Presented by the Medici Network, Level Up is the premier podcast for institutional investors navigating liquid token markets. Hosts David Grider from Finality Capital and Sean Farrell from Fundstrat sit down with top protocol founders and crypto-native fund managers to cut through the noise. Each episode unpacks token economics, adoption trends, valuation frameworks, and key risks—giving you the insights to stay ahead in the evolving digital asset landscape.
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In this episode of LevelUp, David and Sean sit down with Tom Lee, Head of Research at Fundstrat Global Advisors and Chairman of Bitmine. They explore Ethereum’s positioning in global finance, the rise of Bit Mine as a leading Ethereum treasury, and the broader macro environment shaping digital assets. Tom also shares his views on crypto’s long-term potential, decentralization, and how Bit Mine is tackling treasury growth at scale.
Key Points From This Episode:
[00:00:00] Ethereum's macro moment and Tom Lee's take on blockchain's next evolution
[00:01:00] Introduction of Tom Lee and Bitmine’s rapid rise
[00:02:07] Bitmine’s Ethereum-focused treasury strategy and market impact
[00:03:32] Comparing Bitmine to MicroStrategy and its accelerated growth
[00:05:13] The role of decentralized finance (DeFi) in traditional capital markets
[00:07:28] How Ethereum compares to Bitcoin in institutional utility
[00:10:00] Fundstrat’s macro research approach and Tom’s market outlook
[00:12:14] Inflation, interest rates, and implications for crypto investment
[00:15:48] Institutional adoption signals from ETF filings and policy tone shifts
[00:18:35] How Bitmine handles treasury diversification and volatility
[00:21:10] The emergence of crypto-native treasuries as new corporate models
[00:24:02] Lessons from Tom’s traditional finance background
[00:27:45] Regulatory shifts, SEC stance, and potential ETH ETF impact
[00:32:14] Why Tom believes Ethereum has long-term structural advantages
[00:36:50] Final thoughts on building conviction in digital asset cycles
[00:40:28] What’s next for Bitmine and how they’re preparing for future cycles
[00:44:10] The importance of macro alignment in crypto thesis development
[00:48:22] Closing reflections and Tom’s message for emerging crypto leaders
This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. The views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Medici Network, Fundstrat Global Advisors LLC, Finality CP Management, LLC, or any of their affiliates. Listeners should consult their own professional advisors before making any financial or investment decisions.
Some protocol guests featured on this podcast may be annual paid members of The Medici Network. This membership does not imply endorsement by The Medici Network. This podcast does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities or tokens.
Medici Level Up with Alex Cutler, Co-Founder of Aerodrome
Season 1 · Episode 9
Friday, August 1, 2025 • Duration 02:04:05
In this episode of Level Up, David and Sean speak with Alex Cutler, Co-Founder of Aerodrome, and Austin Barack, Founder of Relayer Capital. They examine Aerodrome’s unique approach to decentralized exchange (DEX) design and token economics. They cover the Medex model, emissions, token locking mechanics, and Aerodrome’s role as a core infrastructure layer on Base. Austin also shares Relayer’s investment thesis and why Aerodrome stands out in a competitive landscape.
[00:00:00] Introduction to Aerodrome’s aligned incentives and yield focus
[00:06:03] Overview of revenue growth, transaction volume, and emissions
[00:12:15] Comparing token performance with DEX competitors
[00:18:25] Austin shares how he discovered and researched Aerodrome
[00:24:33] Addressing the DEX trilemma with the Medex model
[00:30:39] Token valuation and return of revenue to holders
[00:36:43] The team’s alignment through token utility and no vesting
[00:42:45] Real-world assets and institutional adoption pathways
[00:49:00] How Aerodrome retains liquidity and displaces competitors
[00:55:07] Early skepticism around Base and Coinbase’s decentralization
[01:01:27] DEX routing from Coinbase expands access to new tokens
[01:07:32] Token locking behavior across funds, teams, and protocols
[01:13:36] Potential for scaling execution across massive volume
Medici Presents: Level Up (TRAILER)
Friday, March 14, 2025 • Duration 02:00
Presented by the Medici Network, Level Up is the premier podcast for institutional investors navigating liquid token markets. Hosts David Grider from Finality Capital and Sean Farrell from Fundstrat sit down with top protocol founders and crypto-native fund managers to cut through the noise. Each episode unpacks token economics, adoption trends, valuation frameworks, and key risks—giving you the insights needed to make informed investment decisions in a rapidly evolving market.
