Meltem Demirors

Chief Strategy Officer

The Scoop/Feb 15, 2023/48m

Deal Room: here’s what top crypto VCs anticipate for 2023

In this venture-focused segment of The Scoop, veteran crypto VCs Meltem Demirors and Vanessa Grellet unpack the trends shaping crypto's venture landscape in 2023. According to Demirors, crypto companies must follow the flow of funds: "The name of the game is 'interchange,'" Demirors said. "The closer you migrate to where the actual interchange happens, the more likely you are to earn consistent revenues, which then results in you being able to raise capital." Although crypto venture funding hit a two-year low last quarter amidst the chaos caused by FTX's collapse, Grellet is seeing "a lot of excitement in the early stage," with infrastructure and scaling plays among the most popular with investors. This episode is brought to you by our sponsors Circle, Railgun, Flare Network, NordVPN About Circle Circle is a global financial technology company helping money move at internet speed. Our mission is to raise global economic prosperity through the frictionless exchange of value. Visit Circle.com to learn more. About Railgun RAILGUN is a private DeFi solution on Ethereum, BSC, Arbitrum, and Polygon. Shield any ERC-20 token and any NFT into a Private Balance and let RAILGUN’s Zero-Knowledge cryptography encrypt your address, balance, and transaction history. You can also bring privacy to your project with RAILGUN SDK and be sure to check out RAILGUN with partner project Railway Wallet, also available on iOS and Android. Visit Railgun.org to find out more. About Flare Flare is an EVM-based Layer 1 blockchain designed to allow developers to build applications that can use data from other blockchains and the internet. By providing decentralized access to a wide variety of high-integrity data from other blockchains and the internet, Flare enables new use cases and monetization models. Build better and connect everything at Flare.Network About NordVPN NordVPN is essential for keeping crypto transactions secure, hiding your IP address, and protecting your devices from hackers and data theft. Get premium cyber-security on up to 6 devices for the price of a cup of coffee a month. Get your exclusive NordVPN Deal and try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee: Visit https://nordvpn.com/thescoop

Chief Strategy Officer

Vanessa Grellet

Managing Partner

Aglaé Ventures

CoinFund

The Scoop/Nov 21, 2022/36m

Venture Round with Meltem Demirors and Vanessa Grellet

In this venture capital-focused segment of The Scoop, CoinShare Chief Strategy Officer Meltem Demirors and Aglaé Ventures Managing Partner Vanessa Grellet explain which crypto verticals are oversaturated, and examine how market dynamics have changed since last year. Although the crypto industry has experienced many boom-and-bust cycles before, Demirors says “2021 will be one of the worst years for crypto venture returns.” Demirors explains that one of the reasons for this is a mismatch in block space supply and demand that was created during the proliferation of competing Layer 1 blockchains last year: “We're seeing that now with all of these overfunded L1s — there's just more block space than there is demand for block space.”Instead of mimicking existing successful projects, Grellet suggests that up-and-coming crypto projects should identify how they plan to differentiate themselves early on: “The question is, if you are a new platform coming into space or a new marketplace, what is distinctive that you bring that will allow for the end user to come to your platform rather than going to the existing incumbents?” Episode 115 of Season 4 of The Scoop was recorded live with The Block's Frank Chaparro, CoinShares CSO Meltem Demirors, and Aglaé Ventures' Managing Partner Vanessa Grellet. Listen below, and subscribe to The Scoop on Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever you listen to podcasts. Email feedback and revision requests can be sent to podcast@theblockcrypto.com. This episode is brought to you by our sponsors Tron, Ledn, Athletic Greens About Tron TRON is dedicated to accelerating the decentralization of the internet via blockchain technology and decentralized applications (dApps). Founded in September 2017 by H.E. Justin Sun, the TRON network has continued to deliver impressive achievements since MainNet launch in May 2018. July 2018 also marked the ecosystem integration of BitTorrent, a pioneer in decentralized web3 services boasting over 100 million monthly active users. The TRON network completed full decentralization in December 2021 and is now a community-governed DAO. | TRONDAO | Twitter | Discord | About Ledn Ledn was founded on the unshakeable conviction that digital assets have the power to democratize access to the global economy. We help you to experience the real life benefits of your Bitcoin without having to sell it. Start a savings account, take out a loan, or double your Bitcoin. For more information visit Ledn.io About Athletic Greens Build a Foundation for Better Health. It’s time to reclaim your health and arm your immune system with convenient, daily nutrition! Fill nutrient gaps, promote gut health, and support whole-body vitality with AG1. One daily serving delivers a potent blend of 9 health products—a multivitamin, minerals, probiotics, adaptogens and more—working together to help you feel like your healthiest self. For more information visit AthleticGreens.com/Scoop

