Back To The Basics: Why VanEck Wants To Invest In Great Products and Founders Who Won’t Rug Us

Feb 28, 2025

Pranav Kanade, a Portfolio Manager for Digital Assets at VanEck, shares valuable insights into the evolving crypto landscape. He discusses the struggles altcoins face this cycle and highlights key investment strategies focused on quality projects. The conversation touches on the implications of stablecoin legislation and how it may unlock new opportunities. Pranav also explores the current shift from institutional to retail interest in meme coins, emphasizing the importance of transparency and robust fundamentals in crypto investments.

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Intro

00:00 • 6min

Insights from VanEck: Crypto Evolution and Investment Strategies

05:44 • 13min

Navigating the Crypto Market: Supply, Demand, and the Rise of Meme Coins

19:12 • 4min

The Evolving Landscape of Meme Coins

23:29 • 10min

Navigating the Crypto Landscape

33:05 • 6min

Navigating Stablecoin Regulations and AI Innovations

39:14 • 22min

Reflections on Crypto: Optimism Amidst Challenges

01:01:28 • 3min

Pranav Kanade is Portfolio Manager for Digital Assets at VanEck.

In this episode, we break down why altcoins have struggled this cycle, what sets the few winners apart, and where real opportunities lie—both in crypto and public markets. We also explore how stablecoin legislation could unlock new value and what’s next for ETFs in the digital asset space.

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------Timestamps

0:00 - Intro
5:44 - Pranav’s background and VanEck
11:43 - A day in the life as an investor
13:50 - Thoughts on Kaito and InfoFi
17:03 - What’s been different this cycle with altcoins?
19:06 - Mantle mid-roll
19:44 - Oversupply of tokens, plus lessened demand for quality projects
23:29 - Fundamentals investing and the memecoin casino can coexist
26:59 - What can we learn from alts that have done well?
29:16 - Will we have a true alt season ever again?
33:05 - Sponsor mid-roll
34:44 - What’s the lesson from the LIBRA blowup?
39:51 - Stablecoin legislation and how it’s bullish for tokens + equities
46:49 - Identifying publicly traded companies to benefit from stablecoins
48:59 - How will stablecoin growth in Web2 affect what’s built onchain?
51:20 - Do AI agents have staying power?
56:47 - How new ETFs could impact us this year
59:06 - Thoughts on ETH ETFs
1:01:28 - Closing

------🔗 Guest Links 🔗

► VanEck website: https://www.vaneck.com/
► VanEck on X: https://x.com/vaneck_us
► Pranav on X: https://x.com/vaneckpk

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All opinions expressed by hosts and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and not necessarily those of Fourth Revolution Capital. Podcast guests and 4RC may have positions in the assets or other matters discussed in this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions. Do your own research. This is not a recommendation or endorsement to buy any token(s) related to any platform(s) discussed.