Capital Allocators – Inside the Institutional Investment Industry
[REPLAY] Ben Forman – Opportunities in DeFi (EP.256, Crypto for Institutions 2, EP.03)
Apr 21, 2025
Ben Forman, Founder and Managing Partner of ParaFi Capital, shares his journey from traditional finance to the fast-paced world of decentralized finance (DeFi). He explores the complexities of underwriting tokens as a new asset class and discusses engagement with DeFi protocols. The conversation covers risks and opportunities in DeFi, including lending, borrowing, and capital allocation strategies. Ben also touches on the role of permissioned DeFi in bridging regulatory compliance and innovation, along with valuable life lessons from chess that resonate in investing.
01:13:40
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Quick takeaways
- Ben Forman's journey from traditional finance to cryptocurrency illustrates the importance of adaptability and continuous learning in investment strategies.
- The transformative potential of DeFi lies in its ability to improve financial contracts through software, offering transparency and efficiency absent in conventional systems.
Deep dives
Ben Foreman's Journey from Traditional Finance to Crypto
Ben Foreman transitioned from a traditional finance career to the world of cryptocurrency by embracing his passion for economic principles and game theory. Initially skeptical about Bitcoin, his curiosity led him to read the foundational Satoshi white paper, which reshaped his understanding of money as a technology for value communication. His career evolved through significant finance roles, including private equity and credit investing, where he honed his analytical skills in financial statements and corporate restructuring. This diverse background provided him with the foundation needed to explore the innovative landscape of decentralized finance (DeFi) when he launched Parify Capital amidst a challenging market in 2018.
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