Chief Strategy Officer

Vanessa Grellet

Managing Partner

Aglaé Ventures

CoinFund

Empire/Oct 17, 2022/1h 12m

Arbitraging Culture in Size | Meltem Demirors

In this episode of Empire, Jason and Santi are joined by Meltem Demirors to discuss the creation and monetization of culture. We explore how culture is already monetized today, just indirectly, and that crypto-based market microstructure will be the catalyst for the fusion of a new culture-meets-capital paradigm. Where is the market shifting today, and what are the biggest opportunities ahead? Trust me, this is a must-listen if you are interested in NFTs, financial markets or the creation of culture. - - Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (01:29) Crypto Is A Market Structure Story (06:09) Everything Is Perception & Speculation (12:38) Arbitraging Culture (21:47) Where's The Utility? Culture Is Utility (30:22) Circle Ad (32:05) Why NFT Communities Don’t Scale (36:31) IP, Mimetic Transmission and Community (42:22) Boomer ETH NFTs & Lower Price Points (45:47) The Biggest Opportunities? (57:49) Culture Is Not Emergent, It’s Manufactured (1:08:34) Read Sci-Fi, Here’s Why - - Follow Meltem: https://twitter.com/Melt_Dem Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7 Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Circle’s USDC has quickly become one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins because of its composability, stability and reserve transparency. As a seamless, trusted digital currency, USDC is a zero-to-one opportunity for the global financial system. Check out their Transparency Hub at http://empirepodcast.link/circle that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is. - - Resources Reminiscences of a Stock Operator https://amzn.to/3rTNWUw A Survey of NFT Licenses: Facts & Fictions (Galaxy) https://bit.ly/3MqIhid -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ - - 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, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Chief Strategy Officer

The Scoop/Sep 21, 2022/36m

Venture capitalists are shunning tokens, say veteran crypto investors

Last year’s bull market exuberance is a distant memory, as are the wildly inflated crypto funding rounds that attracted an unprecedented amount of venture capital to the space. In this episode of The Scoop, CoinShare’s Chief Strategy Officer Meltem Demirors and Aglaé Ventures Managing Partner Vanessa Grellet unpack how the crypto VC landscape has changed since last year’s bull market, and particularly why venture capitalists are becoming more reluctant to invest in early token rounds. As Demirors explains, savvy investors are realizing the token model is not always the best way to capture value: “There's now consideration of the fact that tokens, in particular governance tokens, are not necessarily the best way to capture value creation… an investor who's willing to write really large checks is going to have some fundamental questions around monetization that doesn't just rely on ‘number-go-up’ tokenomics.” According to Grellet, regulatory concerns — particularly regarding some token models’ similarity to unregistered securities — are another reason tokens are not as attractive to investors these days. While hesitancy regarding seed-stage token rounds is becoming more widespread, Grellet believes there is still interest in tokens if they make sense as part of larger equity investments: “We see a lot of investors being comfortable with both the equity and a token option so that if the main company has one project, but also has several other projects that warrant tokens, then you can have upside in the ongoing life of the company.” Episode 89 of Season 4 of The Scoop was recorded live with The Block's Frank Chaparro, CoinShares CSO Meltem Demirors, and Aglaé Ventures' Managing Partner Vanessa Grellet. Listen below, and subscribe to The Scoop on Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever you listen to podcasts. Email feedback and revision requests to podcast@theblockcrypto.com. This episode is brought to you by our sponsors Tron, Chainalysis & IWC Schaffhausen About Tron TRON is dedicated to accelerating the decentralization of the internet via blockchain technology and decentralized applications (dApps). Founded in September 2017 by H.E. Justin Sun, the TRON network has continued to deliver impressive achievements since MainNet launch in May 2018. July 2018 also marked the ecosystem integration of BitTorrent, a pioneer in decentralized Web3 services boasting over 100 million monthly active users. The TRON network completed full decentralization in December 2021 and is now a community-governed DAO. | TRONDAO | Twitter | Discord | About Chainalysis Chainalysis is the leading blockchain data platform. We provide data, software, services, and research to government agencies, exchanges, financial institutions, and insurance and cybersecurity companies in over 60 countries. Backed by Accel, Addition, Benchmark, Coatue, Paradigm, Ribbit, and other leading firms in venture capital, Chainalysis builds trust in blockchains to promote more financial freedom with less risk. For more information, visit www.chainalysis.com. About IWC Schaffhausen IWC Schaffhausen is a Swiss luxury watch manufacturer based in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Known for its unique engineering approach to watchmaking, IWC combines the best of human craftsmanship and creativity with cutting-edge technology and processes. With collections like the Portugieser and the Pilot’s Watches, the brand covers the whole spectrum from elegant timepieces to sports watches. For more information, visit IWC.com.

