Taiki Maeda

Consider reducing exposure to most altcoins, as they are viewed as overvalued and at high risk of a significant crash. To manage this risk, hold at least 50% of your crypto portfolio in stablecoins to protect capital while earning yield. Adopt an airdrop farming strategy to gain upside exposure without direct price risk, with Polymarket highlighted as the next major opportunity to prioritize. For direct long exposure, focus on Bitcoin for its relative strength over the broader market. The only specific altcoin mentioned with conviction for a long position is Mantle (MNT) due to its strong recovery and fundamentals.

The market is expected to remain volatile, so consider holding a significant portion of your portfolio in stablecoins to buy future dips. For long-term holdings, accumulate Bitcoin (BTC) during periods of weakness, as it is viewed as the primary crypto asset to own. It may be prudent to reduce exposure to most altcoins and consider rotating from Ethereum (ETH) into Bitcoin (BTC) due to valuation concerns. A key opportunity lies in farming the Polymarket airdrop, as the prediction markets theme is expected to perform well regardless of broader market direction. Finally, look for buying opportunities in protocols that proved resilient during the crash, such as Hyperliquid (HLP).

Consider depositing capital into the LIDAR Liquidity Vault (LLP) to earn yield and potential airdrop points, as direct trading to farm the upcoming LIDAR token is now highly competitive. For a core long-term holding, Mantle (MNT) is a high-conviction investment based on its strong fundamentals and valuation. A key strategy is to focus on airdrop farming by actively participating in new protocols before their tokens launch to the public. More advanced investors could consider shorting a small basket of overvalued tokens like SUI on platforms such as Variational to hedge risk and simultaneously farm for future airdrops. Keep an eye on the invite-only platform Variational, which is highlighted as the next major airdrop opportunity after LIDAR.

Consider providing liquidity in the Lighter LLP vault to earn yield from trading activity ahead of its expected token airdrop in late Q4. For multi-layered returns, farm USDAI on Pendle to earn stablecoin yield plus points toward a future ICO and an airdrop expected early next year. To farm new perpetual exchanges like Variational, open small short positions on overvalued tokens to collect funding payments while earning airdrop points. A bullish conviction was placed on Mantle (MNT) due to its strong ties to the Bybit exchange, positioning it as a key ecosystem token. For a lower-risk holding, GLP is considered a quality asset for steady appreciation by earning real yield from the GMX platform.

Consider farming the new stablecoin USDAI, particularly through Pendle, to target a 15-25% APY on stablecoins plus points for a future token airdrop. For a lower-risk trade, watch for USDAI deposit caps to lift and attempt to sell the stablecoin for a quick 1-2% profit if it trades above its $1 peg. Another high-yield opportunity is the Leiter Liquidity Provider (LLP) vault, which aims for a 40-60% APR by acting as the counterparty to traders on the platform. The strategy for Leiter is to farm this yield until its airdrop occurs later this year, which may serve as an exit signal. It may be prudent to reallocate capital from underperforming farms like Euler and Morpho to fund these higher-conviction opportunities.

The Arbitrum DeFi incentive program presents a limited-time opportunity to earn high yields on assets like ETH and USDC for the next several months. For a simple strategy, consider depositing USDC into the Euler Earn EE USDC vault to target an initial 15% APY, which is expected to normalize around 10%. A more complex option is the Morpho USDC vault, which pays yield primarily in MORPHO tokens, offering exposure to an asset the analyst is now very bullish on. For a high-risk, high-reward play, provide liquidity to the Lighter Liquidity Provider (LLP) vault to earn fees from traders chasing an airdrop. This LLP strategy is time-sensitive and should be considered for the next couple of months, with a potential exit after the platform's LIDR token launch.

To position yourself for a potential token airdrop, consider placing a minimum $200 bet on the Limitless prediction market platform before its points program ends on September 22nd. Similarly, actively using the Polymarket platform may make you eligible for a future airdrop, an opportunity the market may be underestimating. To minimize capital risk while farming these airdrops, you can bet on events with a very high probability of occurring. These actions align with a bullish outlook on the prediction market sector, which is viewed as a potential hedge during crypto bear markets. For a longer-term play, monitor for new projects building trading infrastructure for prediction markets, as this niche is expected to grow.

Consider betting at least $200 on the Limitless prediction market before its points program ends on September 22nd to qualify for a potential airdrop. Similarly, actively using the Polymarket platform may position you for a speculative Polymarket airdrop. For investors holding Ethereum, placing a 'No' bet on Polymarket for ETH to hit $17,000 by 2025 can serve as a low-cost portfolio hedge. These platforms offer opportunities for asymmetric returns, where small bets on low-probability outcomes can have massive upside. Focus on event-driven bets where incentives are aligned for success, such as the MrBeast charity drive or the Lord Miles fast.

For long-term investors, Maker (MKR) is a high-conviction play on the Real World Asset (RWA) theme, but be prepared for a multi-year hold. Consider an investment in Frax Share (FXN), as its price appears to be lagging behind its strong fundamental growth, presenting a potential opportunity. Since a true alt season has not yet occurred, hold your winners but plan to de-risk some assets around November/December based on historical patterns. Systematically take profits by selling small portions of winning positions, such as 10-20%, to secure your initial capital. To truly protect your wealth, withdraw significant profits from crypto directly into a real bank account.

Consider the Jupiter LP token (JLP) on Solana as a core holding for balanced exposure to the crypto market, as it provides upside from SOL, ETH, and BTC while being partially hedged by stablecoins. For higher-risk investors, the Prediction Markets sector is highlighted for its potential 10x to 100x growth through airdrop farming. To participate, explore a potential airdrop on the Limitless platform by placing a $200 minimum bet before the end of Season 1 in mid-September. Alternatively, join the zero-risk trading competition on Outcome's testnet to potentially win real money and qualify for future rewards. Investors should monitor the ETH/BTC pair, as a sharp upward move has historically signaled a broader market top.

Position for potential airdrops by actively using tokenless protocols like Polymarket and Stream Finance, which has a confirmed points program for early users. For a lower-risk strategy, focus on market-neutral yield farming to target a consistent ~15% APR on stablecoins. A high-conviction value strategy is to identify and invest in projects trading below their liquid treasury value, similar to a past successful trade in OHM. The analyst is also explicitly bullish on the long-term growth of crypto infrastructure, citing a pre-IPO investment in Kraken as a key holding. During future bear markets, watch for publicly traded crypto-holding companies to trade at a discount to their assets, creating a potential arbitrage opportunity.

A strong value opportunity exists in Maker (MKR), a highly profitable DeFi protocol whose token price has lagged its significant earnings growth. MKR's profits have recently doubled to nearly $200 million annually, yet the token trades around $2,000, well below its previous $4,000 high when profits were at a similar level. The protocol returns value directly to investors by using 50% of profits for token buybacks and distributing the other 50% to those who stake the token. Key catalysts to watch for include major cost-cutting initiatives and the launch of Grove, a new sub-DAO focused on Real World Assets (RWAs). This is a contrarian investment requiring patience, as MKR has recently underperformed major assets like Ethereum (ETH) despite its strong fundamentals.