Medici Level Up with Sidney Powell, Co-Founder of Maple Finance
Episode 8
Thursday, July 10, 2025 • Duration 01:32:12
In this episode of Level Up, David and Sean sit down with Sidney Powell, Co-Founder and CEO of Maple Finance, alongside Felipe Montealegre from Theia Research. Sidney shares Maple’s journey from tokenized bonds to becoming a major on-chain asset manager offering over-collateralized lending and Bitcoin yield products. Felipe adds an investor’s perspective on Maple’s positioning within decentralized credit markets and what sets it apart from traditional and DeFi lending platforms. Together they analyze Maple’s growth, risk management, and roadmap.
[00:00:40] Introduction to Maple Finance and guest intros
[00:17:24] Sidney’s background in debt capital markets and the founding story of Maple
[00:19:02] Maple’s early focus on under-collateralized lending and pivot to over-collateralized lending
[00:19:36] Origin of the “Maple” and “Syrup” branding
[00:21:12] Felipe’s background and Thea’s investment thesis on Maple
[00:25:22] How Maple operates as an on-chain asset manager
[00:28:47] Custody structures and why institutions prefer Maple’s hybrid approach
[00:31:30] Lessons from the 2022 lending crises and Maple’s segregation of risk
[00:34:28] Positioning Maple in the Web3 lending landscape
[00:37:06] How Maple handles collateral, margin calls, and liquidations
[00:42:42] New product growth: Syrup USD and Bitcoin yield products
[00:46:18] Integrations with DeFi protocols and CEX partnerships
Medici Level Up with Adam Winnick, Founder of The Medici Network
Episode 7
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 • Duration 52:23
In this special episode of Level Up, David and Sean chat with Adam Winnick, founder of The Medici Network and Finality Capital. Adam shares how Medici grew from a visionary idea into a global community focused on institutional digital asset adoption. He breaks down what sets Medici events apart, explores the evolution of allocators in digital assets, and highlights emerging investment thesis around real-world use cases, re-staking protocols, and digital asset treasuries. Adam also explains how his personal and professional background prepared him to bridge traditional finance and blockchain innovation.
[00:01:36] Adam introduces Medici’s mission and event model
[00:03:17] The meaning behind the name “Medici” and its acronym origins
[00:06:02] How an allocator comment sparked the idea for Medici
[00:07:53] Adam’s background in credit, tech, and founding Medici
[00:13:40] How Medici curates its network and selects event participants
[00:18:37] The evolution of institutional allocator profiles
[00:22:26] Why blockchain is a capital-efficient path to internet reinvention
[00:24:03] Comparing venture vs. liquid strategies in digital assets
[00:30:23] Re-staking, data portability, and the case for infrastructure bets
Medici Level Up with TN Lee, Co-Founder of Pendle
Episode 5
Friday, June 6, 2025 • Duration 01:26:34
In this episode of LevelUp, co-hosts David and Sean speak with TN Lee, CEO and co-founder of Pendle, and Louis Thomazeau, Investment Partner at L1D. TN shares how Pendle enables fixed yield and yield speculation through PT and YT token mechanics. Louis outlines L1D’s thesis around Pendle’s resilience, product-market fit, and unique token design. The discussion also explores Pendle’s future product roadmap, the upcoming launch of Boros, evolving stablecoin markets, and how Pendle positions itself within a growing DeFi landscape.