Chief Strategy Officer

Vanessa Grellet

Managing Partner

Aglaé Ventures

CoinFund

Bankless/Apr 5, 2022/1h 26m

Cults, Culture, & Crypto with Meltem Demirors | Layer Zero

Meltem Demirors is the Chief Strategy Officer of CoinShares, a digital asset investment firm that manages $4B. Meltem is also known as the vibes sorceress, curator of vibes, and the queen of crypto. She’s been in the space for more than eight years and has seen the ebbs and flows of not only the markets, but the people that make up the space. As a whole, the people that make up the space are part of the entire crypto cult. Whether you’re team Bitcoin or Ethereum, or whichever other coins, protocols, DAOs, people, etc. you support—you’re part of the cult. We don’t mean the negative connotation of the word cult, anon. Relax. Cults are everywhere. Over the years, the online magic of crypto has bled into the IRL side of the space. How will this trend impact the future of the space? Why are cults everywhere? What advice does Meltem have for new crypto participants? Answers to these questions and so much more in the episode. ------ 📣 CONSENSYS | M·A·C: NFT Collection for a Good Cause https://bankless.cc/MAC ------ 🚀 SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER: https://newsletter.banklesshq.com/ 🎙️ SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST: http://podcast.banklesshq.com/ ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: ⚖️ ARBITRUM | SCALED ETHEREUM https://bankless.cc/Arbitrum ❎ ACROSS | BRIDGE TO LAYER 2 https://bankless.cc/Across 🏦 ALTO IRA | TAX-FREE CRYPTO https://bankless.cc/AltoIRA 👻 AAVE V3 | LEND & BORROW CRYPTO https://bankless.cc/aave ⚡️ MAKER DAO | THE DAI STABLECOIN https://bankless.cc/MakerDAO 🦁 BRAVE | THE BROWSER NATIVE WALLET https://bankless.cc/Brave ------ Topics Covered: 0:00 Intro 5:02 Meltdem’s Trajectory into Crypto 13:08 When Crypto Became Real 20:17 The Power of Removing Your Ego 27:50 Why Meltdem was Wrong About Ethereum 34:24 Cults Are Everywhere 46:00 Cults vs. Communities 48:00 Meaning & Social Crypto Culture 52:00 Inter-generational product-market fit 54:50 Developing Your Own Perspective 1:05:53 How Social Crypto Has Changed 1:20:15 Meltem’s Advice For People New to the Space 1:22:44 What Meltem’s Optimistic About ------ Resources: Meltem Demirors https://twitter.com/Melt_Dem CoinShares https://coinshares.com/ Simulacra and Simulation by Jean Baudrillard https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22613.Simulacra_and_Simulation The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2761.The_Denial_of_Death Finite and Infinite Games Book by James Carse https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/189989.Finite_and_Infinite_Games ----- Not financial or tax advice. This channel is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. This video is not tax advice. Talk to your accountant. Do your own research. Disclosure. From time-to-time I may add links in this newsletter to products I use. I may receive commission if you make a purchase through one of these links. Additionally, the Bankless writers hold crypto assets. See our investment disclosures here: https://newsletter.banklesshq.com/p/bankless-disclosures

