Alt Funds Network

Episode #96: Future of Commodities Trading with Austin Durgee and Greg Perrin of Sphinx What if commodities like oil, gas, and metals could trade 24/7 with instant settlement, institutional-grade infrastructure, and unmatched capital efficiency? That’s exactly what Sphinx is building—a permissioned Layer 1 blockchain powering GCX, a next-generation global commodities exchange. In this episode , we speak with Austin Durgee and Greg Perrin about their mission to bring the speed, transparency, and efficiency of crypto infrastructure to one of the world’s largest markets. In this episode, you’ll learn: ► Why traditional commodities markets are ripe for disruption ► How Sphinx leverages the Cosmos SDK to build tailored infrastructure ► The vision behind GCX and its potential impact on global trading ► Capital efficiency, settlement speed, and the future of market infrastructure ► Strategies for attracting liquidity and trusted partners Click in the comments below to watch or listen to the full episode: 👇 👇 Alt Funds Network Mike Schroeder, CFA Skyler Steinke

Episode #95: Digital Assets Policy with Lee Bratcher or Texas Blockchain Council Lee Bratcher, President and Founder of the Texas Blockchain Council, an organization driving policy innovation and industry leadership in digital assets. The Council is at the forefront of making Texas the jurisdiction of choice for Bitcoin and blockchain growth. Lee shares his path from military service and political science academia to leading one of the most influential blockchain trade associations in the U.S. In this episode, you'll learn: ► How policy is shaping the future of Bitcoin, stablecoins, and digital assets ► Details behind Texas’ bold Bitcoin reserve strategy ► The current state of crypto banking and debanking ► How trade associations impact regulatory clarity and industry growth ► What’s next for blockchain regulation and institutional adoption Click in the comments below to watch or listen to full episode: 👇 👇 Alt Funds Network Skyler Steinke Mike Schroeder, CFA #Blockchain #Bitcoin #CryptoPolicy #DigitalAssets #Stablecoins #CryptoBanking #Web3 #TexasBlockchain #FintechLeadership

Episode #94: Venture Investing in Australia with Rajeev Gupta In this episode , we sit down with Raj, founder of ALIUM Capital, who brings decades of investing experience across public and private markets in Asia and North America. Now based in Sydney, Raj shares how he’s applying his global investing lens to the fast-growing tech landscape in the Asia-Pacific region. In this episode, you’ll learn: ► Evaluating founders and forming real relationships ► The evolving role of boards and governance ► Australia's startup ecosystem and growth outlook ► How interest rates are impacting VC ► Lessons from navigating public and private cycles since the '90s Click in the comments below to watch or listen to the full episode: 👇 👇 Alt Funds Network Skyler Steinke Mike Schroeder, CFA

Episode #93: Custody, Staking and Crypto Security with Brett Kelly from BitGo We sat down at the BitGo Vault in New York with Brett Kelly, who leads Institutional Sales at BitGo, to explore the evolution of one of crypto’s most trusted custodians. From the early days of crypto security to BitGo’s robust offerings in staking, custody, and prime brokerage, Brett shares how BitGo is meeting the complex needs of institutional clients in a rapidly changing market. In this episode, you’ll learn: ►The growth of crypto custody and BitGo's role in it ►Trends in venture capital and digital asset infrastructure ►Risk management, compliance, and product innovation ►The unique challenges of bridging TradFi and crypto custody ►BitGo’s approach to hot wallet solutions and OTC trading ►What sets BitGo apart in an increasingly competitive landscape Click in the comments to listen or watch the full episode: 👇 👇 Alt Funds Network Skyler Steinke Mike Schroeder, CFA #CryptoCustody #DigitalAssets #CryptoPodcast #Staking #PrimeBrokerage #InstitutionalCrypto #CryptoSecurity #DigitalAssetManagement #VentureCapital #TradFi #CryptoInfrastructure #BitGo #AllFundsNetwork

