The Milk Road Show Solana's Next Big Catalysts: Treasury Premiums, ETFs & Institutional Demand w/ Brian Rudick
Aug 22, 2025
Brian Rudick, Chief Strategy Officer at Upexi and crypto finance expert, dives into the intriguing world of Solana. He discusses why institutional investors are increasingly favoring SOL over Bitcoin, exploring its advanced tech and unique value dynamics. The conversation highlights the valuation mechanics of crypto assets, benefits of locked tokens, and the growing trend of treasury companies in the crypto market. Rudick also shares his insights on the competitive landscape between Solana and Ethereum, raising questions on future price predictions and market adaptability.
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Career Path Led To Solana Treasury Bet
- Brian Rudick moved from traditional hedge funds to GSR then to Upexi to build a Solana treasury strategy inspired by MicroStrategy's success.
- He and Upexi saw a clear path to replicate a treasury model on an altchain and pursued Solana as the canonical choice.
Why Solana Over Other Chains
- Rudick argues Bitcoin is the best monetary asset while Solana is the best high-performance smart contract blockchain.
- He cites Solana's tech, network effects, and superior on-chain activity as the rationale for choosing it.
ETH DATs Shift Narratives, Not Fundamentals
- High-profile ETH DAT launches briefly dominated the narrative but don't negate Solana's structural case.
- Rudick expects DATs across multiple chains and believes Solana will remain a major winner.