Alt Season, Zcash, Collectibles & The Tokenization Trade
Alt Season, Zcash, Collectibles & The Tokenization Trade
1 hour ago•0xResearch•Blockworks
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Note: AI-generated summary based on third-party content. Not financial advice. Read more.
Quick Insights
  • Treat Bitcoin (BTC) at $82,000 as a key market-support level; a sustained hold could support risk appetite, but it does not guarantee an altcoin rally.
  • For selective crypto exposure, prioritize projects showing real usage, revenue, and token value accrual—such as Hyperliquid (HYPE) and Aave (AAVE)—while recognizing that regulatory guidance and recent rallies do not remove risk.
  • Monitor Morpho, Maple, and Aave for growth in real-world-asset-backed lending; rising collateral deposits and loan activity would strengthen the tokenization thesis, but protocol and collateral risks remain.
  • Watch Zcash (ZEC) as a potential alternative store-of-value asset, but treat ETF and treasury holdings as evidence of interest—not proof of lasting demand.
  • For consumer crypto products such as the Aave app and Ethena Pay, wait for sustained user growth and balances before treating early deposits or projected advantages as durable investment signals.
Detailed Analysis

Bitcoin (BTC)

  • The hosts described $82,000 as an important level for Bitcoin to hold. They viewed a retrace to that area as healthy, and said continued strength could support the broader crypto market.
  • Bitcoin dominance has fallen over the past four to five weeks, but the hosts disagreed on whether this marks a durable alt season. They noted that large allocators may still favor Bitcoin, which could push dominance higher again.
  • One host said Bitcoin’s lack of privacy and possible quantum-computing concerns are potential weaknesses, while also emphasizing that Bitcoin remains a major store-of-value asset.

Takeaways

  • Watch whether Bitcoin can hold $82,000 as a market sentiment indicator, not as a guaranteed signal for altcoins.
  • Treat a continued decline in Bitcoin dominance as a possibility rather than a settled trend; the discussion presented credible arguments for both rising and falling dominance.

Altcoins and Selective Alt Season

  • The hosts saw recent outperformance in altcoins as a sign that capital is moving further out on the risk curve. They highlighted Pump (PUMP), Hyperliquid (HYPE), Aave (AAVE), and EtherFi among assets that had recently rallied.
  • They argued that the market may be rewarding projects with demonstrated product-market fit, revenue, and value that accrues to the token, rather than bidding up every altcoin indiscriminately.
  • Quant (QNT), Hedera (HBAR), and Algorand (ALGO) were cited as examples of similar coins rising together. One host cautioned that broad, fundamentals-independent gains can signal a late stage in a short-term rally.
  • The hosts said that many altcoins had underperformed Bitcoin earlier in the year, but a large share of one speaker’s watchlist had recently begun outperforming it.

Takeaways

  • If assessing altcoins, the discussion favors looking for evidence of revenue, usage, and token value accrual rather than relying on broad “alt season” momentum.
  • Be alert to rally conditions where many unrelated coins rise together; the hosts viewed that kind of indiscriminate strength as a possible short-term warning sign.
  • Outperformance remains conditional on broader market support, including Bitcoin holding up.

Hyperliquid (HYPE) and Pump (PUMP)

  • The hosts said recent SEC guidance indicated that token buybacks do not necessarily constitute essential managerial efforts when a crypto system is functional. They viewed this as reducing regulatory risk for protocols such as Hyperliquid and Pump.
  • Both were discussed as examples of protocols with buybacks or burns. One host said that, after this guidance, teams still citing legal concerns as a reason not to support their tokens may be choosing not to do so for other reasons.
  • The hosts cautioned that the guidance is not permanent legislation and could change with future administrations.

Takeaways

  • Consider whether a protocol has a clear, established mechanism for directing value to its token, while recognizing that buybacks alone do not establish a project’s investment merits.
  • Treat the SEC guidance as a reduction in perceived regulatory risk, not a guarantee that enforcement or policy will remain unchanged.

