Crypto, Explained by the National Cryptocurrency Association

30: Crypto Safety Explained: What the FBI Wants You to Know

Most online safety advice falls into one of two camps. It is either too vague to be useful, or so overwhelming that you tune it out before you can act on it. The truth sits somewhere in the middle. In this episode of Crypto, Explained, host Ali Tager sits down with Patrick Wyman, Chief of the Virtual Assets Unit at the FBI, and Travis Wiehn, Supervisory Special Agent at the FBI, for a candid conversation about what online scams actually look like in 2026 and the small set of habits that protect against most of them. The Virtual Assets Unit was established in 2022 as the FBI's dedicated team for crypto and digital asset cases, and Patrick and Travis walk through what their work really looks like, from tracing illicit value on the blockchain to freezing assets and returning them to victims. The conversation gets practical fast. Travis lays out three foundational habits anyone can build: delete the suspicious wrong-number texts, ignore unsolicited investment DMs, and always go directly to your platform rather than clicking links in emails. Patrick reinforces it with the FBI's Take a Beat campaign, built around the simple act of pausing before reacting to anything urgent. We also dig into how AI is reshaping the threat landscape, from deepfakes and voice cloning to grandparent emergency scams that sound real. From there, the conversation turns to the harder topics: how to talk to aging parents and kids about scams, the value of a family code word, and what the Internet Crime Complaint Centers (IC3) 2025 report reveals about where these crimes are headed. Patrick and Travis explain why reporting still matters even when results take time. What We Discuss: (0:00) - Intro & teaser (deepfake/LinkedIn story) (0:30) - Welcome & episode overview: Crypto scams (2:37) - Introducing guests: FBI's Virtual Asset Unit (2:38) - What is the FBI Virtual Asset Unit? (Patrick) (9:18) - Day-to-day casework at the VAU (Travis) (14:47) - What do you wish more people knew about this work? (20:47) - What does staying safe online actually look like? (22:05) - Top 2-3 foundational habits to stay safe online (28:48) - Social media & AI deepfake risks (37:07) - Protecting aging parents & family conversations (42:22) - IC3 Annual Report & scam data breakdown (48:07) - #1 most common scam: Investment/crypto fraud (55:02) - Closing on an optimistic note Learn more about the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA): Website: https://nca.org [https://nca.org/] X: @natcryptoassoc [https://twitter.com/@natcryptoassoc] Instagram: @natcryptoassoc [https://www.instagram.com/natcryptoassoc/] TikTok: @natcryptoassoc [https://www.tiktok.com/@natcryptoassoc] LinkedIn: National Cryptocurrency Association [https://www.linkedin.com/company/natcryptoassoc] Facebook: National Cryptocurrency Association [https://www.facebook.com/natcryptoassoc/] Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice.

