Fundamentals Are The New King of Crypto | Smac & Noah Goldberg

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Dec 15, 2025

Join Smac (0xsmac), a research-driven investor at Compound focusing on crypto and deep tech, and Noah Goldberg, founder of Theia and manager of a long-only crypto fund. They dive into why crypto's future hinges on fundamentals, challenging the prevailing hype-driven narratives. Discussions center on the real significance of cash flow, the need for clear storytelling from founders, and the interplay of traditional market comparisons with crypto's evolving landscape. They explore unconventional investment opportunities and the importance of distinguishing between durable and fleeting advantages.

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INSIGHT

Narrow Investable Universe For Liquid Crypto

Liquid crypto funds face a narrow investable universe dominated by large-cap DeFi and early-stage venture-style tokens.
Noah says this forces concentrated books and few attractive opportunities outside those buckets.

INSIGHT

Rich Valuations Driven By Leftover Capital

Valuations in crypto have historically been rich, driven by excess capital and high multiples versus traditional venture norms.
Noah argues that lingering capital from 2021 still inflates prices despite slower new fund inflows.

ADVICE

Prefer Cash Flows Over Monetary Hope

Avoid relying on a monetary premium thesis without clear cash flows when allocating fund capital.
Smac recommends preferring cash-flowing businesses over hoping others will buy your token higher.

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This week, Noah from Theia & Smac from Compound discuss why crypto’s next chapter won’t be powered by hype alone. They explain how valuations, narratives, fund structures, and real cash-flow durability are reshaping the industry, and why investors must adapt to a world where fundamentals finally matter. Enjoy! — Follow Noah: https://x.com/tradernoah Follow Smac: https://x.com/0xsmac Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Compound Annual Meeting: https://x.com/mhdempsey/status/1999119478936785108?s=20 — Zcash is encrypted Bitcoin. Your digital bill of rights securing your freedom for the 21st century. Buy, store and spend ZEC privately using Zashi Wallet download today: https://electriccoin.co/zashi/ -- "Mantle Global Hackathon 2025 is live! Running from Oct 22 to Dec 31, Mantle invites builders to design the future of Real-World Assets (RWAs) on its modular L2 stack. Key Highlights: - $150,000 Prize Pool + Grants & Incubation opportunities - Access to Bybit's 7M+ verified users - Judges from Bybit Ventures, Spartan, Animoca Brands - 6 Tracks: RWA/RealFi, DeFi, AI, ZK, Infra, GameFi Join the Hackathon: https://www.hackquest.io/vi/hackathons/Mantle-Global-Hackathon-2025" -- GEODNET is the world’s largest RTK network, delivering real-time, centimeter-level precision for drones, robots, farmers, and first responders. Recognized by the U.S. Congress, this blockchain-powered network supports mission-critical applications across a wide range of industries. Discover how GEODNET is changing the world: [https://geodnet.com] -- Uniswap’s Trading API offers plug-and-play access to deep onchain and off-chain liquidity, delivering enterprise-grade crypto trading without the complexity - from one of the most trusted teams in DeFi. Click to get started with seamless, scalable access to Uniswap’s powerful onchain trading infrastructure. https://hub.uniswap.org/?utm_source=blockworks&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ww_web_bw_awa_trading-api_20251117_podcast_clicks --

Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (01:24) How Theia & Compound Are Positioned (05:58) Thoughts On Valuation Debate (10:50) Do Narratives & Storytelling Drive Markets? (22:24) Ads (Zcash) (23:01) Tension Between Old & New Investors (25:27) Having A View On Public Markets (28:53) Will Crypto Be The Fastest Horse Again? (33:44) Who Outperforms: Majors or Apps? (35:43) Ads (Zcash) (36:20) Identifying Durable Vs Ephemeral Advantages (40:49) State Of Crypto Liquid Funds (45:51) Activist Investing In Crypto (47:48) Ads (Mantle, Geodnet, Uniswap) (50:41) Views On Prediction Markets (53:55) Biggest Market Opportunities (01:01:36) Water Supercycle? — Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.