Solana Weekly #117 - Finding Nirvana and a Store of Value

Gaius, CEO of The Vault and founder of The Library, joins the show to discuss why long-term thinking beats trading in crypto. We dive into community validators, surviving the post-FTX downturn, why Solana's developer culture is its secret weapon, and the case for staking over speculation. Plus: token economics that actually reward holders, the maturation of the Solana ecosystem, and why ignoring the noise might be your best strategy.All the links: linktr.ee/solanaweeklyConnect with Gaius:The VaultThe LibraryTwitter Get full access to The Dramas of Thomas Bahamas at thomasbahamas.substack.com/subscribe

Oh Me, founder of Kyzzen, joins Thomas to discuss his platform's evolution from NFT education to becoming Solana's premier opportunity aggregation platform. After three years of bootstrapping with zero funding and zero team turnover, Kyzzen is launching its first NFT collection: Kyzzen no Sekai, an AI-assisted anime art project offering holders exclusive access to advanced analytics tools.Oh Me shares his unconventional framework that simplifies all crypto opportunities into just 6-7 categories, regardless of sector. He challenges the "generational wealth" narrative, instead focusing on financial freedom through sustainable income streams like DeFi yields, staking, and airdrops that work in any market condition.Key topics include:Why Kyzzen pivoted to focus solely on money-making opportunitiesThe hybrid art approach combining hand-drawn traits with AI generationAdvanced portfolio analytics and risk management tools for NFT holdersInvestment philosophy: your biggest enemies are greed and carelessnessRunning 140+ projects through Twitter Spaces in 34 weeksThe state of Solana's regulatory environment and future outlookOh Me brings a refreshingly honest perspective from his banking background, emphasizing research, risk management, and long-term thinking over speculation. A must-listen for anyone serious about building sustainable wealth in crypto.More in depth show notes at solanaweekly.fun/episodes Get full access to The Dramas of Thomas Bahamas at thomasbahamas.substack.com/subscribe

Solana Weekly with KRTV from Saga MonkesThis episode features host Thomas Bahamas interviewing KRTV, creator of the Saga Monkes NFT collection on Solana and advocate for both NFT's and Solana in general. They explore NFTs' resurgence, Solana's ecosystem advantages, meme coins vs. NFTs, DePIN challenges, the Saga phone's history, and Saga Monkes' origin.https://x.com/krtvdepthttps://x.com/sagamonkesMore show notes at solanaweekly.fun/episodes Get full access to The Dramas of Thomas Bahamas at thomasbahamas.substack.com/subscribe

Episode OverviewIn this episode of Solana Weekly, host Thomas interviews Sid from Nirvana Finance to explore their innovative approach to creating a crypto-native store of value on the Solana blockchain. The discussion dives into the challenges of value storage in crypto, the unique mechanics of the ANA token, and how Nirvana aims to provide stability and transparency in a volatile market. * Support the Show: Subscribe to Solana Weekly on your preferred platform, leave a review, and share the episode on LinkedIn or Twitter/X to amplify Thomas.More in depth show notes at solanaweekly.fun/episodes Get full access to The Dramas of Thomas Bahamas at thomasbahamas.substack.com/subscribe

Join host Thomas Bahamas on Solana Weekly for an awesome chat with Alex Svanevik, CEO of Nansen which is the gold standard in crypto analytics. They explore tokenized assets blending TradFi and crypto, market cycles and "chain wars," Solana's edge in RWAs, regulatory ironies pushing retail into meme coins, and Nansen's evolution from DeFi tools to AI agents for real-time on-chain insights.Top 3 Takeaways:Crypto's "sandbox era" of speculation is hardening infrastructure for real assets like tokenized stocks on Solana.Regulations should enable positive-sum investments (e.g., equity in protocols) over zero-sum meme games.Nansen democratizes analytics with labeled addresses, staking ($2B+ TVL), and upcoming AI for portfolio tracking and alpha discovery.Listen for the full dive into the future of finance!Links:Nansen: https://nansen.aiAlex on X: https://x.com/ASvaneviktwitter.comSolana Weekly on X: https://x.com/solanaweeklypodtwitter.comEpisodes: https://solanaweekly.fun/episodes Get full access to The Dramas of Thomas Bahamas at thomasbahamas.substack.com/subscribe

