
Scenius Studio
With this podcast, we aim to give listeners inside access to the best and brightest investors in the crypto asset management space. In each episode, host, Ben Jacobs will chat with a leading crypto and blockchain venture fund or hedge fund manager as we explore the complexities of operating an investment fund at the bleeding edge of innovation.
Latest episodes

Apr 23, 2025 • 51min
The Use-Case: Grass - Andrej Radonjic (Episode #53)
In this episode, Ben sits down to Andrej Radonjic, co-founder of Grass.Grass gives users the ability to earn ownership in the Grass network by supplying the protocol with their unused internet bandwidth for data scraping purposes (something that is already happening to most of us and we don’t get paid!). The grass protocol packages this scraped web data and sells it to AI companies who have insufficient data to further develop their models. With over 3 millions users and 8 figures of annualized revenue, Grass is a real commercial business with a roadmap that makes it one of the most exciting projects at the intersection of crypto x AI and data.Let's get into it. Connect with the guestGrass https://www.getgrass.io/Follow Grass on Twitter/X https://x.com/getgrass_ioDisclaimer Ben Jacobs is a partner at Scenius Capital Management. All views expressed by Ben and the guests of this podcast are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Scenius Capital Management. Guests and the host may maintain positions in the assets or funds discussed in this podcast. You should not treat any opinion expressed by anyone on this podcast as a specific inducement to make a particular investment or follow a particular strategy but only as an expression of their personal opinion. This podcast is for informational purposes only.

Mar 26, 2025 • 48min
The Use-Case: Daisy - Ray Lee & Ian Ettinger (Episode #52)
Welcome to “The Use-Case” a mini-series brought to you by Scenius Studio.Through Scenius Studio, I've interviewed 50 of the crypto industry’s top GPs and CIOs across liquid and private markets. One thing is clear, crypto has some savvy investors. Yet, both inside and outside the industry, the same question lingers: where are the real-world use-cases? We’ve built the infrastructure, but where are the apps? What commercial opportunities can blockchain and crypto uniquely unlock? Is speculation really the only game in town?With The Use-Case, we’re spotlighting underrepresented companies and protocols that are building real, commercially viable businesses—ventures that couldn’t exist without crypto’s underlying technology. We’ll sit down with Founders and CEOs who are reshaping industries with blockchain at their core. Crypto isn’t just an asset class. it’s an enabling technology rewiring entire sectors. In this episode, I sit down with Ray Lee and Ian Ettinger, Co-Founders of Daisy. With deep experience in digital marketing and paid media, they’ve built a product that helps marketers drive results in an online environment that’s increasingly opaque and competitive. By discreetly using crypto tooling: zkTLS, stablecoins, and token incentives, Daisy is carving the path for the future of online advertising. I hope you enjoy learning about the future of marketing with Daisy. Let's get into it. Connect with the guestDaisyPay https://daisypay.io/Follow Daisy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/daisypay.io/Follow Daisy on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@daisypay.ioDisclaimer Ben Jacobs is a partner at Scenius Capital Management. All views expressed by Ben and the guests of this podcast are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Scenius Capital Management. Guests and the host may maintain positions in the assets or funds discussed in this podcast. You should not treat any opinion expressed by anyone on this podcast as a specific inducement to make a particular investment or follow a particular strategy but only as an expression of their personal opinion. This podcast is for informational purposes only.