29: Who Uses Crypto, Really? with Stu Alderoty

Two years ago, the picture of a typical crypto holder was a 25-year-old guy in his mom's basement, chasing meme coins and dreaming of a Lambo. The data today tells a very different story. In this episode of Crypto, Explained, host Ali Tager sits down with returning co-host Stu Alderoty, President of the National Cryptocurrency Association and Chief Legal Officer at Ripple, to unpack the brand new 2026 State of Crypto Holders Report. Last year's headline was 1 in 5 American adults. This year it is 1 in 4, with more than 67 million U.S. adults holding crypto. Ali and Stu walk through who these new holders actually are, and the picture is nothing like the common stereotype. Construction workers outpace finance professionals, more than a quarter of holders earn under $75,000 a year, and 28 percent are 55 or older. We also dig into what they are doing with their crypto, from sending money to friends and family to paying for everyday goods, and why the data shows people are using it, not just holding it. From there, the conversation turns to the why behind the shift. Financial independence, personal growth, and the excitement of being part of something innovative are all up year over year, signaling that the motivation has moved from getting rich quick to building something for yourself. Stu also draws on his decades in traditional finance to explain why the line between TradFi and crypto is blurring, and why regulation may be the last domino for the crypto-curious still on the sidelines. What We Discuss: (0:00) – Intro: Crypto's normalization moment (cell phones vs. crypto comparison) (0:32) – The old image of crypto: who people thought was using it (1:44) – "Something is happening" – not a craze, a structural shift (2:36) – Interview begins with Stu Alderoty (NCA / Ripple) (2:52) – The big headline: 1 in 4 Americans now own crypto (12:55) – Who actually owns crypto? The surprising demographic breakdown (17:01) – Manufacturing workers & blue collar crypto usage data (20:18) – How people are actually using crypto (sending, spending, businesses) (23:45) – Why people use crypto: financial independence up to 54% (36:21) – Crypto holders see it as established & integrated into traditional finance (39:13) – The biggest hurdles before crypto becomes truly seamless (41:15) – Access, education & confidence: what needs to happen next (46:17) – "Knowledge equals trust" – how to get started with crypto Learn more about the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA): Website: https://nca.org [https://nca.org/] X: @natcryptoassoc [https://twitter.com/@natcryptoassoc] Instagram: @natcryptoassoc [https://www.instagram.com/natcryptoassoc/] TikTok: @natcryptoassoc [https://www.tiktok.com/@natcryptoassoc] LinkedIn: National Cryptocurrency Association [https://www.linkedin.com/company/natcryptoassoc] Facebook: National Cryptocurrency Association [https://www.facebook.com/natcryptoassoc/] Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice.

28: Behind Every Transaction: How Crypto Really Works

Ever nodded along when someone mentioned gas fees or layer twos, secretly hoping no one would ask you to explain? You are definitely not alone. The truth is, once you understand how crypto actually moves from one person to another, a lot of the mystery disappears. In this episode of Crypto, Explained, host Ali Tager walks through the four concepts that explain how crypto moves under the hood, giving you the vocabulary to follow along in any conversation. We start with gas fees, the small cost of asking a global network of computers to process and verify your transaction, and why those fees go to the people running the network rather than any middleman or company. From there, we unpack on-chain versus off-chain transactions, using a simple bar tab analogy to show why some transactions are recorded permanently on the blockchain while others happen faster and cheaper outside of it. We also explore layer two networks like Lightning, Arbitrum, and Optimism, which sit on top of the main blockchain to move transactions faster and at a lower cost, and why this is where a lot of the real crypto innovation is happening today. Finally, we cover block explorers, the free public search engines that let anyone look up any transaction, wallet, or block in real time. By the end, you will have a clearer picture of what actually happens when crypto goes from point A to point B, and the confidence to keep up when these terms come up in conversation. What We Discuss: * (0:00) Intro * (1:20) Gas Fees * (2:55) On-Chain vs Off-Chain * (3:56) Layer Two * (5:38) Block Explorer * (6:57) Recap & Outro Learn more about the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA): Website: https://nca.org [https://nca.org/] X: @natcryptoassoc [https://twitter.com/@natcryptoassoc] Instagram: @natcryptoassoc [https://www.instagram.com/natcryptoassoc/] TikTok: @natcryptoassoc [https://www.tiktok.com/@natcryptoassoc] LinkedIn: National Cryptocurrency Association [https://www.linkedin.com/company/natcryptoassoc] Facebook: National Cryptocurrency Association [https://www.facebook.com/natcryptoassoc/] Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice.