[00:01:34] TN Lee shares his background, early career at Kyber, and what sparked the idea for Pendle
[00:04:50] Louis Thomazeau discusses his transition from Solidity developer to DeFi investor and how he discovered Pendle
[00:06:57] TN explains Pendle’s core mechanics: splitting yield-bearing assets into principal (PT) and yield tokens (YT)
[00:09:00] Louis outlines L1D’s investment thesis around Pendle: strong team, token design, product-market fit, and sector potential
[00:14:15] Discussion on Pendle’s long-term strategy and market size, comparing to the scale of traditional interest rate derivatives
[00:14:30] TN walks through the three types of users in the Pendle ecosystem and how they interact with PT and YT
[00:18:25] Comparing Pendle’s DeFi model to TradFi, with a focus on its AMM innovation and capital efficiency
[00:20:10] Recap of Pendle’s adoption journey: traction via LSTs, expansion into stablecoins, and driving new use cases
[00:26:30] Future roadmap: Pendle V2, self-listing portal, expanding to non-EVM chains, and institutional product support
[00:33:35] Introduction to Boros, a leveraged yield swap protocol targeting funding rates — a zero-to-one product
Medici Level Up - Live at LA 25
Episode 5
Friday, May 30, 2025 • Duration 01:11:08
In this special conference edition of Level Up, David and Sean broadcast live from Medici LA 25, diving into conversations with top voices in digital asset journalism, institutional allocators, venture fund managers, and blockchain innovators. Guests include Charlie Gasparino from Fox Business Network, Eleanor Terrett from Crypto in America, Ben Jacobs from Scenius Capital, Joe Marenda from Cambridge Associates, Paul Veradittakit of Pantera Capital, Alex Pack of HackVC, Smokey from Berachain, and Chris Johnson of Virtuals Protocol. Topics range from regulation and market structure to tokenized AI and fund allocation strategies.
[00:02:31] Eleanor Terrett and Charlie Gasparino on their journalistic journey into crypto
[00:07:18] Covering the Ripple case and evolving crypto regulation under Gary Gensler
[00:10:52] Institutional perceptions of crypto and mainstream investment trends
[00:13:36] Comparing Medici LA with Milken Conference and shifting political representation
[00:18:11] Status of stablecoin and market structure bills in Congress
[00:21:03] Allocator insights with Joe Marenda and Ben Jacobs on crypto GP-LP dynamics
[00:24:18] Communicating blockchain business models to traditional allocators
[00:27:23] Cambridge’s development of digital asset benchmarks and venture returns
[00:29:57] Framing crypto allocation in a volatile macro environment
[00:32:08] Comparing crypto hedge fund vs. venture capital structures and returns
Medici Level Up with David Tse, Co-Founder of BabylonChain
Episode 4
Friday, May 16, 2025 • Duration 01:27:29
In this episode of Level Up, hosts David and Sean Farrell speak with David Tse, Co-Founder of Babylonchain, and Ted Breyer of Breyer Capital. David shares how Babylon introduces a trustless, slashable Bitcoin staking primitive—creating a native, self-custodial use case for Bitcoin that expands its utility beyond store of value. Ted offers his perspective as an early investor, reflecting on the protocol's technical depth, market potential, and long-term vision. They discuss Babylon’s role as a security layer for decentralized networks, competitive differentiation, and its emerging ecosystem. Tune in to understand how Babylon could reshape crypto infrastructure by bridging Bitcoin and proof-of-stake systems.
[00:00:00] Introduction to Babylon Protocol and guest intros
[00:01:19] What Babylon does and how it enables Bitcoin staking
[00:03:09] Babylon's uniqueness among staking protocols
[00:05:12] Bitcoin staking market size and opportunity
[00:06:10] Evolution of Bitcoin DeFi use cases
[00:07:52] Babylon's trustless staking design
[00:08:15] Yield dynamics and capital attraction for Bitcoin stakers
[00:09:51] Babylon as a Bitcoin security marketplace
[00:10:17] Babylon Chain as the first Bitcoin-secured network
[00:11:46] Babylon's tokenomics and investor background
[00:13:03] David Tse’s background and vision for Bitcoin use cases
Medici Level Up with Lucas Bruder, CEO of Jito Labs
Episode 3
Friday, April 4, 2025 • Duration 01:24:31
In this episode of Level Up, David and Sean sits down with Lucas Bruder, Co-Founder and CEO of JITO Labs, and Tushar Jain, managing partner at Multicoin Capital. They dive deep into JITO’s innovative approach to MEV infrastructure, liquid staking, and restaking, explaining how these components work together to boost transaction efficiency and unlock value for validators and stakers. The conversation also covers token economics, governance, and the broader impact of JITO’s technology on network performance and the future of digital assets on Solana. Tune in to explore the engine behind Solana’s robust infrastructure and learn how these advancements are setting the stage for the next wave of blockchain innovation.