Mar 12, 2025 • 42min
The Use-Case: Spexi - Bill Lakeland (Episode #51)
Welcome to “The Use-Case” a mini-series brought to you by Scenius StudioThrough Scenius Studio, Ben has interviewed 50 of the crypto industry’s top GPs and CIOs. One thing is clear, crypto has some phenomenal investors. Yet, both inside and outside the industry, the same question lingers: where are the real-world use-cases? We’ve built the infrastructure, but where are the apps? What commercial opportunities can blockchain and crypto uniquely unlock? Is speculation really the only game in town?With The Use-Case, we’re spotlighting underrepresented companies and protocols that are building real, commercially viable businesses—ventures that couldn’t exist without crypto’s underlying technology. We’ll sit down with Founders and CEOs who are reshaping industries with blockchain at their core. Crypto isn’t just an asset class. it’s a technological force rewiring entire sectors for the better. We hope you enjoy these conversations with some of the crypto industry’s leading entrepreneurs and industry disruptors.In this first episode, Ben sits down with Bill Lakeland, Founder and CEO of Spexi. Bill has worked in aerial imagery for 20 years and understands the world of drones better than anyone. He has built a robust business that sells aerial imagery to businesses and municipalities while incorporating various elements of crypto technology (DePIN, stablecoins, and NFTs).Let's get into it.Connect with the guestSpexi https://www.spexi.com/Follow Spexi on Twitter/X https://x.com/spexinetworkDisclaimer Ben Jacobs is a partner at Scenius Capital Management. All views expressed by Ben and the guests of this podcast are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Scenius Capital Management. Guests and the host may maintain positions in the assets or funds discussed in this podcast. You should not treat any opinion expressed by anyone on this podcast as a specific inducement to make a particular investment or follow a particular strategy but only as an expression of their personal opinion. This podcast is for informational purposes only.

Oct 31, 2024 • 1h 15min
50th Episode Special Edition
In this special milestone discussion, Pranav Kanade, David Kalk, and Joe McCann, elite CIOs in the crypto space, dive into Bitcoin's tantalizing prospects and the impact of the upcoming elections. They debate investment strategies, particularly the contrasting strengths of Ethereum and Solana. Stripe's recent acquisition highlights the industry’s shifting attitudes towards stablecoins. The trio also explores how gaming and AI could rejuvenate the crypto market, alongside strategies for navigating fundraising challenges in volatile conditions.

Oct 9, 2024 • 57min
Galaxy - Chris Rhine (Episode #49)
In this episode, Ben sits down with Chris Rhine, Head of Liquid Active Strategies at Galaxy. Chris spent the last two decades trading a variety of instruments and asset classes at Cohen & Steers and BlackRock. Now, Chris uses his wall street experience to develop and manage highly institutional investment products that offer LPs a risk mitigated long-only approach to the liquid token markets.
Let's get into it.
Connect with the guest
Galaxy https://funds.galaxy.com/
Follow Galaxy on Twitter/X https://x.com/galaxyhq
Disclaimer
Ben Jacobs is a partner at Scenius Capital Management. All views expressed by Ben and the guests of this podcast are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Scenius Capital Management. Guests and the host may maintain positions in the assets or funds discussed in this podcast. You should not treat any opinion expressed by anyone on this podcast as a specific inducement to make a particular investment or follow a particular strategy but only as an expression of their personal opinion. This podcast is for informational purposes only.

Sep 9, 2024 • 1h 1min
Folius - Jason Kam (Episode #48)
In this episode, Ben sits down with Jason Kam, Founder of Folius. Folius has become the preeminent blockchain venture firm focused on the application layer, with a strong focus on China-based founders and companies. While Folius is known as a high-signal venture firm, the firm’s liquid strategy constitutes a notably larger percentage of AUM. Jason’s experience as a PM at a traditional emerging markets focused hedge fund give him the skills to navigate the chaotic digital asset public markets.
Let's get into it.
Connect with the guest
Folius https://www.folius.ventures/
Follow Folius on Twitter/X https://x.com/foliusventures
Follow Jason on Twitter/X https://x.com/MapleLeafCap
Disclaimer
Ben Jacobs is a partner at Scenius Capital Management. All views expressed by Ben and the guests of this podcast are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Scenius Capital Management. Guests and the host may maintain positions in the assets or funds discussed in this podcast. You should not treat any opinion expressed by anyone on this podcast as a specific inducement to make a particular investment or follow a particular strategy but only as an expression of their personal opinion. This podcast is for informational purposes only.

