The Rollup
Podcast

The Rollup

by Face-to-face with the most important people in digital assets.

242 episodes

Face-to-face with the most important people in digital assets. Explore: https://therollup.co/
Ask about The RollupAnswers are grounded in this source's posts from the last 30 days.

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242 posts
Why PURR The Most Asymmetric Bet In The World (Entire Thesis) - Capital Flows & Jaymes Rosenthal

Investors should consider PER as the primary vehicle for exposure to the Hyperliquid ecosystem, with a bullish price target of $350 within the year driven by a potential gamma squeeze. Monitor PER option strike prices closely, as hitting the highest available strike often signals a local price peak and a time to reassess the position. Hyperliquid (HYPE) is decoupling from the broader crypto market and transitioning into a global financial venue, making it a high-conviction play as it begins offering synthetic trading for assets like SpaceX and NVIDIA. Watch for a major regulatory breakthrough within the next 60 days, which could serve as a massive catalyst for institutional adoption and a re-rating of decentralized perpetual exchanges. Given Bitcoin's (BTC) current lack of relative strength, capital should be rebalanced away from BTC and into these higher-asymmetry opportunities that benefit more directly from the current liquidity cycle.

Joseph Chalom: The Ethereum Bull Thesis in 2026 (Why Now)

Accumulate Ethereum (ETH) while sentiment is low, as it remains the dominant institutional rail for stablecoins and the projected home for 70% of future tokenized assets. Consider Sharplink (SBET) as a high-yield alternative to spot ETFs, as the company stakes nearly 100% of its holdings and benefits from a "passive bid" via its recent Russell 2000 inclusion. Monitor the Real World Asset (RWA) sector for a "step function" growth catalyst, specifically looking for major asset managers like BlackRock to move large-scale funds on-chain. Investors should watch for Federal Reserve rate cuts and geopolitical stability as the primary macroeconomic triggers for a sustained "risk-on" breakout in crypto. Focus on a 2026 time horizon to capture the value accrual from Ethereum’s supply burn mechanism as institutional transaction volume scales.

Why Institutions Are Buying HYPE (And What Comes Next) - Bitwise Head of Research

Investors should consider Hyperliquid (HYPE) as a high-conviction play on the "tokenization of everything," benefiting from a protocol that generates over $1 billion in annualized free cash flow. You can gain institutional-grade exposure through the Bitwise Hyperliquid ETF (BHYP), which captures native staking rewards and benefits from a programmatic buyback mechanism that burns 99% of fees. For those restricted to public equities, Hyperliquid Strategies (PER) acts as a strategic proxy, aggressively accumulating HYPE tokens using its $150 million cash reserve. To manage risk, treat these assets as "satellite" positions within a broader 2% to 5% total crypto portfolio allocation. Focus on this sector now as the stablecoin market is projected to reach $3–$5 trillion within five years, signaling a massive shift toward on-chain financial infrastructure.

Stephen Sikes on Why Public's Agentic Brokerage Changes Everything

Investors should consider utilizing AI-driven deterministic workflows to automate complex income strategies, such as setting optimal strike prices for covered calls on core holdings like NVIDIA (NVDA) and Micron (MU). For long-term tax efficiency, look into Spot Crypto IRAs to hold a diversified basket of digital assets within a secure, custodial environment. Sophisticated traders can now leverage Direct-to-Consumer APIs to connect personal AI agents, like Claude or OpenAI, directly to their brokerage accounts for customized trade execution. You can also build "Generated Assets" to create personalized direct indexes based on specific themes, moving away from traditional one-size-fits-all ETFs. Finally, use automated "bid walking" tools to incrementally adjust limit prices, ensuring better execution and reduced slippage in volatile markets.

Alex Fine on Why Fintechs Going Onchain Is The Biggest Opportunity Right Now

Investors should prioritize "picks and shovels" infrastructure like FUN, which captures value by providing high-conversion fiat-to-crypto on-ramps for global users. Focus on the Fintechs On-Chain theme by backing applications like Polymarket, Hyperliquid, and Lighter, where blockchain serves as an invisible backend for superior financial utility. With over 99% of transaction volume shifting toward USDC and USDT, the highest conviction move is investing in platforms that integrate stablecoins for real-world e-commerce and cross-border payments. Monitor the growth of Real World Assets (RWA) on-chain, as moving traditional stocks and bonds into decentralized environments represents the next 10x growth phase. For long-term positioning, look for blockchain APIs that enable the Agentic Economy, as AI agents will require decentralized rails to execute autonomous micro-payments.