Marcin - Co-founder and GTM lead at Redstone, crypto veteran since 2017 with background in quantitative economics. Previously worked at Google Cloud before founding Redstone in 2020.The Oracle Infrastructure RevolutionRedstone's Modular Architecture Redstone built a fundamentally different oracle system designed for scalability from day one. Unlike traditional models that were difficult to scale across networks and assets, Redstone uses a modular architecture with four modules—keeping three off-chain to minimize integration complexity. This design enables rapid deployment across new blockchains and virtual machines.Multi-Chain Pioneer* First oracle on many non-EVM networks including TON (Telegram), Starknet, and Fuel VM* Strategic expansion philosophy: "Go where people want us, not where we force ourselves"* 75% of company are engineers, maintaining 100% reliability with zero mispricing incidentsWhy Solana, Why NowPerfect Timing Convergence Redstone's Solana launch aligned with a critical market moment. Their partnership with Securitize to serve major tokenized funds (BlackRock BUIDL, VanEck, Apollo, etc.) coincided with Solana's emerging RWA momentum through protocols like Camino, Drift, and Jupiter.Foundation Support Meeting Lily (Solana Foundation director) at Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai catalyzed the expansion, providing technical resources and ecosystem connections for smooth integration.Real-World Assets ExplainedTwo Flagship Products* Tokenized Treasury Bills (T-Bills)* Low-risk, yield-bearing government securities* Principle should always appreciate (barring systemic USD issues)* Considered equivalent to cash in accounting (0-3 month bills)* Apollo's Diversified Credit Fund (Tokenized as ACRE)* Private credit outside traditional banking system* Example: Entrepreneur needs $10M for factory railway, banks reject due to complexity* Apollo intermediates: lenders provide capital at 8%, borrowers pay 12%, Apollo manages 4% spread* Involves real risk of default, but diversified across 100-1000 loansAccess Revolution* Traditional minimum: $5-10 million* Tokenized minimum: $50,000 (100x reduction in barrier to entry)* Global accessibility without complex traditional finance onboardingThe Technical Innovation: sACRESecurity vs. Utility Challenge ACRE is a security token, making it non-transferable and unsuitable for DeFi liquidations. Securitize created an elegant solution:* sACRE: Non-security wrapper around ACRE* Enables DeFi integration while maintaining regulatory compliance* Liquidators interact only with sACRE, never touching the underlying security* Vault system allows redemption back to USDC when neededDeFi Use Cases and Looping StrategiesThe Looping Mechanism* Deposit $1M worth of sACRE as collateral* Borrow $500K USDC (50% LTV for safety margin)* Buy more sACRE with borrowed USDC* Repeat process until hitting minimum investment thresholds* Amplify exposure while maintaining liquidation safetyRisk Considerations* Platform risk (Drift/Camino vulnerabilities)* Asset price risk (private credit can decline unlike T-Bills)* Liquidation risk if looped too aggressively* Need for proper risk management and position sizingInstitutional Adoption PathwayBaby Steps Philosophy Unlike crypto's "10x or bust" mentality, institutions take measured approaches:* Current: Basic tokenization and custody* Next: Simple lending and structured products* Future: On-chain hedge funds and complex derivativesBenefits Driving Adoption* Broader Access: Geographic and capital barriers removed* Secondary Liquidity: Instant swaps vs. 90-day redemption periods* DeFi Composability: Integration with lending, looping, structured products* Transparency: On-chain visibility vs. opaque traditional systemsMarket Lessons and Risk ManagementLearning from Terra/Anchor* Size caps prevent systemic overheating* Transparency requirements for risk assessment* Multiple audits and conservative approaches* Recognition that 20% yields were unsustainableCurrent Systemic Risks* Staking derivatives pose the largest potential systemic risk* Liquid staking tokens widely used as collateral across DeFi* Any major exploit could cascade across ecosystemFuture RoadmapImmediate Developments* Additional Solana-native stablecoin feeds* More yield-bearing asset integrations* Jupiter's "Drip/Plant" lending protocol (partnership with Ethereum's Fluid)Long-term Vision* Yield-bearing stablecoins as mass adoption driver* 4-6% yields as the "sweet spot" for user interest* Cross-chain collaborations and composability* Gradual expansion of on-chain institutional productsBuilder Ecosystem* Testing available at app.redstone.finance (Push → Solana)* Open communication channels via Telegram/Discord* Custom data feed development for specific use casesThe Bigger PictureAdoption Paradigm Shift Traditional crypto adoption focused on retail users buying NFTs and meme coins. RWA adoption brings institutional capital seeking familiar products with blockchain benefits—better access, liquidity, and composability.Global Financial Rails Redstone's vision extends beyond individual assets to creating seamless global financial infrastructure. Current traditional systems are siloed by country/region, requiring inefficient bridges. Blockchain technology enables truly global, instantaneous settlement.Competitive Collaboration The Jupiter-Fluid partnership exemplifies healthy ecosystem growth—established players collaborating rather than zero-sum competing, recognizing the early-stage nature of the overall market. Get full access to The Dramas of Thomas Bahamas at thomasbahamas.substack.com/subscribe

Solana Weekly with Tboh - "The Greater Fools" Book DiscussionGuest BackgroundTboh (Scott) is a professional author and screenwriter with 30 years of experience in Los Angeles. He previously had a successful true crime book that debuted at #1 on Amazon, appeared on major media outlets (Howard Stern, SNL, NBC), and became a Jeopardy answer. For the past 10-15 years, he's been ghostwriting for others, but decided to write about something he's passionate about: Solana.The Book: "The Greater Fools"* Genre: Fantasy/adventure story that teaches crypto concepts through narrative* Target Audience: 300 million fantasy/sci-fi readers worldwide who want to learn about crypto* Length: 110,000 words (originally planned for 50,000)* Timeline: 1.5 years in development (originally planned for 8 months)* Educational Goal: By the end, readers understand wallets, exchanges, blockchain basics, Bitcoin, Solana, Ethereum, and how to avoid common scamsFunding and Community SupportTebow took an unconventional approach by raising "seed funding" for a novel:* Initial Investors: Jordan and Barage (DTP founders), Monterey Rice (Pandas CEO), Nana Trades, EJ the Cray* Community Backing: Exalt DAO (sub-community of Pandas) provided treasury funds* Solana Foundation: Gave him a booth at Breakpoint Singapore 2023* Investment Philosophy: Investors said "if we see the money again, great, but we want to support what you're doing"Solana NFT History Deep DiveThe conversation provides rich historical context about Solana's NFT evolution:Degen Apes - The Catalyst* Impact: Brought Solana to worldwide attention, caused network congestion* Significance: First major hyped mint that attracted people from other blockchains* Art Quality: Described as "Pixar-level" 3D art* Community: Focused on IP development, entertainment company aspirationsOther Major Collections* Degenerate Trash Pandas: Where Tebow found his community, focused on supporting struggling artists* Famous Foxes: Early utility pioneers, built essential NFT tools* Solana Monkey Business: "LinkedIn of Solana" - networking hub for builders and successful individuals* Okay Geckos: Gossip Goblin's collection, known for strong community support* DeGods: Described as having a "frat boy" culture, controversial but loyal communityNFTs vs. Meme Coins AnalysisNFT Communities (Historical)* Structure: Discord-based, PFP-driven tribal identity* Characteristics: Country club model - pay entry fee, stay for community value* Innovation Hub: Where most Solana tooling and infrastructure was developed* Longevity: Built for long-term community engagement* Shared Trauma: Community bonds strengthened during the FTX collapse and bear marketMeme Coins (Current)* Structure: Telegram-based, focused on quick gains* Philosophy: "Come make money and feel free to dump on me"* Timeframe: Shorter-term oriented* Capital Formation: Can go from zero to billions quicklyKey Insights on Solana's Competitive Advantages* User Experience: Superior wallet experience, negligible transaction fees* Artist Accessibility: Low barriers to entry for creators* Community Accessibility: Direct access to founders and CEOs via DMs* Developer Tools: Rapid innovation in NFT infrastructure* Battle-Tested Community: Survived FTX collapse and bear market togetherThe Future of NFTsBoth hosts believe NFTs will return because:* Established Communities: Collections like Monkey DAO, SMBs, and Geckos built lasting value* Unique Utility: Access to exclusive groups, deal flow, and networking opportunities* Proven Models: Examples like Quacks providing tiered access to investment opportunities* Undervaluation: Current NFT prices don't reflect the community infrastructure builtBook Marketing Challenges and StrategiesTebow faces unique challenges marketing a crypto book:* Timing Issue: Wrote during NFT winter when interest was low* Distribution Dilemma: Balancing Web3 native release vs. traditional publishing* Community Approval: Getting permission from all mentioned projects and collections* Innovative Distribution Ideas:* Serialized release on Drip House* NFT versions with different cover art* Compressed NFT distribution* Partnership with wallets for "stake-to-read" programsTechnical and Cultural Observations* Network Evolution: From network congestion during DGen Apes to current high performance* Gas Fee Psychology: Ethereum's high fees were bizarrely seen as status symbols* Community Loyalty: Many holders still maintain NFTs despite significant value drops* Innovation Through Adversity: Best tools and communities emerged during difficult timesPrice Predictions and BullishnessThomas boldly predicts $1,000 Solana, noting that the community has become hesitant to express extreme bullishness despite strong fundamentals and ecosystem growth. Get full access to The Dramas of Thomas Bahamas at thomasbahamas.substack.com/subscribe

Host Thomas sits down with Simon, founder of Solana ID, during Solana Accelerate in New York to discuss the future of digital identity on Solana. They explore how Solana ID is solving user acquisition challenges for dApps while giving users control over their digital reputation.GuestSimon - Founder of Solana ID Hosts the "Sol Brothers" podcastKey Topics DiscussedThe Digital Identity ProblemThe Core Issue: dApps don't know their users - "DeFi apps don't have users, they have strangers"Users build reputation across multiple wallets with no way to aggregate their identityCurrent marketing is inefficient - throwing money at random users who don't care about the productHow Solana ID WorksUnified Identity: Connects multiple wallets to create one comprehensive identity profileSOLID Score: Aggregates on-chain behavior into meaningful scores and badgesPrivacy-First Approach: Apps get behavioral data without knowing real identitiesWin-Win-Win Model: Users get perks, apps get better targeting, protocol generates revenuePrivacy vs User Experience BalanceUX First Philosophy: Prioritizing ease of use over extreme privacy to drive adoptionDual Approach: Offering both zero-knowledge proofs and traditional Web2 API integrationsZK Implementation: Using ZK-TLS technology with ZK Pass for cryptographic verification of social media and other off-chain dataSolana Ecosystem InsightsConsumer Chain Evolution: Solana's focus on user experience over pure tech specificationsNetwork Effects: Why Ethereum remains dominant despite inferior tech, and how Solana is building similar network effectsDeveloper Experience: Rust vs Solidity - more