Derive

  • The hosts described Derive as an options protocol that had gained attention alongside a rise in usage and options volume. One said the project increased its buyback allocation from 35% to 50%.
  • They presented Derive as an example of crypto’s potential feedback loop: rising token prices can attract attention and users, which may in turn increase protocol activity and revenue.
  • One host said the asset was up more than 300% from an earlier discussion in April or May; this was a retrospective observation, not a price target.

Takeaways

  • Monitor whether rising activity and volumes persist, rather than assuming that price appreciation will automatically lead to durable fundamentals.
  • The hosts’ example also illustrates the risk of reflexive cycles: attention and usage can reinforce a rally, but that dynamic may reverse.

Zcash (ZEC)

  • The hosts identified Zcash as a leading candidate for an alternative store-of-value asset, in part because of its privacy features.
  • They said Zcash exchange-traded funds and digital-asset treasury vehicles had attracted significant interest. The discussion put the Zcash ETF near $1 billion in assets under management and said ETFs and treasury instruments together held 5.6% of Zcash’s supply.
  • Zcash’s possible role alongside Bitcoin was discussed as one reason Bitcoin dominance could decline. The hosts also cautioned that the market may ultimately recognize only a small number of alternative store-of-value assets.

Takeaways

  • Zcash offers a way to follow the discussion’s alternative-store-of-value theme, but that thesis depends on continued investor demand and acceptance beyond Bitcoin.
  • Treat reported ETF and treasury holdings as evidence of access and interest—not proof that Zcash will retain a monetary premium.

Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL)

  • The hosts suggested that ETH and possibly SOL could benefit if investors increasingly accept store-of-value assets beyond Bitcoin and Zcash.
  • They also raised the possibility that an asset’s surrounding economy and sustainable revenues could help support a store-of-value premium.
  • These ideas were presented as possibilities, not as a firm forecast. The hosts said they were not convinced that many assets would share this role.

Takeaways

  • Track whether the store-of-value thesis for ETH or SOL is supported by durable demand and ecosystem activity; the transcript did not establish either as a certain outcome.
  • The hosts’ broader point was that store-of-value demand could extend beyond Bitcoin, but likely to a limited number of assets rather than every large crypto token.

Litecoin (LTC), XRP, and CryptoPunks

  • Litecoin was mentioned as a historical example of the “silver to Bitcoin’s gold” framing. The hosts suggested Zcash may now occupy a similar complementary role.
  • XRP was raised jokingly as a possible beneficiary of retail enthusiasm if alternative stores of value become popular; this was not presented as a fundamentals-based thesis.
  • CryptoPunks were mentioned as a collectible that could benefit from a store-of-value narrative because of their prominence and status as an important NFT collection.

Takeaways

  • Distinguish between assets discussed as established or plausible store-of-value candidates and examples raised speculatively. The XRP comment, in particular, was framed as a possible retail-driven reaction rather than a reasoned valuation case.
  • For collectibles such as CryptoPunks, the discussion did not provide a price target or a clear timeline for any store-of-value demand.

On-Chain Collectibles

  • The hosts argued that blockchain-based marketplaces can improve trading in collectibles such as Pokémon cards, sports cards, and luxury watches compared with traditional online marketplaces, citing fees and shipping costs as drawbacks of off-chain platforms.
  • They viewed secondary-market trading volume as an important sign of real demand, beyond activity driven by opening collectible “packs” or gotcha-style products.
  • The hosts said that Coinbase had teased a feature for opening packs in its app. They speculated that Collector Crypt, Courtyard, or BZ might be involved, but no partnership was confirmed. One host disclosed being an investor in BZ.
  • They also mentioned Hot Wheels collectibles and rare coins as possible extensions of the model.
  • The main risk raised was that supply of new collectible products could grow faster than demand, leading to a boom-and-bust cycle. Some collectible prices were also described as getting “ridiculous.”

Takeaways

  • Look for evidence of sustained secondary-market activity and repeat users, not just initial sales or pack-opening volumes.
  • Treat Coinbase’s possible entry as a potential catalyst for relevant platforms, but the hosts did not confirm a partner.
  • Be cautious about assuming that demand for Pokémon cards will extend to every collectible category; the discussion specifically warned that supply may outpace adoption.

