Ryan Galvankar is the Founder of Plaza Finance, a company at the forefront of decentralized finance (DeFi) innovation and Opt.fun, a decentralized options trading platform. Based in New York, his career began in traditional finance as a trading and investment analyst at The Bank of America and Mangetar Capital. Recognizing the transformative potential of DeFi, Ryan established Plaza Finance to introduce groundbreaking concepts such as programmable derivatives. Ryan's unique background, transitioning from traditional finance (TradFi) to the forefront of decentralized finance (DeFi), has equipped him with critical insights into the potential of blockchain technology to revolutionize financial products. Last month, spurred on by the need to create a unique trading platform that caters to younger audiences, Ryan founded Opt.fun -- a platform that delivers 60-second at‑the‑money options with up to 1000x leverage.

In this conversation, we discuss:
- Programmable derivatives
- Options on Hyperliquid
- Opt . fun
- Tokenization of assets
- Staked-ETH products (bondETH & levETH)
- DeFi integration and infrastructure
- Capital markets and equity trends
- Trading yields and perpetuals (perps)
- Market movements & industry analysis
- Lessons learned transitioning from legacy financial institutions

Opt.fun
Website: Opt.fun
X: @opt_fun
Discord: discord.gg/d2maM8uhFM

Ryan Galvankar
X: @unhedged21
LinkedIn: Ryan Galvankar

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This episode is brought to you by EMCD.

EMCD is a trailblazer in the Web3 fintech space, committed to redefining finance with a human-centered approach. For seven years, EMCD has been building tools that empower a diverse community of miners, traders, investors, digital nomads, and entrepreneurs. What started as a determined startup mining pool has grown into a global force, once ranking among the top 10 Bitcoin mining pools worldwide. Today, EMCD’s mission is broader and bolder: creating innovative Web3 financial solutions that make wealth-building accessible to everyone, no matter where they are. Their platform enables users to grow assets without the stress of chasing volatile market trends or timing every dip and spike. By prioritizing purpose over hype, EMCD is crafting a future where finance serves individuals, not just markets. Dive into their vision and explore their cutting-edge tools at emcd.io.

Open Q&A with the Muslim Student Association (MSA)