Episode #92: Tokenization and Digital Assets with Maredith Hannon What’s the future of tokenized funds and digital assets? In this episode, we sit down with Maredith Hannon, Head of Business Development, Digital Assets at WisdomTree, to explore the evolution of blockchain, tokenization, and DeFi adoption. Maredith shares insights from her time at Merrill and Morgan Stanley, explains how WisdomTree is bridging TradFi and DeFi, and breaks down tokenized money market funds vs. stablecoins, DAO treasury diversification, and decentralized identity. In this episode, you’ll learn: ►Tokenization and Its Benefits ►Decentralized Identity and Peer-to-Peer Transfers ►Institutional Adoption of DeFi ►Ensuring Asset Security Through Regulation ►Comparing Money Market Funds and Stablecoins ►Innovative Uses of Money Market Funds Click in the comments below to watch or listen to the full episode. 👇 👇 Alt Funds Network Skyler Steinke Mike Schroeder, CFA #Tokenization #DigitalAssets #Blockchain #WisdomTree #DeFi #MoneyMarketFunds #Stablecoins #CryptoInvesting #DAOs #FinancialInnovation

Episode #91: Digital Assets and Market Making with Paul Howard. This week, we’re joined by Paul H., Senior Director at Wincent, one of the largest pure-crypto regulated hedge funds in the world. From computer scientist to crypto market maker, Paul takes us through his journey from Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs to helping scale a high-frequency trading firm specializing in digital assets and OTC liquidity. In this episode, you’ll learn: ►The evolution of Wincent and its expansion into Europe and Asia ► High-frequency trading, regulation, and tech in crypto ►The role of stablecoins and institutional adoption ►Winston’s market-making strategies and operational edge ►Transparency, risk management, and data-driven decision-making ►Future predictions for the digital asset space Click in the comments below to watch or listen to the full episode. 👇 👇 Alt Funds Network Skyler Steinke Mike Schroeder, CFA

Episode 90: Crypto Investment Strategies with Wilson Veech We had the opportunity to sit down with Wilson Veech, founder of reDeFi Capital, to explore his journey in the crypto space and the launch of their new Crypto Special Situation Fund II. With over eight years of experience in the crypto industry, Wilson offers practical advice on navigating the crypto market and his long-term perspective on value investing in this dynamic space. In this episode, you’ll learn: ►Investment Strategies ►Market Predictions & Risk Management ►Fund Management ►Regulation & Industry Trends ►Launching a New Fund: Advice & Insights Click in the comments below to watch or listen to the full episode: 👇 👇 Alt Funds Network Mike Schroeder, CFA Skyler Steinke

Episode #89: What’s driving the demand for alternative investments? We sat down with James Ouderkirk, CFA, CPA of GLASfunds to unpack the evolving world of alternative investment platforms and financial advisory services. From the growing role of RIAs to the shift towards evergreen solutions, James shares expert insights on what’s shaping the industry today. In this episode, you’ll learn: ►The core services and platform structure of GLASfunds ► Trends in alternative investments & historical allocations ► How RIAs and advisors are navigating the changing landscape ► The importance of educational resources for investors ► Key advice for fund managers looking to break into the space Click in the comments to watch or listen to the full episode: 👇 👇 Alt Funds Network Skyler Steinke Mike Schroeder, CFA

Episode #88: Trade Settlement in the Digital Age We had an insightful conversation with Roque Castro and Chris O'Connor from Elysium LD Technology, Inc. about how their platform, Match Hub, is transforming trade settlement and enhancing operational efficiency in the OTC crypto market. In this episode, you’ll learn: ►How Elysium evolved from a global macro fund to a fintech leader ► Solutions for trade settlement and market fragmentation ►The rise of prime brokerage in digital assets ►AI's role in financial operations ►Risk management strategies in the digital age Click in the comments below to listen or watch the full episode: 👇 👇 Alt Funds Network Mike Schroeder, CFA Skyler Steinke

Episode #87: Exploring Web3, AI, and Digital Assets with Ilya Paveliev How are AI and Web3 reshaping digital assets? In this episode, we sit down with ILYΛ Paveliev, co-founder of Arete Capital, to discuss his journey from economics at Trinity College to fintech in London and digital asset investing. Ilya shares insights on DeFi innovation, the rise of AI in Web3, and institutional adoption of crypto, plus his take on liquid venture investing and the macro trends shaping digital assets today. In this episode, we cover: ►Market Structure and Capital Scarcity ►Defining Liquid Venture and Its Importance ►AI and Web3: Convergence and Challenges ►Web3 Adoption and Gaming ►Applied AI: Real-World Use Cases Click in the comments below to listen or watch the full episode: 👇 👇 Skyler Steinke Mike Schroeder, CFA Alt Funds Network