27: The Latest In Crypto: Breaking Down Recent Headlines

Crypto headlines can feel overwhelming, full of noise, strong opinions, and confusing signals. This episode breaks them down into simple, clear takeaways so you can understand what is actually happening and what is worth paying attention to. In this episode of Crypto, Explained, we unpack the biggest crypto headlines shaping the space right now. We break down media skepticism through the Ben McKenzie documentary, PayPal expanding its PYUSD stablecoin globally, banks like Wells Fargo exploring digital dollars, and how companies like Mastercard are integrating blockchain into everyday payment systems. We also explore what these stories signal about where crypto is heading, from stablecoins becoming part of global financial infrastructure to the early connection between AI and crypto through automated payments and new digital systems. Ali is the approachable, curious voice behind Crypto, Explained, helping beginners make sense of crypto in plain English so they can feel confident, capable, and included as they learn how crypto can fit into everyday life. What We Discuss: * (00:45) Breaking Down Crypto Headlines in Plain English * (01:40) Headline 1: Media Skepticism and the Benjamin McKenzie Documentary * (04:26) Headline 2: PayPal Expands PYUSD to 70 Markets * (07:14) Headline 3: Wells Fargo and the WFUSD Digital Dollar Signal * (09:15) Headline 4: Mastercard Crypto Partner Program * (12:08) Headline 5: AI and Crypto with Agentic Payments * (15:24) Headline 6: Tether Expands Beyond Crypto * (16:49) The Big Shift: Crypto Moving Into the Mainstream Learn more about the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA): Website: https://nca.org [https://nca.org/] X: @natcryptoassoc [https://twitter.com/@natcryptoassoc] Instagram: @natcryptoassoc [https://www.instagram.com/natcryptoassoc/] TikTok: @natcryptoassoc [https://www.tiktok.com/@natcryptoassoc] LinkedIn: National Cryptocurrency Association [https://www.linkedin.com/company/natcryptoassoc] Facebook: National Cryptocurrency Association [https://www.facebook.com/natcryptoassoc/] Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice.

26: Inside the NCA: How Crypto, Explained Was Built with Ant Lillingston | VP of Marketing, NCA

Crypto can feel confusing when the story behind it is missing. Many people hear about crypto through headlines, trends, or opinions, but rarely understand who is building it or why it exists in the first place. In this episode of Crypto, Explained, we sit down with Ant Lillingston, VP of Marketing at the National Cryptocurrency Association, to unpack why the NCA was created and how Crypto, Explained came to life. We break down how crypto inherited a culture of complexity and exclusion, why that created a gap for everyday people, and how the NCA is working to make crypto more accessible through real stories, simple education, and practical tools. We also explore how real crypto users across the country are using it in everyday ways, what the NCA learned from its first year of research and storytelling, and why the biggest barrier to adoption comes down to understanding rather than trust. Ant Lillingston is the VP of Marketing at the National Cryptocurrency Association, where he leads brand strategy, storytelling, and education efforts focused on helping everyday people understand and use crypto with confidence. What We Discuss: * (00:40) Why the NCA Exists and the Mission Behind Crypto, Explained * (03:03) Why Crypto Feels Confusing and Who It Was Built For * (9:47) Real Stories: How Everyday People Actually Use Crypto * (16:53) Why Most Crypto Use Cases Are Simple and Practical * (23:32) What the Data Reveals About Crypto Users in America * (26:14) The Real Barrier: Understanding, Not Distrust * (27:25) How the NCA Is Making Crypto Easier to Learn * (33:25) The Impact of Negative Narratives on Adoption * (38:21) Scams, Safety, and Personal Responsibility * (41:41) How to Take Your First Step Into Crypto Learn more about the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA): Website: https://nca.org [https://nca.org/] X: @natcryptoassoc [https://twitter.com/@natcryptoassoc] Instagram: @natcryptoassoc [https://www.instagram.com/natcryptoassoc/] TikTok: @natcryptoassoc [https://www.tiktok.com/@natcryptoassoc] LinkedIn: National Cryptocurrency Association [https://www.linkedin.com/company/natcryptoassoc] Facebook: National Cryptocurrency Association [https://www.facebook.com/natcryptoassoc/] Learn more about Ant Lillingston: Linkedin: Ant Lillingston [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ant-lillingston-493a076/] Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice.