUS Act. The bill would prevent members of Congress from issuing or investing in digital currency and require them to put their crypto in a blind trust while in office.

Bills to prevent members of Congress from investing in companies they regulate have had little success. However, lawmakers are still required to disclose rough estimations of their, their spouse’s and their children’s investments. Here are 11 US senators who have invested in crypto firms.

Montana

Tim Sheehy, Republican

Tim Sheehy is a newcomer to the Senate, first securing his election in the 2024 cycle. In his campaign, Sheehy contrasted himself against his opponent, former Senator Jon Tester, stating, “Crypto represents the future of finance and the internet, and thousands of jobs for America.”

Source: US Senate

Investments: According to a June 2024 filing, Sheehy has an investment between $1,001 and $15,000 in Intercontinental Exchange, which offers futures contracts on cryptocurrencies.

Steve Daines, Republican

Steve Daines has been in the US Senate for 10 years, assuming office in 2015. In recent years, he has become a proponent of the crypto industry, rubbing elbows with industry bigwigs like Bitcoin (BTC) evangelist and Strategy CEO Michael Saylor and receiving a Digital Future Award from the Crypto Council for Innovation. 

Daines (right) receives a crypto industry award. Source: Steve Daines

Investments: In a November 2024 filing, Daines reported selling shares in cryptocurrency-related exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

They included Valkyrie Bitcoin and Ether Strategy ETF, Vaneck Bitcoin Strategy ETF, Proshares Bitcoin Strategy ETF, Bitwise Crypto Industry Innovators ETF and Proshares Bitcoin Strategy ETF.

Nevada

Jackey Rosen, Democrat

Senator Jacky Rosen is currently serving her second term in office, first getting elected to the Senate in the 2018 midterm elections. Her platform states that blockchain and crypto are “ushering in a new era for the digital economy,” stating that Washington needs to develop solid legal frameworks to keep up.

Source: US Senate

Investments: According to a July 24 filing, Rosen has an investment in PayPal. The payments giant first launched its stablecoin in April 2023.

Alaska 

Dan Sullivan, Republican

Senator Dan Sullivan is currently in his second term, first taking office in January 2015. While not as outspoken as his colleagues about cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, he co-sponsored the GENIUS Act and supported a joint resolution with the House of Representatives to change accounting standards for crypto companies.

Source: US Senate

Investments: According to an August 2024 filing, Sullivan owns shares in BlackRock, which offers crypto-centered ETFs.

Oklahoma

Markwayne Mullin, Republican

Senator Markwayne Mullin took office in January 2023 after winning a special election against Democrat Kendra Horn in 2022. Before assuming office, Mullin lauded crypto as a potential retirement investment and said his state could offer Bitcoin miners favorable terms. While in the Senate, he has supported GENIUS and the repeal of Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 121.

Source: US Senate

Investments: As of an August 2024 filing, Mullin owns shares in Intercontinental Exchange and BlackRock, while his wife owns shares of PayPal. 

Alabama

Tommy Tuberville, Republican

Senator Tommy Tuberville is currently serving his first term in the US Senate, first getting elected in 2020. While in office, Tuberville has come out in support of crypto. In April 2025, he introduced a bill letting Americans put crypto in their retirement funds. He has also vocally supported the establishment of a Bitcoin reserve. 

Source: Tommy Tuberville

Investments: According to a July 2024 filing, Tuberville has investments in PayPal.

Katie Britt, Republican

Senator Katie Britt was first elected to the Senate during the 2022 midterms. While campaigning, she accepted donations in cryptocurrency from donors. In 2024, she advocated to “Get Gensler Out” of the Securities and Exchange Commission, saying that the Biden administration was stifling innovation. 

Source: US Senate

Investments: Britt’s husband has common stock in crypto-friendly payments firm Block, according to a July 2024 filing.

Ohio

Bernie Moreno, Republican

Bernie Moreno is new to the Senate, securing his seat in the 2024 federal elections. While on the campaign trail and in the Senate, Moreno called for more favorable regulations for the industry. In January, he supported President Donald Trump’s “day-one” nomination of Paul Atkins to head the SEC.

Source: US Senate

Investments: According to an August 2024 filing, Moreno owns between $500,000 and $1 million in shares in online trading platform eToro, which offers crypto trading services. 

West Virginia

Shelley Capito, Republican

Senator Shelley Capito has served in the Senate since 2015. During her tenure, she raised concerns about how cryptocurrencies could be used for terrorism financing. Her voting record is crypto-friendly; she supported both the GENIUS Act and the joint resolution to repeal SAB 121.

Source: US Congress

Investments: According to a May 2024 filing, her husband had between $15,001 and $50,000 invested in BlackRock. 

Pennsylvania

Dave McCormick, Republican

Senator Dave McCormick, who previously served as under secretary of the treasury for international affairs under President George W. Bush, is a first-term senator, getting elected in 2024. While campaigning, McCormick boosted his state’s Bitcoin mining industry. Industry figures like Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong have also spoken out in favor of his position on crypto.

Source: US Congress

Investments: A March 2025 filing shows a number of purchases in the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF.

Rhode Island

Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat

Sheldon Whitehouse is the senior senator of his state, serving in Congress since 2011. In the last several years, he has raised concerns over the energy consumption of Bitcoin mining, as well as the potential for Russia to use crypto to evade US sanctions. He has voted against the GENIUS Act and co-sponsored the Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2023, which Stand With Crypto rated as “very anti-crypto.” 

Source: US Congress

Investments: According to an August 2024 filing, Whitehouse has investments in Tesla, Block and PayPal. All investments are between $1,001 and $15,000. 

This list is not exhaustive; there are plenty of companies in which lawmakers invest that are affected by cryptocurrency price movements and market effects. It also does not include any members of the House of Representatives, where crypto regulation is similarly in the works. 

Lawmakers will likely become more interested in investing in crypto as it becomes more mainstream and potential obstacles to congressional investments flounder and fail to move forward.