When Shift Happens Podcast

Raoul Pal, a macro investor and co-founder of Real Vision, shares his insights on making it in crypto by 2026—emphasizing patience and the importance of holding the right assets. He discusses the influence of liquidity on performance, the necessity of independent analysis, and the pitfalls of short-term trading. Raoul also dives into the future of Bitcoin as digital gold and the transformative potential of NFTs. His golden rule? Sometimes doing nothing is the best strategy for long-term gains.

Sandeep Nailwal, co-founder of Polygon and advocate for decentralization, shares his incredible journey from living in a storage room to building a $30 billion blockchain company. He discusses his ambitious vision for individual sovereignty and the importance of refusing mediocrity. Sandeep reflects on tough moments, like a 70% token crash, and outlines Polygon's goal of facilitating millions of daily payments. His philanthropic efforts during COVID showcase his commitment to reducing suffering and enhancing India's scientific infrastructure.

Meow, founder of Jupiter, a leading DEX aggregator on Solana, discusses his mission to make crypto accessible to everyone. He shares the journey of building a platform that has handled over $2 trillion in volume, while shedding light on the token's struggles due to communication failures. The conversation dives into insights on the negative image of crypto, the importance of user experience, and innovative features like gasless transactions. Meow emphasizes the goal to position Jupiter as the 'Google of finance' while navigating challenges in the rapidly evolving DeFi landscape.

Matej Zak, CEO of Trezor and co-creator of the first hardware wallet, discusses the shocking reality that 98% of crypto users are susceptible to hacks. He explains the risks of trusting exchanges versus embracing self-custody, making a compelling case for why proper ownership is essential. Matej also dives into the significance of hardware wallets, highlights the challenges for widespread adoption, and warns about the vulnerabilities of popular wallet options. His insights into open-source security and innovations in wallet technology provide a fascinating glimpse into the future of crypto safety.

Brian Armstrong, Co-founder and CEO of Coinbase, shares his journey from founding a startup during Bitcoin's infancy to leading a $100 billion company. He discusses the challenges of navigating regulators and market crashes, his introverted nature, and the importance of economic freedom through crypto. Armstrong also reflects on personal insecurities, founder dynamics, and minimizing burnout. He envisions a future with one billion users benefiting from sound money and financial services, emphasizing the transformational power of action over analysis.

Anand Gomes, Founder and CEO of Paradex, talks about the rise of decentralized exchanges as the new financial hubs, combining various banking functionalities into one zero-fee platform. He discusses the sustainability of their model, emphasizing how they charge makers instead of takers. Anand explains why Ethereum is central to this shift and predicts that traditional financial centers could face irrelevance unless they adapt. He reflects on the evolution of decentralized finance, its advantages, and the critical role of speculation in price discovery.

Mert Mumtaz, CEO of Helius and a privacy advocate, dives into the pressing issues of crypto transparency and infrastructure. He discusses why privacy is crucial for freedom and highlights Zcash’s role as ‘internet cash.’ Mert elaborates on the concepts of connectivity and reflexivity, explaining how these drive market volatility. Through personal anecdotes, including how a relationship shifted his business perspective, he emphasizes integrity in social media. Mert's long-term vision for Solana and his insights on investment strategies round out this engaging conversation.

Seung Yoon Lee, CEO and co-founder of Story Protocol, previously founded Radish Fiction, successfully selling it to Kakao for $440 million. In this conversation, he unveils the revolutionary vision behind Story Protocol, which aims to turn intellectual property into tradable assets. He discusses the profound issues with creator compensation on platforms like Netflix and how blockchain can empower creators. Seung also introduces the ARIA Protocol for music IP and envisions a future where modular IP assets become building blocks for AI-driven creativity.

Discover the team behind cryptocurrency's high-profile launches! They discuss building advanced liquidity for major tokens like Kanye's and TRUMP's, diving into the mechanics of decentralized finance. Learn about their growth strategy post-FTX and how they've rebranded for trust. They reveal the challenges of launching meme coins and the vision to make DeFi accessible for all. With innovative tools for security and transparency, the future looks bright for mainstream integration of crypto assets!

Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether and CTO of Bitfinex, dives into his journey of creating USDT, the world's leading stablecoin that aids 3 billion unbanked individuals. He shares insights on Tether's extraordinary profit per employee and operational efficiency, driven by high-interest rates and scalable practices. Ardoino also discusses coding as his artistic expression and Tether's investment in Juventus to modernize football and engage fans globally. Lastly, he highlights stablecoins' crucial role in providing financial stability in inflation-ridden countries.