DeFi Decoded DeFi Decoded - Scaling Solana for the Public Markets with Leah Wald and Max Kaplan of Sol Strategies
Feb 20, 2025
Leah Wald, President & CEO of Sol Strategies, and Max Kaplan, CTO, delve into the rapid evolution of Solana as a leading blockchain. Leah shares her journey from alternative asset management to crypto, while Max discusses his early days at Kraken. They explore the advantages of Solana’s high throughput and low fees, the sustainability of staking yields, and their strategic pivot toward decentralized trading. The conversation also touches on the competitive landscape, navigating regulatory challenges, and the promise of better blockchain investment options for traditional investors.
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Max's Solana Trading Journey
- Max Kaplan's background at Kraken gave him a unique perspective on decentralized trading possibilities on Solana.
- He realized Solana's potential to rival centralized trading with its high throughput and low fees.
Leah's Crypto Origin Story
- Leah Wald's interest in Bitcoin started from her experience at the World Bank witnessing fintech in Africa.
- She co-founded Valkyrie Investments to improve Bitcoin investment products, later leading to its acquisition.
Sol Strategies' Core Model
- Sol Strategies focuses on holding and staking mostly Solana tokens to provide yield and support the Solana network.
- They run three validators with different strategic approaches to maximize value creation.
