Hal Press

Hal Press, the founder of North Rock Digital and a hedge fund manager with deep conviction in Ethereum, shares his bold strategy of betting his entire fund on the Ethereum merge. He discusses the unique dynamics of ETH's supply and demand, the impact of core developer calls, and trading strategies surrounding the merge. Press also dives into the implications of staking in DeFi and contrasts Ethereum with alternative layer 1 blockchains, emphasizing the significance of market narratives and investor psychology in this transformative era for crypto.

In this episode of Empire, Hal Press joins Mike and Jason to discuss his investment thesis. It's no secret that Hal is an ETH super bull, and this episode makes it clear why. He explains ETH's unfair advantage, how L2s will serve as free marketing for Ethereum, the liquidity staking derivative trade, the mechanics behind token rallies, token value accrual and the deflationary outlook! Get ready, this is one of my favorite podcasts yet.- -Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction(00:54) What Caused This Rally?(10:46) The ETH:BTC Ratio(13:14) How Shanghai Will Affect ETH Sell Pressure(18:32) The LSD Trade(20:30) Blockworks Research Ad(30:30) The Real Yield Thesis(32:36) Has ETH Won?(44:28) Aptos’ Rally & Learnings(54:40) The L2 Landscape(59:10) Where Will Value Accrue?(1:07:36) Bullish on dYdX(1:10:34) Macro and Deflation- -Follow Hal: https://twitter.com/NorthRockLPFollow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitzFollow Mike: https://twitter.com/MikeIppolito_Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepodSubscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2jSubscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprwGet top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ - -ResourcesNorth Rock Digitalhttps://northrockdigital.com/- - 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.

Hal Press, the head of North Rock Digital and an advocate for the Ethereum merge, teams up with Ryan Berckmans, an enthusiastic Ethereum bull and developer. Together, they dive into the upcoming merge's market implications, predicting significant supply changes. Hal highlights the macroeconomic risks, while Ryan remains optimistic about Ethereum's future trajectory. They debate Ethereum's transition to proof-of-stake and the potential for it to outpace Bitcoin, exploring investment strategies and the evolving landscape of the crypto market.

Hal Press, Founder of North Rock Digital, joins the Lads to discuss GBTC outflows, new launches, airdrop narratives, and points in the crypto market. They explore the impact of price agnostic flows, sustainability of high valuations, and the psychology behind selling airdrops. They also touch on the upcoming launch of Jupiter on Solana and the humorous exchange about crypto speculation. The chapter on conditioning, airdrops, and points delves into the emotional impact of staking and missed opportunities.

Hal Press, founder of North Rock Digital, joins the discussion on the unexpected approval of Ethereum ETFs and their implications for the crypto market. They dive into Biden's veto of the SAB 121 repeal, a move that factors into the SEC's decisions. The hosts explore how upcoming elections might shift crypto engagement, particularly among Gen Z, and speculate on the impact of recent U.S. economic indicators. The potential of Hong Kong becoming a crypto hub is also examined, alongside trading shifts from Bitcoin to Ethereum and the challenges facing financial institutions.