Crypto Tycoons' Playlists Exposed: SBF's Heartbreak Tunes, Brian's 60-Time Loop Track
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Crypto Tycoons' Playlists Exposed: SBF's Heartbreak Tunes, Brian's 60-Time Loop Track
From SBF's emo style to Brian's motivational tracks, crypto moguls aren't robots—they have heartbeats and melodies too.
Navigating Web3 tides with focused insightsBy: 1912212.eth, Foresight News
If you're a billionaire in the crypto world, spending your days tweeting grand visions about Bitcoin's future, yet secretly looping Coldplay ballads at night—or obsessing over Broadway musicals—doesn't that sound dramatic? Yet it's true.
According to Decrypt, on July 31, the website panamaplaylists.com went live, exposing Spotify accounts of 49 celebrities, politicians, and journalists. The list includes political figures like U.S. Vice President JD Vance, tech icons such as Sam Altman and both founding partners of a16z, as well as major figures from the crypto space, including SBF and Coinbase founder Brian Armstrong.
The site instantly blew up online. This isn’t just a data leak—it’s a magnifying glass into the private lives of these “digital cowboys.” Dubbed “Panama Playlists,” the name is clearly inspired by the infamous “Panama Papers,” which revealed offshore accounts of global elites. This time, the target is hidden musical tastes on Spotify.
The site operates anonymously, linking only to a Proton Mail email address, with no hacker manifestos or technical boasting. The creators claim all data comes from public sources, though many suspect web scraping or minor data breaches. Spotify’s privacy settings have always been loose; if users register with real names, their playlists can easily be unearthed.
As a result, the “private playlists” of crypto titans are now public. From Sam Bankman-Fried’s emo vibes to Brian Armstrong’s motivational tracks, these playlists reveal not just musical taste, but glimpses into their inner worlds. After all, who doesn’t need music to heal amid the rollercoaster of crypto markets?
SBF’s Emo Vibes
The first protagonist: FTX founder SBF, currently serving a 25-year prison sentence for fraud. His Spotify playlists are divided into two categories: “loud” and “soft.”
The “soft” list is a collection of sad songs: Coldplay’s “Yellow” sings of stars and skin, Plain White T’s “Hey There Delilah” tells of sweet long-distance love, Frank Ocean’s “Bad Religion” offers deep self-reflection. Also included are Bon Iver’s “Blindsided,” Blink-182’s pop-punk nostalgia, and The Chainsmokers’ EDM hits. Doesn’t this sound like a fallen tycoon reflecting on life from a Caribbean island?
Switching to the “loud” list, The Weeknd’s “Save Your Tears” pleads to reclaim lost emotions, while Khalid’s “Young Dumb & Broke” and Sia’s “Unstoppable” feel like self-motivational anthems.
After SBF’s playlist was exposed, memes flooded the internet: some photoshopped him rocking out in prison with headphones, others joked, “This playlist is more emo than the FTX collapse.”
Brian’s Motivational Anthems
Brian Armstrong, CEO of crypto exchange Coinbase, curates playlists that resemble a collection of motivational anthems. In his “Repeat” list, Gareth Emery’s “Long Way Home” appears 60 times.
The song speaks of a long journey home—paired with electronic beats, it’s the perfect soundtrack for a crypto bear market. Picture Armstrong, during a market crash, AirPods in, replaying this track, whispering: “The road is long, but perseverance wins.”
In response to the leak of his “repeat” playlist, he tweeted: “It helps me focus deeply. Don’t ask me why.”
Users quickly pointed out that with a repeat button available, there’s no need to create a playlist with 60 identical tracks.
His “Morning” list is sunnier: “Two Suns In The Sky” by Davi, Whitney Houston’s “Greatest Love of All,” and Pryda’s “SOL.” These tracks might serve as morning coffee, energizing him against regulatory pressure. His “favs” list is even more interesting: “Wait For It” from the Broadway musical Hamilton, and “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.
Then there’s Chamath Palihapitiya, host of the All-In podcast and an active figure in crypto investing. His “work!” list screams workaholic: Drake’s “0 To 100 / The Catch Up”—a rap about rising from zero to hero—perfectly mirrors his startup journey. Sia’s “Cheap Thrills” delivers cheap excitement, Young Money and Drake’s “Trophies” celebrate victory, and Imagine Dragons’ “Believer” feels like a creed.
Chamath’s playlist reveals Silicon Valley ambition: high-energy music to power through work. These aren’t just background tunes—they’re his “productivity hacks.” Interestingly, he’s also involved in crypto investments, like supporting Solana, prompting jokes: “His ‘work!’ list should add Solana’s theme song—‘Crash and Burn.’”
Another figure is Ben Horowitz of Andreessen Horowitz, a venture capital heavyweight with heavy crypto investments. His “Good times” list is a haven of R&B and soul: The Isley Brothers’ “Between the Sheets,” Anita Baker’s “Sweet Love,” Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On,” Babyface’s “Whip Appeal (12-inch Version),” and Smokey Robinson’s “Quiet Storm.” These tracks ooze romance and relaxation, perfect for a weekend party.
Horowitz’s playlist contrasts with his famous book, “The Hard Thing About Hard Things.” Musically, he clearly prefers the softer side.
Spotify Playlists Must Be Manually Hidden
Crypto titans aren’t robots—they have heartbeats and melodies.
This playlist leak has sparked privacy debates. Spotify allows users to publicly share playlists, but many celebrities registered with real names, never expecting exposure. Some reports blame Spotify’s privacy settings: unless users manually hide them, playlists remain publicly visible.
These leaders’ tastes aren’t so different from ordinary people. The crypto world is often portrayed as a cold digital game, but these playlists show their vulnerable side. SBF’s sad songs may reflect regret after FTX’s collapse; Armstrong’s motivational tracks may signal resilience.
Of course, this also sounds an alarm. Privacy is increasingly fragile in the digital age. Even crypto experts failed to protect their Spotify data. In the short term, this incident feels like entertainment gossip: who’ll be next—whose Netflix watch history will leak?
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