Tokenized Equities and Real-World Assets (RWAs)

  • The hosts described a “tokenization barbell”: traditional financial assets such as stocks, ETFs, and commodities on one side, and collectibles on the other.
  • They were skeptical that tokenized versions of widely available stocks such as Tesla (TSLA), NVIDIA (NVDA), SPY, and QQQ offer a compelling substitute for brokerage accounts for many users.
  • They saw a stronger case where on-chain products provide unique access, enable new applications, or serve markets that are less accessible through traditional venues.
  • One host gave Ethena’s ENA-related products as an example of an asset they wanted to buy but could not access on-chain as a spot market at the time; available derivatives were described as illiquid.
  • The hosts also discussed consumer applications that combine tokenized stocks with games or collectibles, while emphasizing that the market is still developing.

Takeaways

  • Assess tokenized assets by asking what on-chain access enables that a brokerage account does not. The hosts considered simple tokenized versions of familiar stocks less compelling than distinct use cases.
  • For tokenized equities, watch whether products develop liquidity, useful access, or consumer features—not merely whether an asset is issued on-chain.

Aave (AAVE), Morpho, Maple, and On-Chain Lending

  • The hosts argued that lending protocols may be underappreciated beneficiaries of tokenization. Tokenized assets can potentially be deposited as collateral and used for permissionless borrowing.
  • Morpho and Maple were said to have reached new highs in outstanding loans, even while Bitcoin and ETH remained below their lows-to-date. The hosts also noted that a growing share of Morpho loans was backed by RWAs rather than crypto-native collateral.
  • An Aave market on Base had reportedly crossed $30 million in tokenized-equity supply, with about $2 million deposited in Aave. The hosts expected both figures to rise over the following months.
  • The discussion also cited Camino as a potential beneficiary of tokenized equities and other RWAs on Solana.
  • Aave was described as having suffered an impairment following the Kelp exploit, but one host viewed lending and consumer-facing applications as potential areas of renewed opportunity.

Takeaways

  • Consider lending protocols as a possible second-order way to follow tokenization, rather than focusing only on issuers and decentralized exchanges.
  • Track RWA collateral deposits, outstanding loans, and borrowing activity as evidence that tokenization is being used beyond trading.
  • The Kelp exploit and Aave-related impairment were cited as a risk; growth in RWA lending does not remove protocol or collateral risks.

EtherFi and Crypto Neobanks

  • EtherFi was highlighted as a consumer-facing crypto product that lets users access stocks and borrow against them through its app. The hosts described this as an example of an experience enabled by on-chain financial infrastructure.
  • One host said that EtherFi users typically need to deposit into a vault to earn yield, whereas Ethena Pay was described as automatically converting balances into USDe and providing yield through sUSDe. These product details were presented as part of a comparison, not a guarantee of future returns.
  • The discussion also noted that a US-based host could not access some of these products because of residency restrictions.

Takeaways

  • Compare the full user experience—including access, deposit and withdrawal conditions, and how yield is generated—rather than focusing only on advertised rates.
  • Geographic restrictions may limit access to products discussed in the transcript.

Ethena (ENA), USDe, and Ethena Pay

  • The hosts said Ethena Pay was still early and not yet open to the public, with less than $4 million in balances at the time of the discussion.
  • They argued that Ethena may have better economics than some competing neobanks because it can monetize stablecoin balances, potentially allowing it to offer a simpler product or more competitive rewards.
  • One host said Ethena Pay could be in a stronger position relative to other neobanks in one to two years, while acknowledging that it was starting from a smaller base than established competitors.
  • The hosts also noted that Athena Pay’s traction was not yet proven at scale.

Takeaways

  • Treat Ethena Pay’s economic model as a potential advantage, but watch for growth in balances, spending, and user adoption before assuming it translates into durable success.
  • The one-to-two-year outlook was a host’s view, not a stated price target or guarantee.

Aave App

  • The Aave app was described as a potentially overlooked consumer product. One host said it had passed $17 million in deposits after roughly a month of iOS early access and had opened Ethereum mainnet deposits and withdrawals.
  • The host cited a stablecoin yield of around 6% at the time, along with promotional boosts and deposit protection. These terms can change.
  • The product was framed as a way to bring Aave’s savings yield to a broader audience.