Arthur Hayes & Illia Polosukhin: Privacy Is The Last 1000x (NEAR & ZEC)

Investors should prioritize Bitcoin (BTC) as a core hedge against global fiat debasement and government spending on AI and defense. Zcash (ZEC) represents a high-conviction privacy play with a 5x price potential over the next year, provided users utilize "shielded" transactions via wallets like Zashi. For exposure to AI-driven commerce, NEAR Protocol (NEAR) offers a 20x asymmetric opportunity as it moves toward becoming deflationary by 2025. Hyperliquid (HYPE) is a top-tier decentralized exchange pick with a specific price target of $150, benefiting from a lack of VC sell-pressure and the ability to trade synthetic traditional assets 24/7. To minimize risk, focus on "fully diluted" assets where early venture capital investors have already finished selling their stakes.

How N3xt Can Pay Back Every Customer Unlike JPMorgan

Investors should monitor Ethereum (ETH) as it gains institutional validation as the primary settlement layer for N3XT, a new full-reserve bank founded by industry veterans. Businesses requiring 24/7 liquidity should consider moving away from traditional fractional-reserve banks toward N3XT’s Next Digital Dollar (NDD) to eliminate bank-run risks and avoid SWIFT fees. For those in the shipping, logistics, and private credit sectors, utilizing NDD on the Ethereum blockchain allows for instant, programmable "atomic settlement" of cargo and loans. While Stablecoins act as receipts for dollars, N3XT’s tokenized deposits represent the actual movement of USD on-chain, offering a more secure and regulated alternative for corporate treasury management. Long-term investors should watch for N3XT's potential expansion to other blockchains, further cementing the shift toward blockchain-native banking infrastructure.

Is Bitcoin The Best Hedge For What's Coming? | Evan Szu

Investors should consider a long position in Bitcoin (BTC) as it breaks through the $68,000 resistance level, signaling a shift toward a "flight to safety" asset. To hedge against a predicted deflationary recession over the next six months, allocate capital into Two-Year Treasury Notes, Gold, and Bitcoin to benefit from falling interest rates. For those seeking crypto exposure with lower volatility, utilize "delta-neutral" strategies such as staking and liquidity provisioning rather than direct token speculation. Explore Pre-IPO Secondaries and Reinsurance through emerging tokenized fractional funds, which allow smaller investors to access high-minimum private markets for as little as $500. Monitor Crude Oil prices and employment data revisions closely, as a sharp spike in energy costs may signal the end of the current business cycle and a looming market pivot.

Austin Barack: My AI Bull Thesis (...And What I'm Holding)

Consider purchasing DEEM at current levels near $1,800, as its $365 annual utility value suggests a price target of ~$3,650 if it re-rates to a standard corporate bond yield. The VVD token is also positioned for growth, as the platform’s 20% month-over-month user expansion makes its $1.5B–$2B valuation appear significantly undervalued. GRASS offers a high-conviction opportunity at just 5x–8x revenue; watch for a potential price re-rating following an upcoming token holder call expected within the next month. For infrastructure exposure, NEAR is a top pick for its essential role in powering AI agents and cross-chain "intents," while AERO remains a strong fundamental play as its revenue generation now outpaces token emissions. Finally, focus capital on "net-positive" assets like HYPE where platform buy-backs exceed market sell pressure, or ZEC for long-term privacy-focused diversification.

Why Banks Are About To Make More Money From Stablecoins with Simon Taylor

Investors should prioritize Visa (V) and Stripe as "distribution winners" that are successfully integrating stablecoin rails into their massive global payment networks. The "Stablecoin Super Cycle" is transforming global fintech, making companies like Mercury and Ramp high-conviction plays as they bridge the gap between traditional fiat and instant blockchain settlement. For institutional exposure, Tempo (TEMPO) is a key asset to watch as it launches stablecoin settlement services for regulated entities like Coastal Community Bank. Focus on fintech platforms that reduce friction for CFOs by allowing them to manage both crypto and fiat from a single dashboard. Distinguish between "money that moves" via Stablecoins for cross-border transfers and "money that stays" in Tokenized Deposits for bank-led lending and yield products.