Chief Strategy Officer

Bankless/Nov 23, 2020/1h 41m

40 - WTF Happened in 2020? | Meltem Demirors

BLACK FRIDAY DEAL: GET LEDGERS for 40% OFF! 🔥🔥🔥https://bankless.cc/ledger 🚀 SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER: http://bankless.substack.com/ ✊ STARTING GUIDE BANKLESS: https://bit.ly/37Q17uI❤️ JOIN PRIVATE DISCORD: https://bit.ly/2UVI10O🎙️ SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST: http://podcast.banklesshq.com/ 👕 BUY BANKLESS TEE: https://merch.banklesshq.com/ ----- GO BANKLESS WITH THESE SPONSOR TOOLS: ⭐️LEDGER - 40% OFF LEDGERS THIS WK ONLY! 🔥🔥🔥 https://bankless.cc/ledger 🚀 ZERION - INVEST IN DEFI FROM ONE PLACE (download it now!)https://bankless.cc/zerion 💳 MONOLITH - GET THE HOLY GRAIL OF BANKLESS VISA CARDShttps://bankless.cc/monolith 🤖YEARN - YIELD-SEEKING MONEY ROBOT THAT FARMS DEFI FOR YOU http://bankless.cc/yearn ------ 40 - WTF Happened in 2020? | Meltem Demirors Meltem Demirors is Chief Strategy Officer of Coinshares... former Vice President of the Digital Currency Group, advocated for crypto in front of Congress... and overall badass. Meltem wants to answer the question 'WTF Happened in 2020', specifically as it relates to monetary policy from the Federal Reserve, economic forces that result from a top-heavy pension and social welfare system, as well as how COVID impacts financial decision-making. This is our first video-podcast, because Meltem brought RECEIPTS. She has DATA and CHARTS and FIGURES to show! We also turn to a discussion on Bitcoin vs Ethereum identity and in-group, out-group dynamics, and have a jovial discussion regarding tribalistic affairs. Hope you enjoy! ------ Don't stop at the video! Subscribe to the Bankless newsletter program http://bankless.substack.com/ Visit the official Bankless website for resources http://banklesshq.com/ Follow Bankless on Twitter https://twitter.com/BanklessHQ Follow Ryan on Twitter https://twitter.com/ryansadams Follow David on Twitter https://twitter.com/TrustlessState ----- Not financial or tax advice. This channel is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. This video is not tax advice. Talk to your accountant. Do your own research. Disclosure. From time-to-time we may add links in this channel to products we use. We may receive commission if you make a purchase through one of these links. We'll always disclose when this is the case.

Chief Strategy Officer

Odd Lots/Nov 19, 2020/37m

The Episode That Turned Tracy Into A Bitcoin Bull

Bitcoin has been on a tear lately, but it's been a bit unclear as to what's driving it. But whatever's driving it, co-host Tracy Alloway has given up her longtime skepticism on the digital currency and now believes in its value. This episode is why. We spoke with Meltem Demirors, the Chief Strategy Officer at CoinShares, a firm that offers vehicles for investing in digital assets, about this year's move and why people are buying now. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chief Strategy Officer

Unchained/Nov 3, 2020/1h 26m

Why Bitcoin Now: Meltem Demirors and Lyn Alden on the Perfect Conditions for Bitcoin - Ep.197