complex but more robust developmentTechnical ChallengesData Accessibility: Making Solana's complex on-chain data readable for appsReal-time Querying: Providing instant access to wallet history and behavior patternsInfrastructure: Building indexing and aggregation tools for the ecosystemToken Strategy and Market DynamicsSOLID Token: Launched in December, faced market challenges during altcoin declineDual Product Management: Balancing protocol development with token utilityMarket Timing: Lessons learned from launching during market downturnUpcoming Features and AnnouncementsID Display Network: Partners will show perks directly on their platforms to Solana ID holdersSocial Media Integration: Traditional API connections alongside ZK proofsSingle Sign-On: Potential "Sign in with Solana ID" functionalityMajor Announcement: Something big coming with Solana Foundation during Accelerate weekMulti-Chain Future DiscussionSolana Focus: Staying laser-focused on one ecosystem for maximum impactPotential Expansion: Future possibility of white-labeling or expanding to other chainsMarket Dynamics: Why most chains haven't achieved the network effects needed for successRegulatory EnvironmentInnovation Acceleration: How improved crypto regulations will benefit the ecosystemSolana's Position: As a US-based company, well-positioned for regulatory clarityBuilder Ecosystem: Expecting more innovation as regulatory uncertainty decreasesKey Quotes"DeFi apps don't have users, they have strangers""Privacy usually adds an element of complexity - if you don't give a big enough benefit, people will not use your application""Solana ID is a bet on Solana, and Solana is a bet on crypto""We're making wallets human readable basically"Resources MentionedSolana ID App: app.solana.idWeekly Community Calls: "SOLID Talks" - Saturdays 3:00 PM UTCJupiter: Leading example of consumer-focused Solana appsPortfolio Trackers: Awaken Tax, Jupiter Portfolio, Asset DashDomain Services: SNS, All DomainTechnical StackZero-Knowledge: ZK-TLS technology via ZK Pass partnershipProgramming: Rust on SolanaData Indexing: Custom infrastructure for real-time wallet analysisIntegration: API endpoints for dApp integrationTarget AudienceSolana developers building consumer applicationsDeFi users looking to leverage their on-chain reputationAnyone interested in the intersection of privacy and user experience in Web3Episode TakeawaysIdentity is Infrastructure: Digital identity will be critical infrastructure for the next phase of crypto adoptionBalance is Key: Success requires balancing privacy ideals with practical user experienceNetwork Effects Matter: Technical superiority alone doesn't guarantee success - community and adoption are crucialRegulatory Clarity Helps: Improved regulations will accelerate innovation and business buildingSolana's Momentum: The ecosystem's focus on consumer experience is driving real adoptionConnect with Simon on X: https://x.com/simonmolitorFollow the "Sol Brothers" podcast for more Solana ecosystem insightsJoin SOLID Talks community calls for the latest Solana ID updatesTry Solana ID at app.solana.idHost: ThomasProduction: Solana WeeklyMore at solanaweekly.fun/episodesEpisode with Eno (cohost of SolBrothers) Get full access to The Dramas of Thomas Bahamas at thomasbahamas.substack.com/subscribe

Gold has been money for 2,000 years but it’s never moved at 400 ms or earned 4 % APY. 🏎️Usman, co-founder of Oro, sits down with Thomas Bahamas to unveil how Oro tokenizes fully-audited bullion on Solana, pays 3-4 % real yield through the century-old “gold-leasing” market, and lets you redeem down to one gram in Dubai, London, the U.S.even for an engagement ring. We break down the macro tailwinds pushing gold above $3 k/oz, why Solana desperately needs a non-USD store of value, and how you’ll soon LP, borrow, or save with the planet’s oldest asset… at DeFi speed.GuestUsman – CEO & Co-Founder, Oro• Fifth-generation gold-market insider (family biz > 100 yrs)• Building the world’s largest on-chain gold redemption network• Twitter: @theusmansalKey TakeawaysMacro Gold Boom – 40 % YoY rise, 5-10 % portfolio allocation coming back