Can Israel Become a Crypto Nation?

Jul 30, 2025

Nir Hirschmann Rub, CEO of the Crypto, Blockchain, Web 3.0 Companies Forum, shares his insights on the future of cryptocurrency in Israel. He discusses the current state of Israel's crypto landscape, highlighting both the rapid growth and regulatory hurdles facing the industry. Hirshmann also examines the challenges posed by geopolitical factors and advocates for necessary reforms to foster innovation. With the backdrop of Israel's dynamic tech ecosystem, he emphasizes the industry's potential to stimulate economic growth and create job opportunities.

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INSIGHT

Intel Decline Signals Industry Shift

Intel is in decline, losing leadership in semiconductors to Nvidia, reflecting shifting tech paradigms.
Israel’s tech ecosystem adapts as Intel knowledge transfers to startups and Nvidia's increased local presence.

ANECDOTE

Desalination's Geopolitical Challenge

Nir shares a story about meeting Egyptian President Mubarak who refused Israeli desalination tech despite water shortages.
This highlights water scarcity's critical role in Middle East geopolitics and the potential for tech collaboration.

INSIGHT

Israel's Crypto Industry Scale

Israel's crypto industry includes 161 companies with over 3,400 employees and raised $4.2 billion since 2013.
Israelis build key crypto infrastructure globally, illustrating their significant impact.

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📈Our WYNDEX update for today:

It’s the second week in a row in which the WYNDEX is rising over 1%, beating both S&P and NASDAQ. This week we’re at a 2.19% increase for the Wyndex, compared to 1.33% for S&P and 0.71% for the NASDAQ. Etoro leads the pack with 14.62%, in anticipation for a product update which is garnering a lot of attention. Word around the street (and retail investor forums) is that the recent GENIUS Act is about to fuel significant growth for the crypto friendly product.

🎯Our Big Shorts for today:

Intel’s continued decline: The semiconductor company reported earnings July 24, and while the company beat analyst expectations on quarterly revenue, it also announced even more cost cutting efforts: it’s in the process of cutting 15% of its workforce, canceling projects across the globe, and now it looks like it will also spin off its networking unit. None of this bodes well for Intel’s activities in Israel, where it’s still one of the largest tech employers.
New report on how desalination is critical to the Gulf’s future; could Israel play a role here? An interesting article from the Atlantic Council came across our radar last week, all about how the Gulf states’ future (or at least their ability to truly diversify their economies by leaning into tech and AI) could rely on their ability to develop large-scale desalination capabilities + marry these with their data center buildouts. We talk about Israel’s desalination “blueprint” and if/how it could apply to the Gulf.

🔎And our Long Play today is an interview with Nir Hirschmann Rub, CEO of the Crypto, Blockchain, Web 3.0 Companies Forum. On the heels of “Crypto Week” in the U.S., we talk about the state of crypto in Israel… and some of the unique challenges & opportunities the industry faces in the country.

📅 New episodes drop every Wednesday

What’s Your Number? is hosted from Tel Aviv and Silicon Valley by Yonatan Adiri — Israeli entrepreneur and former advisor to President Shimon Peres — and Michal Lev-Ram, Israeli-born Silicon Valley-based tech journalist and contributing editor at Fortune. Together, they unpack the headlines, trends, and data driving Israel’s economy and its future.

⚖️ LEGAL DISCLAIMER

This podcast offers general business and economic information and is not a comprehensive summary for investment decisions. It does not recommend or solicit any investment strategy or security.

🎧 CREDITS:

ILAN BENATAR - Producer

MICHAL LEV-RAM - Editor

MARTIN HUERGO - Sound Editor

GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research

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