Lightspeed
January 21, 2025

The State Of Solana With Matthew Sigel

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**🙊 New Podcast Alert: The State Of Solana With Matthew Sigel**
By Lightspeed

In this episode, Matthew Sigel, head of research at Vanc, delves into Solana's ecosystem, Vanc's latest ETF initiatives, regulatory shifts, and the dynamic interplay of market forces in the crypto space.

1. Vanc's Onchain Economy ETF
  • *"The onchain economy ETF would be our first actively managed ETF in the space..."*
  • Vanc's ETF aims to invest in digital asset instruments like Bitcoin and Ethereum, alongside equities of digital transformation companies.
  • Differing from passive ETFs, Vanc's offering seeks to create alpha through selective holdings, with daily disclosure of trades.
  • This proactive management strategy presents investors with curated exposure to high-potential crypto assets and blockchain-related firms.

2. Regulatory Climate and Political Impact
  • *"The day after the election...more bullish on the space with this new Administration..."*
  • Under Trump's administration, the SEC is expected to relax certain enforcement actions, fostering a more favorable regulatory environment for crypto.
  • This shift could spur increased IPO activity among crypto companies, enhancing market confidence and attracting institutional investors.
  • Investors should monitor regulatory developments as they could significantly influence market dynamics and investment opportunities.

3. Solana’s Market Dynamics and Onchain Metrics
  • *"XRP is the third biggest asset now and it's almost doubled the market cap of Sol..."*
  • Solana faces substantial MEV and wash trading, with up to 34% of its revenues stemming from meme coin activities—comparable to Ethereum's 44% in NFTs.
  • Upcoming unlock events, such as the release of FTX estate tokens, present both liquidity risks and signs of strong institutional interest.
  • Researchers and investors must balance the speculative activities with Solana's underlying economic usage to gauge true market potential.

4. Vanc’s Venture Initiatives
  • *"We hired Wyatt Longeron who ran Circle Ventures...closing on the first Vanc Ventures fund..."*
  • Expansion into venture capital focuses on tokenized capital markets and stablecoin infrastructure, integrating with Vanc's ETF strategies.
  • This move allows Vanc to support the entire investment lifecycle, from early-stage ventures to large-cap holdings.
  • Investors may benefit from increased exposure to innovative crypto projects and alignment with comprehensive market strategies.

5. Future Outlook and Success Metrics
  • *"It's about price and... more economic activity on open source ledgers..."*
  • Success in 2025 hinges on cryptocurrency price appreciation and the expansion of economic activities on blockchain platforms.
  • Vanc anticipates broader utility applications beyond financial products, driven by real-world use cases and increased institutional confidence.
  • Key indicators include sustained price growth, increased transaction volumes, and the proliferation of decentralized applications.

**Key Takeaways:**
1. Vanc's actively managed ETF offers a unique opportunity for outperformance through selective investment in digital assets and blockchain equities.
2. Shifting regulatory landscapes under the Trump administration are likely to enhance market confidence, increasing IPO activity and institutional investment in crypto.
3. Solana presents a mixed opportunity with significant speculative trading and genuine economic usage, urging investors to carefully assess the balance between risk and potential growth.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRSiG4olX1c