In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack welcomes Sam Hallene, investment partner at CMT Digital, a blockchain-focused venture capital firm operating under the broader CMT Group. Brooke and Sam explore current trends in DeFi, stablecoins, DePIN and sector-specific blockchains, along with candid insights into founder relationships, portfolio construction, and long-term conviction in the industry.

Key Points From This Episode:

Sam’s background and how he joined CMT Digital after reading the Bitcoin and Ethereum white papers.

Overview of CMT Digital’s evolution and its relationship with the broader CMT Group.

CMT Digital’s venture strategy, early-stage focus, and investment approach.

The operational implications of being a registered investment advisor (RIA).

CMT’s generalist thesis in blockchain, spanning multiple verticals and geographies.

Observations on the potential for U.S. crypto re-onshoring and regulatory shifts.

CMT’s global footprint and approach to investing across jurisdictions.

Investment check size, ownership targets, and CMT’s long-term founder engagement strategy.

Current state of DeFi and its progression into new financial instruments and integrations.

Stablecoins as a transformational technology and investment opportunity.

Perspectives on credit infrastructure and the role of stablecoins in payments.

1Money as an example of a purpose-built stablecoin-centric blockchain.

CMT’s views on investing across multiple L1s and L2s and how they think about competitive overlap.

Discussion of portfolio company Strike and the enduring demand for Bitcoin-centric financial services.

Thoughts on DePIN and key takeaways from Andrena’s growth model.

Sam’s conviction that global finance and infrastructure will shift to blockchain rails.

Why founders and LPs choose to work with CMT Digital.

Links:

Sam Hallene on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-hallene-353650bb

CMT Digital: https://cmt.digital/

CMT Digital on Twitter: http://twitter.com/cmt.digital

Brooke Pollack on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/

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