Takeaways

  • Monitor whether deposits and user adoption continue after early access and promotional incentives.
  • Verify current yields, protection terms, and withdrawal conditions directly; the transcript’s figures describe the product at that time.

Robinhood (HOOD) and Coinbase (COIN)

  • Coinbase’s planned pack-opening feature was viewed as a potentially meaningful signal for on-chain collectibles, although the hosts did not know which platform—if any—would supply the underlying inventory.
  • The hosts said they would watch Robinhood’s upcoming summit for news about Robinhood Chain, while noting that the prevailing expectation was for limited announcements. They allowed that a low-expectation setup could produce an upside surprise but did not make a direct stock call.
  • Robinhood was also discussed in connection with tokenized equities and consumer applications.

Takeaways

  • Treat potential product announcements as catalysts to monitor, not confirmed developments.
  • The discussion focused on these companies’ crypto products and ecosystems, not on a valuation or recommendation for their publicly traded shares.

Crypto Neobanks and Consumer Applications

  • The hosts argued that stablecoins, tokenization, and faster blockchains have created infrastructure for new consumer financial products, but that success will depend on packaging them into an easy-to-use experience.
  • They highlighted Athena Pay, EtherFi, and the Aave app as products to watch, while noting that adoption and balances vary substantially.
  • They also discussed potential applications that combine stocks with games or collectibles, saying the eventual consumer use cases remain uncertain.

Takeaways

  • Favor evidence of real consumer use—such as sustained balances, spending, and repeat activity—over the existence of a token or product alone.
  • The hosts viewed consumer applications as a promising but still early opportunity, with adoption and product-market fit yet to be established.
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Episode Description
Bitcoin no longer has a monopoly on crypto’s bull case. This week, the team asks whether revenue-generating tokens, Zcash, and onchain collectibles can sustain value beyond Bitcoin. We also dig into why lending markets and neobanks may benefit more from tokenized assets than spot trading venues. Enjoy! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro 01:03 Can Alts Keep Outperforming Bitcoin? 05:01 SEC Clears The Way For Buybacks 11:58 Is Altseason Already Here? 17:02 Why Bitcoin Dominance Could Fall 23:41 How Many Stores Of Value? 31:18 Why Collectibles Work Onchain 34:58 Can Collectibles Go Mainstream? 40:38 Where Tokenization Adds Value 48:01 What Can Onchain Stocks Unlock? 51:37 Can Crypto Neobanks Win? 56:41 Aave’s Quiet Consumer Push FOLLOW THE SHOW › 0xResearch – https://x.com/0xResearch › Luke – https://x.com/0xMether › Carlos – https://x.com/0xcarlosg › Ryan – https://x.com/AvgJoesCrypto › Telegram – https://t.me/+UFFz4z3qyrhhMDYx › Blockworks – https://x.com/Blockworks Check out Blockworks Research today! Research, data, governance, tokenomics, and models – all in one place Blockworks Research: https://www.blockworksresearch.com/ Free Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter EVENTS › Join us at Digital Asset Summit 2026 Asia October 7th & Digital Asset 2026 London November 10-11th https://blockworks.com/events › TOKEN2049 Singapore is back October 7–8, bringing together 25,000 attendees, 300 speakers, and 500 exhibitors for one of the biggest weeks in crypto. Get your TOKEN2049 tickets and 10% DISCOUNT here: https://checkout.token2049.com/events/asia?promo=DASPODCAST10&utm_source=0xresearch&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=daspodcast&utm_id=DASPODCAST RESOURCES › Learn more about Blockworks Agentic Detection: https://blockworks.com/insights/introducing-agentic-detection-asset-monitoring-built-for-the-ai-era › Blockworks Research → Research, data, governance, tokenomics, and models – all in one place: https://www.blockworksresearch.com/ › Free Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter DISCLAIMER Nothing said on 0xResearch is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only. Any views expressed are opinions, not financial advice. Hosts and guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
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By Blockworks

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