Variational Founder: $50M Series A, RWA Perps, And TradFi Onchain (Why Now)

Investors should prioritize exposure to the Real World Asset (RWA) sector, specifically through platforms like Hyperliquid and the newly funded Variational, as retail demand for on-chain trading of traditional stocks now rivals crypto. Focus on high-growth RWA markets such as AI and semiconductor stocks (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD), which are currently outperforming mid-cap crypto assets in volume and interest. Consider Arbitrum (ARB) as a foundational play, as its ecosystem continues to attract high-conviction DeFi primitives and institutional-grade settlement layers. Monitor the launch of Variational for its zero-fee retail model and aggressive expansion into hundreds of global equity and commodity markets. Be aware that while Linear Derivatives (Perps) offer simpler retail access than options, these platforms rely on the price discovery and stability of external venues like the NASDAQ and NYSE.

How Avalanche Is Powering The $2B Tokenization Wave | Olivia Vande Woude

Investors should consider a long-term position in Avalanche (AVAX) as it transitions into a primary settlement layer for global fintechs, specifically targeting 1,500 firms in LATAM and APAC. Monitor the growth of Avalanche Subnets and the Progmat partnership, which is set to migrate $2 billion in tokenized securities to the network. For yield-focused portfolios, look toward OpenTrade and AUSD, which are integrating "Yield as a Service" and money market funds directly into banking apps. High-conviction opportunities also exist in tokenized equities through Denari, which offers over 250 U.S. stocks on-chain to international markets. Focus on the Embedded Finance theme, where blockchain utility is driven by "invisible" infrastructure that powers cross-border payments and payroll for gig workers.

Why Your AI Prompts Are More Personal Than Your Diary with Venice AI Co-Founder

Investors should consider the Venice AI (VVV) token as a way to "pre-pay" for perpetual AI access, allowing users to avoid monthly subscription fees by staking for DM tokens. For exposure to the enterprise sector, Based AI (BASED) offers a high-conviction play on businesses seeking HIPAA-compliant, open-source AI agents that protect proprietary data. NEAR Protocol (NEAR) remains a top infrastructure pick, as its "chain abstraction" technology positions it to be the primary service layer for AI agents performing automated transactions. The acquisition of Warden Labs by Based AI highlights a critical trend in "agentic wallets," enabling AI to manage and stake capital autonomously. To maximize privacy and avoid corporate censorship, focus on decentralized platforms using Trusted Execution Environments (TEE) rather than centralized models like ChatGPT.

Kraken CEO: How I Built a $20B Company

Monitor Kraken (Payward Inc.) as it prepares for a potential IPO, transitioning from a retail exchange into a global "financial super-infrastructure" provider similar to Interactive Brokers.

Investors should focus on the Tokenized Real-World Assets (RWA) sector, specifically platforms like Franklin Templeton that enable high-quality assets like Gold and Magnificent 7 equities to be used as on-chain collateral.

Prioritize "agentic" infrastructure plays that allow AI agents to hold stablecoins and execute trades autonomously, as this intersection of AI and Crypto is a high-conviction growth theme.

Utilize Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) not just as speculative assets, but as foundational collateral for borrowing and accessing traditional financial products.

Look for operational alpha in fintech companies aggressively adopting AI to drive down compliance and coding costs, as these firms are positioned to achieve significantly higher margins than labor-heavy competitors.

Is Agent Finance The Next Trillion-Dollar Wave? | Sam Green

The emergence of AgentFi marks a shift from manual trading to AI-driven capital management, with Yield Agents offering the most immediate opportunity for automated portfolio rebalancing. Investors should focus on the "triple convergence" of AI and DeFi by monitoring infrastructure providers like Cambrian Network and Chainlink (LINK) that provide the essential data backbone for these agents. High-conviction sub-sectors include News & Analysis Agents like AIXBT and risk-mitigation tools integrated with established protocols such as Aave (AAVE) and Uniswap (UNI). Near Protocol (NEAR) is a key asset to watch as it powers the "AI Supercycle" through specialized tools like Ironclaw for agentic execution. To minimize risk, prioritize projects that simplify "user intent" into verifiable on-chain actions and have passed professional security audits.

