The Room Where It Happens

Engineering Serendipity in Crypto + AI

57 MAIDEN

What a summer I tell ya! Let’s highlight some of the major Crypto and AI news.

Digital Asset Treasuries (DATs) are on fire. Essentially these are crypto holdings built by companies or funds, like those managing billions in Bitcoin or Ethereum, to generate long-term value and yield. I call this ‘Schrodinger’s Crypto’. An asset ‘x’ that costs ‘y’ as a token at spot, now magically becomes worth ‘y + ?’ when wrapped in a familiar security wrapper. It’s both the original asset x and any number of financial products now which gives it optionality and value to bigger pools of institutional capital.

The GENIUS Act, signed into law on July 18, 2025, creates a first-of-its-kind federal framework for U.S. stablecoins used as payment tools. Absolute game changer for the United States and crypto. The current dominant stablecoins (USDT/USDC) are backed by US dollars. Everyone wants dollars, now they can have them. Not to mention streamlining the outdated the global correspondent banking system. Remember, crypto is just money on the internet. That begins with dollars.

w/ GENIUS ACT primary sponsor Senator Bill Hagerty at a 2024 fundraiser.

Prediction markets, platforms where users trade contracts based on real-world event outcomes, are gaining newfound legitimacy and growth. TLDR, prediction markets are having a moment. Definitely follow activity on Kalshi, and Polymarket. And if you love sports, check out a platform called NoVig. I’m building in this space, stay tuned for the next newsletter with an exciting announcement.

AI Chip Race: OpenAI is developing its own AI chips, with mass production expected in 2026, an effort to reduce reliance on Nvidia and meet growing compute needs. 

Mega Investments: In search of producing essentially a digital God, there’s no stopping the biggest players in this industry from investing into AI. I still think we’re under estimating how big this gets. Google is pouring $85 billion into cloud and AI infrastructure, Amazon plans to invest $100 billion, and Meta projects spending between $64–72 billion.

Trump’s AI Deals with Gulf Allies: As I’ve been traveling to the Gulf since 2011, this deal is music to my ears. During his May 2025 Middle East tour, President Trump greenlit the sale of hundreds of thousands of advanced U.S. AI chips to the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Recent Travel

This is an exciting moment for crypto and AI, so stay tuned for opportunities to interact both digitally and IRL. Until then, catch me on the road!

July 17-20 Indianapolis: Hosted a successful ‘Athletes and Alternative Assets’ brunch during the WNBA All Star Game, with the support of our friends at the Pacers Sports Group.

with Damon Burrow, Joey Graziano III and my stache

July 24 Chicago: Web3 Investor Day hosted by Decasonic, always one of my favorite events in the Midwest.

with Paul Hsu from Decasonic

Aug 16-18 Dyersville, Iowa: For my father’s birthday we traveled to Dyersville to stay at the house made famous in the 1989 movie Field of Dreams. We had a catch under the lights, talked to a ghost, walked into the corn, sat on a porch swing, had ice cream and pizza, and listened to the sounds of silence.

“If you build it, they will come”.

Is this Heaven? No, it’s Iowa.

Upcoming Travel

Sept 11-20 NYC: I’m launching my inaugural TGE Summit on Monday Sept 15 in NYC. No firesides or repeat podcast performances. From capital formation to TGE, we’re hands on building the ‘Github for go-to-market' (GTM). In addition, I’ll be attending Pomp’s Investor day, and the RWA Summit.

Sept 21-27 Seoul, South Korea: Korea Blockchain week is a staple on the crypto conference circuit. Whale dinners will take the forefront as on chain activity is greater than off chain hype. Follow the value on chain. Listen for the sound of the whales.

Sept 27-Oct 1 Singapore: Token 2049, the world’s largest crypto event, is the next stop and it’s full speed ahead meeting funds, family offices and founders. Also looking to see college fraternity brother and celebrity chef Will Goldfarb and his new restaurant Air.

Oct 1-5 Abu Dhabi: The NBA will be in Abu Dhabi, and I’ll be hosting my latest ‘Athletes & Alternative Assets’ event. The NY Knicks will play the Philadelphia 76ers and I’ll be there, connecting families, funds, and players; complete with a 3pt shooting contest for attendees with a few famous players and an NBA shooting coach.

Oct 6-14 San Francisco/LA: Tech week where I hang out with as many 22 year old builders as possible. LFG.

Oct 15-17 Dallas: Attending Leon Capital Group’s family office event with my favorite co-investor Thom Mastrelli. Excited to hear a bit more about their approach to private investing.

Oct 18: SLEEP