Aug 21, 2024 • 57min
Texas Teachers - Matt Halstead (Episode #47)
In this episode, Ben sits down with Matt Halstead, Director of Digital Assets and Real Estate Investing at the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, also known as Texas Teachers.
Matt built the digital assets program at Texas Teachers from scratch and has helped push the asset class forward via his highly institutional and sophisticated approach to crypto fund allocations.
We typically hear from GPs on Scenius Studio but in order for the space to further develop and mature, it is essential we acknowledge and learn from the LPs who invest with rigor and size.
Let's get into it.
Disclaimer
Ben Jacobs is a partner at Scenius Capital Management. All views expressed by Ben and the guests of this podcast are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Scenius Capital Management. Guests and the host may maintain positions in the assets or funds discussed in this podcast. You should not treat any opinion expressed by anyone on this podcast as a specific inducement to make a particular investment or follow a particular strategy but only as an expression of their personal opinion. This podcast is for informational purposes only.

Aug 12, 2024 • 54min
Hypersphere - Jack Platts (Episode #46)
Jack Platts, CEO and CIO of Hypersphere, shares insights from his remarkable journey, from a retail crypto user in Kansas to a key figure at Polkadot. He discusses navigating the turbulent waters of cryptocurrency investments, focusing on risk mitigation strategies amid regulatory changes. Jack elaborates on the complexities of a multi-manager hedge fund and building a diverse investment team, drawing parallels to assembling a championship basketball team. The conversation also hints at the future of venture-backed crypto, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and strong tokenomics.

Jul 29, 2024 • 57min
North Island Ventures - Travis Scher (Episode #45)
In this episode, Ben sits down with Travis Scher, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of North Island Ventures. Travis began his crypto career in 2015, where he led the venture team at Digital Currency Group. After leaving DCG, Travis launched North Island Ventures alongside Glenn and James Hutchins. Travis invests across a range of blockchain categories and possesses strong opinions regarding the entrepreneurs and ideas that will bring blockchain to the masses.
Let's get into it.
Connect with the guest
North Island Ventures https://northisland.ventures/
Follow North Island on Twitter/X https://x.com/NorthIslandVC
Follow Travis on Twitter/X https://x.com/travisscher
Disclaimer
Ben Jacobs is a partner at Scenius Capital Management. All views expressed by Ben and the guests of this podcast are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Scenius Capital Management. Guests and the host may maintain positions in the assets or funds discussed in this podcast. You should not treat any opinion expressed by anyone on this podcast as a specific inducement to make a particular investment or follow a particular strategy but only as an expression of their personal opinion. This podcast is for informational purposes only.

Jul 4, 2024 • 55min
BITKRAFT - Carlos Pereira (Episode #44)
In this episode, Ben sits down with Carlos Pereira, Partner at BITKRAFT.
BITKRAFT is a premier gaming focused venture firm and Carlos is the lead investor for their crypto-dedicated fund. His perspective into the innovation that crypto uniquely unlocks within gaming is insightful. Moreover, his assessment of the current blockchain gaming ecosystem highlights his experience investing in the sector and the observations he and his team have earned across cycles.
Let's get into it.
Resources Mentioned
Fully On-Chain Games Thesis
Project Awakening
Ronin
Karate Combat
Sipher
Connect with the guest
Bitkraft https://www.bitkraft.vc/
Follow Bitkraft on Twitter/X https://x.com/bitkraftvc
Follow Carlos on Twitter/X https://x.com/cegapereira
Disclaimer
Ben Jacobs is a partner at Scenius Capital Management. All views expressed by Ben and the guests of this podcast are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Scenius Capital Management. Guests and the host may maintain positions in the assets or funds discussed in this podcast. You should not treat any opinion expressed by anyone on this podcast as a specific inducement to make a particular investment or follow a particular strategy but only as an expression of their personal opinion. This podcast is for informational purposes only.
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