Bhaji Illuminati on How Centrifuge Became Coinbase's Tokenization Partner

Investors should consider Centrifuge (CFG) as it becomes the primary tokenization partner for Coinbase, positioning it to capture institutional capital flowing into the Base ecosystem. You can capture a yield floor of roughly 7% by utilizing their upcoming High Yield Bond Fund or AAA-rated CLOs, which offer a 2% premium over standard T-bills. For those seeking leverage, the new DeFi Wrapped Assets (DRWA) allow you to use traditional securities as collateral to borrow stablecoins on protocols like Aave and Morpho. Keep a close watch on the upcoming "Liquidity Facility" announcement, which aims to move asset redemptions from a 24-hour wait to instantaneous settlement. While these RWA (Real World Asset) plays offer stability during crypto volatility, note that most products require KYC verification and are subject to traditional regulatory compliance.

Is the Next Bitcoin Rally Being Funded by the AI Trade? | Michael Van Poppe

Accumulate Bitcoin (BTC) during its current phase, but prepare for heavy resistance and potential "fake-outs" between $90,000 and $93,000. Use the Nasdaq as a leading indicator, as BTC typically follows tech stock recoveries with a three-to-four-week lag. For high-growth potential, prioritize Near Protocol (NEAR) and Bittensor (TAO), which are identified as undervalued leaders in the emerging AI-crypto convergence. Diversify into decentralized infrastructure assets like Akash (AKT) and Render (RNDR) to capitalize on the growing demand for private, verifiable compute power. Exercise patience with Ethereum (ETH), as it is expected to underperform until a capital rotation occurs later this year, potentially triggered by the Clarity Act.

The $2.2B Bet on Digital Assets' Institutional Future with Guy Wuollet

Investors should prioritize Stablecoins and the "connective tissue" linking them to traditional banking, as they represent the most immediate product-market fit for global payments and B2B ledger upgrades. Look for high-conviction opportunities in DePIN protocols that create on-chain spot markets for GPUs, compute, and energy to support the massive infrastructure demands of AI. Focus on Perpetual Swap (Perps) platforms and DeFi projects that have transitioned to "cash flow" models with sustainable revenue rather than inflationary tokenomics. Position for the "Institutional Era" by backing FinTech-style founders who are building compliant distribution layers for large asset managers and Wall Street. While currently out of favor, maintain long-term exposure to NFTs and social crypto platforms as contrarian bets that could become the next cycle's "decacorns" once regulatory clarity improves.

Is Robinhood About to Become the World's Financial Super App? with Johann Kerbart

Investors should consider Robinhood (HOOD) as a primary play on the convergence of traditional finance and crypto, especially as it expands its high-growth Prediction Markets and 24/7 global trading infrastructure. Monitor the progress of the Clarity Act in the US, as its passage would allow HOOD to offer lucrative stablecoin yield and perpetual futures to domestic retail users. For direct exposure to the decentralized side of this trend, the HYPE token represents a high-growth opportunity in the on-chain perpetual swap market. The Real World Asset (RWA) sector is a major 2025 theme; look for platforms offering tokenized access to private equity and commodities to gain efficiency through instant settlement. Diversifying into HOOD provides a regulated entry point into the "tokenization mania," bridging the gap between legacy stock portfolios and blockchain-based assets.

Shashank Yadav on Why AI Agents Will Replace Hedge Funds

Investors should utilize Fraction AI’s Index tool to build and backtest autonomous trading agents using natural language, focusing on Hyperliquid as the primary execution venue for both crypto and macro assets like Gold and Oil.

A high-conviction strategy identified for these agents is Mean Reversion, which involves buying assets after a multi-day downturn specifically when relative volume spikes.

To ensure long-term profitability, prioritize "stable" strategies that perform across various parameters and favor agents with lower trade frequencies to prevent transaction fees from eroding gains.

When deploying capital, use "scoped permissions" or API keys with withdrawal functions disabled to ensure the AI agent can only execute trades and cannot move funds out of your wallet.

The most effective approach for retail investors is a hybrid model: provide the creative market thesis (e.g., Solana momentum) and let the AI handle the rigorous backtesting and 24/7 execution via Perpetual Swaps.