Key Points From This Episode:
[00:01:22] Introduction to Jito and its position in Solana's ecosystem
[00:02:49] Token metrics, comps, and performance relative to other protocols
[00:04:19] Importance of Jito's infrastructure and its January outage
[00:06:16] Economic value and validator rewards driven by Jito tips
[00:06:59] Market share in liquid staking and Solana's LST growth potential
[00:07:50] Early momentum and growth in Jito’s re-staking product
[00:08:46] Jito's competitive position in fees and revenue generation
[00:10:04] DAO revenue and value return proposals for JTO holders
[00:12:27] Lucas’s background and motivation for founding Jito
[00:14:12] Tushar on Multicoin’s early thesis for Jito and Solana
[00:16:04] Defining MEV and its role in validator economics
[00:20:56] How Jito Block Engine transformed Solana’s transaction pipeline
[00:23:20] Key metrics and performance of MEV infrastructure
Medici Level Up with Robbie Ferguson, Co-Founder of Immutable
Episode 2
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 • Duration 48:26
In this episode of Level Up, presented by the Medici Network, co-hosts David and Sean dive into the rapidly evolving world of Web3 gaming with Robbie Ferguson, co-founder of Immutable, and Michael Arrington, founder of TechCrunch and Arrington Capital. They explore the investment thesis behind Immutable, the economics of blockchain-powered in-game assets, and why gaming might be the key driver of Web3 adoption. Robbie shares insights into Immutable’s strategic positioning, while Michael provides an investor’s perspective on the opportunities and risks in this space. Tune in for an in-depth discussion on the future of gaming, token economies, and what it takes to build a hit Web3 gaming platform.
Key Points From This Episode:
[00:01:26] Meet the Guests – Robbie Ferguson (Immutable) and Michael Arrington (Arrington Capital).
[00:02:14] Why Web3 Gaming? – The fundamental shift in ownership of in-game assets.
[00:04:07] Market Trends in Web3 Gaming – Adoption, token economics, and key market comparisons.
[00:07:15] Immutable’s Origins & Vision – Robbie shares his journey from early startups to Immutable.
[00:09:32] Web3 Gaming’s Growth Potential – How gaming is the fastest-growing entertainment sector.
[00:14:18] Skeptics’ View on Web3 Gaming – Addressing concerns about adoption and playable games.
[00:17:33] Institutional Adoption & Major Developers – How big gaming companies are approaching Web3.
[00:22:07] User Acquisition Through Token Incentives – Why Web3 can offer better player retention and engagement.
[00:29:53] Immutable’s Competitive Edge – How the company is winning market share over other blockchains.
[00:33:43] IMX Token Economics – How the protocol accrues value and supports the ecosystem.
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This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. The views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Medici Network, Fundstrat Global Advisors LLC, Finality CP Management, LLC, or any of their affiliates. Listeners should consult their own professional advisors before making any financial or investment decisions.
Some protocol guests featured on this podcast may be annual paid members of The Medici Network. This membership does not imply endorsement by The Medici Network. This podcast does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities or tokens.
[00:39:55] Metrics that matter: TVL, trading volume, and annualized fees; Pendle’s resilience across market cycles
[00:49:15] Explanation of Pendle’s revenue streams, token mechanics, and value accrual through vPENDLE
[00:53:15] Circulating supply breakdown, emissions schedule, and how governance currently functions
[00:56:45] Why Pendle stands out in the DeFi token landscape, with a focus on supply/demand and long-term token utility
[00:59:30] Regulatory outlook: stablecoin legislation and how it may benefit Pendle’s role in the crypto fixed income space
[01:04:00] Competitive landscape: how Pendle stays differentiated through user focus and distribution
[01:05:55] Final thoughts: upcoming catalysts like Boros, and the biggest internal risk — complacency
This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. The views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Medici Network, Fundstrat Global Advisors LLC, Finality CP Management, LLC, or any of their affiliates. Listeners should consult their own professional advisors before making any financial or investment decisions.
