SpaceX’s $1.75T IPO, Strategy Sells Bitcoin & Crypto’s Hard Reset
This week, we’re back with another weekly roundup to discuss the upcoming SpaceX IPO with early investor Ryan Zurrer. We deep dive into how to value SpaceX, why this crypto bear market feels worse than others, opportunities in DeFi today, Strategy selling Bitcoin and more. Enjoy!
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Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction
(00:52) Takeaways From Money 2020 & All-In Summit
(07:50) The Bull vs Bear Case For SpaceX
(19:02) peaq Ad
(19:48) Why This Bear Market Feels Worse Than Others
(30:17) The Aftermath of SpaceX’s IPO
(36:20) DeFi Opportunities In 2026
(48:50) Strategy Sells Bitcoin, Will BTC Hit $40k?
(01:10:40) Content of The Week
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Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, Rob and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
$100 Million DeFi DAT Chooses ETH | Ryan Zurrer
Why did Game Square, the Jerry Jones-backed media powerhouse, bet $100 million on Ethereum instead of Bitcoin? In this episode of The DeFiant Podcast, Vinny sits down with crypto pioneer Ryan Zurrer to explore the strategy behind this bold move. Ryan, who co-wrote the MakerDAO whitepaper and now leads Dialectic, shares why Ethereum dominates 5 out of 6 real-world crypto use cases, from stablecoins to DeFi, and how it’s emerging as the financial substrate of the future. Learn how Game Square is leveraging Ethereum’s programmability to earn yields of up to 14% and why this strategy could set a new standard for corporate crypto adoption.
The conversation dives deep into the evolution of DeFi, the lessons learned from past crypto cycles, and the importance of decentralization and fair launches in building sustainable ecosystems. Ryan also shares insights into Dialectic’s automated DeFi machine, which uses hyper-diversification and risk-adjusted strategies to maximize returns.
Chapters
00:00 - Litmus Test for Crypto Projects
00:28 - MakerDAO and Stablecoin Innovation
01:23 - Game Square’s $100M Ethereum Bet
02:32 - Ethereum’s Real-World Dominance
05:09 - Dialectic’s DeFi Machine
06:12 - Compounding Yields with Ethereum
10:01 - Lessons from Crypto History
16:01 - The Evolution of Crypto Governance
28:02 - Polkadot’s Interoperability Vision
40:00 - Ethereum as the Corporate Crypto Blueprint
Unconfirmed: How Ryan Zurrer Ended Up Spending the Most on a Single NFT Artwork - Ep.295
Ryan Zurrer, founder of Dialectic, a crypto wealth multi-family office, discusses his recent $29 million purchase of Beeple’s Human One and his experience at Art Basel in Miami, along with his thoughts on the NFT space in general. Show highlights:
what Human One is and why Ryan purchased it
how Ryan and Beeple’s personal relationship factored into the purchase of Human One
why Human One is important to the metaverse
how Ryan defied the odds in purchasing Human One
how Miami’s Art Basel conference missed out by not capitalizing enough on NFTs
what Ryan thinks about the NFT industry being described as a bubble
how Ryan uses “proof-of-artwork” to determine which NFTs to buy
Ryan’s experience visiting Beeple’s art studio/campus
where Ryan thinks NFTs will go from here, and why he is so bullish on music NFTs in particular
Thank you to our sponsors!
Avado: ava.do
Crypto.com: https://crypto.onelink.me/J9Lg/unconfirmedcardearnfeb2021
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Episode Links:
Ryan Zurrer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kukulabanze
Previous Unchained appearances:
https://unchainedpodcast.com/why-ryan-zurrer-would-like-to-see-a-new-dao/
https://unchainedpodcast.com/all-things-cryptoeconomics-pt-1-with-olaf-carlson-wee-and-ryan-zurrer-of-polychain-capital/
Human One
Beeple x Christie’s interview:
https://www.christies.com/features/Beeple-gets-real-with-human-one-11940-7.aspx
Barron’s on Human One purchase:
https://www.barrons.com/articles/beeples-human-one-video-sculpture-and-nft-sells-for-nearly-29-million-01636506472
Ryan Zurrer purchase:
https://twitter.com/kukulabanze/status/1458236032818819075?s=20
Proof-of-Artwork:
https://www.decential.io/features/proof-of-artwork-ryan-zurer-on-his-29-million-purchase-of-beeples-human-one
Art Basel Miami
https://artbasel.com/miami-beach
Beeple saying NFTs are a “bubble:”
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-21/prices-in-a-bubble-beeple-says-after-his-69-million-nft-sale
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All Things Cryptoeconomics, Pt. 1, With Olaf Carlson-Wee and Ryan Zurrer of Polychain Capital
In an intermittent series on cryptoeconomics, Olaf Carlson-Wee and Ryan Zurrer of crypto hedge fund Polychain Capital describe what cryptoeconomics is, what goals it typically helps networks accomplish and what behaviors token systems might someday incentivize. We discuss when cryptoeconomic models don't make sense, how the type of consensus algorithms a blockchain chooses can affect behavior in that system and which consensus mechanisms excite them now. We also dive into whether or not it's desirable for a cryptoeconomic system to depend on a small number of knowledgeable participants, how to manage on-chain governance so networks don't vote themselves into a "black hole," and what disciplines are helpful in designing smart cryptoeconomic systems.
Polychain Capital http://polychain.capital/
Thank you to our sponsors:
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