In this seventh installment of the Why Bitcoin Now series, Meltem Demirors, the chief strategy officer at Coinshares, and Lyn Alden, the founder of Lyn Alden Investment Strategy, discuss the state of Bitcoin since June, amidst the presidential election – which takes place on the date of publication of the show -- and a global pandemic. Topics discussed include: the significance of bitcoin staying above $10k for over three months why the pandemic has created the conditions for which Bitcoin was designed how the markets may react to a Trump or Biden win why they believe, no matter which party wins, there will be massive deficits and a money-printing debt spiral why other countries see opportunities to erode the supremacy of the US dollar why Bitcoin has shown that it’s possible to have money without state how the current record unemployment and massive stimulus efforts during the pandemic have impacted Bitcoin the increasing interest in Bitcoin from traditional investors the IMF’s recent call for a “New Bretton Woods moment” and how it may impact crypto China’s DCEP central bank digital currency and the effects it may have on increasing China’s trade leverage why the pandemic has made clear the importance of bringing more Bitcoin mining onshore whether or not Bitcoin will be able to remedy growing wealth inequality why privacy/encryption will be the main issue Bitcoiners need to watch from the coming administration Thank you to our sponsors! Crypto.com: https://www.crypto.com Episode links: Lyn Alden: https://twitter.com/LynAldenContact Lyn Alden Investment Strategy: lynalden.com Meltem Demirors: https://twitter.com/Melt_Dem Coinshares: https://www.coinshares.com/ Lyn’s post on how the economy and stock market perform under Democratic vs. Republican presidents: https://www.lynalden.com/presidential-elections/ US stimulus spending: https://datalab.usaspending.gov/federal-covid-funding/#section-tracking IMF New Bretton Woods speech: https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2020/10/15/sp101520-a-new-bretton-woods-moment Stocks in a bubble: https://www.longtermtrends.net/sp500-price-earnings-shiller-pe-ratio/ Meltem on the financialization of internet infrastructure: https://medium.com/coinshares/the-financialization-of-compute-connectivity-66beaffe7501 BitOoda report on Bitcoin mining: https://bitooda.medium.com/bitcoin-mining-hashrate-and-power-analysis-bitooda-research-ebc25f5650bf Bloomberg wealth report: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-08/top-50-richest-people-in-the-us-are-worth-as-much-as-poorest-165-million Cash app’s Bitcoin sales: https://www.theblockcrypto.com/linked/74001/square-q2-bitcoin-cash-app JPMorgan research note on Bitcoin: https://fortune.com/2020/10/26/jp-morgan-chase-bitcoin-predictions-analyst-jpm-cryptocurrency/ https://twitter.com/DTAPCAP/status/1319703750450302980?s=20 Forbes interview with Daniel Masters of Coinshares: https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeldelcastillo/2020/10/24/jp-morgan-veteran-daniel-masters-explains-how-blockchain-will-end-commercial-banks/#77ec4f6a6bdd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chief Strategy Officer

Lyn Alden Investment Strategy

Lyn Alden

Independent Analyst and Investor

Unchained/Jul 31, 2018/1h 7m

Meltem Demirors and Jill Carlson on the Sh*tcoin Waterfall - Ep.74

In this hilarious skeptics' episode, Meltem Demirors, chief strategy officer of CoinShares, and Jill Carlson, an independent consultant, explain why they think crypto needs fewer moral arguments and more empirical evidence, and how there's too much focus on financial engineering, but not enough focus on winning hearts and minds. They also explain why people are not machines where "you put in a token and get out an action," what the "sh*tcoin waterfall" is, and why cryptoeconomics isn't anything new. Plus, they give their tips for working in the space. Thank you to our sponsors! DACC: https://www.digitalassetcustody.com Preciate: https://preciate.org/recognize/ Quantstamp: https://quantstamp.com Episode links: Meltem on Twitter: https://twitter.com/melt_dem On Medium: https://medium.com/@Melt_Dem Jill on Twitter: https://twitter.com/_jillruth AirTM: https://www.airtm.io Fat protocols thesis: http://www.usv.com/blog/fat-protocols Amber Baldet's tweet about the finger guns guy: https://twitter.com/amberbaldet/status/1006286345122275331 Meltem's tips on working in crypto: https://medium.com/@Melt_Dem/so-you-want-to-work-in-crypto-57961ca074c4 Jill's tips on working for yourself: https://medium.com/@jillcarlson/working-alone-165ababeafc2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chief Strategy Officer

Jill Carlson

Independent Consultant

Slow Ventures

Open Money Initiative

Unchained/Jun 13, 2017/1h 6m

Why Digital Currency Group's Meltem Demirors Is Concerned About The ICO Craze

The DCG director of development talks about why she thinks identity will be the first tangible application of blockchain technology that consumers experience, why DCG supports Ethereum Classic as an investment vehicle and yet still supports Ethereum as a protocol, and how bitcoin itself as a global currency hasn't taken off as much as she thought when she first got into the industry. She also explains what the top regulatory issue is for blockchain startups and projects -- it's a lot more mundane than you might expect -- and why she doesn't, at this point, have a lot of confidence in crypto hedge funds. Plus, she makes suggestions on how ICOs could improve and reveals her top picks for new tokens. Show notes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2017/06/13/why-digital-currency-groups-meltem-demirors-is-concerned-about-the-ico-craze/ The phone hijacking article referenced in the episode: https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2016/12/20/hackers-have-stolen-millions-of-dollars-in-bitcoin-using-only-phone-numbers/ DCG: http://dcg.co/ Ethereum Classic Investment Trust: https://grayscale.co/ethereum-classic-investment-trust/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chief Strategy Officer