Some protocol guests featured on this podcast may be annual paid members of The Medici Network. This membership does not imply endorsement by The Medici Network. This podcast does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities or tokens.
[00:35:01] The evolving VC landscape and token launch trends
[00:37:50] Market structure clarity as a driver for institutional capital inflow
[00:38:30] Liquid vs. venture performance expectations over the next 3–5 years
[00:43:38] Fund gating and capital call strategies to mitigate buy-high/sell-low behavior
[00:45:09] Paul Veradittakit of Pantera on investment focus areas including AI and tokenization
[00:47:27] Medici as a platform for reconnecting, allocator education, and portfolio visibility
[00:48:56] Shift in institutional comfort and optimism around digital assets
[00:50:23] Alex Pack and Smokey discuss Berachain, community, and protocol value alignment
[00:56:34] Emphasizing network effects, proof of liquidity, and dApp incentives on Berachain
[00:59:17] Chris Johnson introduces Virtuals Protocol and tokenized AI agents
[01:00:23] First-time experience at Medici and community validation of agent projects
[01:02:51] Billy Betts: a tokenized autonomous sports betting AI on-chain
This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. The views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Medici Network, Fundstrat Global Advisors LLC, Finality CP Management, LLC, or any of their affiliates. Listeners should consult their own professional advisors before making any financial or investment decisions.
Some protocol guests featured on this podcast may be annual paid members of The Medici Network. This membership does not imply endorsement by The Medici Network. This podcast does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities or tokens.
[00:15:00] Ted Breyer’s investing journey and global blockchain experience
[00:18:37] Babylon’s role in enabling decentralized security
[00:19:07] Babylon as a native use case for Bitcoin
[00:20:16] Staking, slashing, and trustless security explained
[00:24:28] Ted’s early impression and conviction in Babylon
[00:27:58] Babylon’s importance as foundational crypto infrastructure
[00:29:09] Technical walkthrough of how Babylon staking works
[00:34:00] Flow of a staking and slashing event in Babylon
[00:36:57] Finality providers and validator structure
[00:38:12] Technical diligence and cryptographic innovation
[00:40:54] Babylon’s design as a complement to proof-of-stake chains
[00:41:34] Ecosystem overview: BSNs, Bitcoin LSTs, and applications
[00:44:08] Liquid staking parallels between Ethereum and Bitcoin
[00:45:25] Babylon’s evolving architecture and ecosystem partners
[00:46:34] Competitive landscape: Babylon vs. other protocols
[00:49:07] The role of BitVM and Babylon’s design choices
[00:51:56] Distinctions from CoreDAO and importance of slashing
[00:54:02] Babylon’s technical moat and team strength
[00:57:37] Adoption metrics and early traction
[01:00:32] Osmosis case study and integration of security and liquidity
[01:01:32] BSN pipeline and upcoming integrations
[01:03:36] Strategies for convincing conservative Bitcoin holders
[01:04:55] Anonymous whale stakes $1B worth of BTC
[01:06:38] Metrics Ted is tracking as an investor
[01:10:11] Role of the BABY token in Babylon Genesis security
[01:13:09] Governance structure and validator incentives
[01:17:41] Final thoughts on catalysts and risks ahead
This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. The views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Medici Network, Fundstrat Global Advisors LLC, Finality CP Management, LLC, or any of their affiliates. Listeners should consult their own professional advisors before making any financial or investment decisions.
Some protocol guests featured on this podcast may be annual paid members of The Medici Network. This membership does not imply endorsement by The Medici Network. This podcast does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities or tokens.
[00:39:14] The Future of Web3 Gaming – What needs to happen for mainstream adoption?
[00:46:30] Key Catalysts to Watch – Upcoming developments that could shape the space.
[00:49:01] Final Thoughts – Robbie and Michael’s outlook on Web3 gaming and Immutable’s role in its growth.
This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. The views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Medici Network, Fundstrat Global Advisors LLC, Finality CP Management, LLC, or any of their affiliates. Listeners should consult their own professional advisors before making any financial or investment decisions.
Some protocol guests featured on this podcast may be annual paid members of The Medici Network. This membership does not imply endorsement by The Medici Network. This podcast does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities or tokens.
