Lightspeed The State Of Solana, Frankendancer & Crypto's Bullish Catalyst's | Ian Unsworth
Sep 26, 2025
Ian Unsworth, co-founder of Kairos Research and a key contributor at Blockworks, dives into the latest insights on the Solana ecosystem. He discusses Solana's growth potential and the impact of regulatory developments as bullish catalysts for crypto. Unsworth also analyzes stablecoins on Solana and the innovative FOGO project, which enhances validator performance. With a focus on Frankendancer and the evolving landscape of tokenomics, this conversation is packed with thought-provoking insights that shape the future of blockchain.
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Bearishness From Lack Of Thesis
- Ian argues many people are bearish because they lack a thesis and are simply afraid.
- He highlights 2024–25 as a transformative year with ETFs, DATs, and improved regulation boosting crypto's outlook.
Running A Major Solana Validator
- Kairos runs a large Solana validator with roughly $50–60M in stake and prioritizes performance and hardware.
- Ian describes hands-on work to pack better blocks and contribute to the ecosystem through validator operations.
Forward Industries Changes The Game
- Forward Industries' DAT is significant because it concentrates large SOL holdings without a corresponding ETF, attracting attention.
- Ian believes the team (Kyle, Jump, Galaxy) gives credibility and could route capital into Solana DeFi in productive ways.