in vogue.Tokenization Done Right – Monthly third-party vault audits, bankruptcy-remote trusts.Real-World Yield – 3-4 % from institutional gold leasing, stacked on top of price gains.One-Gram Redemption – Physical pickup or delivery in major gold hubs; jewelry optional.DeFi Utility – LP pools, on-chain collateral, and “GOLD +” staked savings account.Solana Edge – Sub-penny fees and 24/7 liquidity beat legacy ETFs and wrapped BTC.Resources & LinksJoin the Oro wait-list: orogold.appGold-Leasing Explainer (blog)Pyth Network – On-chain gold price oracleMentioned protocols: Lulo, CarrotCall to ActionEnjoyed the episode? Follow Solana Weekly, drop a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating, and share with one friend who still thinks gold is “just a rock.” Got feedback or bags to shill?X: @thomasbahamasfi; solanaweeklypodSolana Weekly is for educational purposes only. Do your own research, stay hydrated, and keep stacking good decisions. Get full access to The Dramas of Thomas Bahamas at thomasbahamas.substack.com/subscribe

1. Intro* Thomas welcomes listeners, positions episode as an “alpha drop” on gaming.* Introduces Jorge, a leading voice for Solana gaming and marketing strategist inside the Solana Foundation.2. Why Web3 gaming is finally real* AAA & indie teams have been building since 2021 fund-raise phase; quality titles simply take 3-6 years.* Solana now hosts every genre: AAA (Star Atlas), mid-core (Aurory, Decimated), mobile (Honeyland).* Light at the end of the tunnel: playable builds, user-ready economies, not just white-papers.3. Solana’s differentiation for games* Ultra-low fees let studios place gameplay-critical actions (fueling a ship, item craft, marketplace swap) directly on-chain.* Near-instant finality = seamless UX; devs can read on-chain user behavior to fine-tune economies.* Global payments and provably scarce assets remove grey-market risk (eBay skin scams, black-market key reselling).4. The new Gaming on Solana initiative* Mission: aggregate content, surface hidden gems, spotlight devs & streamers.* Weekly Twitter Spaces (+ recorded pods) with founders & players.5. Solana Game Pass alpha* Four-week mint window (Magic Eden) – open entry, no FOMO drop games.* Questing system that retro-rewards late minters so nobody misses out.* Prize pool funded by studios and infra partners (Solflare, Boom, Gamer, Beam, Play Solana, etc.).* Mirrors Xbox/PSN language to avoid NFT jargon and lower friction for mainstream gamers.6. Tackling gamer skepticism* Early “play-to-earn Ponzinomics” poisoned the well; Solana message is fun first, ownership optional.* Blockchain benefits framed in gamer terms (true item ownership, fair markets, instant global payouts).7. Compliance & tooling conversation* Jorge stresses need for legal teams & CFOs in Web3 startups.* Both speakers highlight emerging tax software (e.g., Wakeyn) to wrangle 50k+ on-chain TXs.* Regulatory clarity in US improving; Solana’s low-cost chain uniquely positioned for broad retail adoption.8. Outlook & Events* “On-chain super-cycle”: transaction growth > price hype.* Content blitz planned for Accelerate NYC (May 22) – full camera crew capturing live demos, dev interviews.* Breakpoint Abu Dhabi (Dec) to showcase Game Pass results & 2025 road-map.9. Parting wisdom* Jorge: “Shout-out to every builder who weathered the storm—your badge of honor is forged in steel.”* Thomas: encourages listeners to subscribe, leave reviews, and “shield your bags…work for them.”Resources & Links* Mint the Solana Game Pass: (Magic Eden, 3 pm EST launch)* Gaming on Solana Twitter: @gamingonsolana (weekly Spaces, quest updates)* Featured studios: Star Atlas • Aurory • MIXMOB • Honeyland • Decimated • Ian Heroes* Tools mentioned: Solflare wallet • Beam payments • Wakeyn Tax • Meteora LaunchpadCall to Action* Subscribe & Review Solana Weekly on your favorite podcast app.* Mint a Game Pass and complete quests to support early Solana games.* Join the community: follow @gamingonsolana, hop into Tuesday Spaces, and meet Thomas & Jorge at Accelerate NYC. Get full access to The Dramas of Thomas Bahamas at thomasbahamas.substack.com/subscribe