Layer One

The Block is proud to introduce our newest podcast: Layer One — created in collaboration with Avalanche.

Hosted by The Block’s Kelvin Sparks and Hypha Founder Steven Gates, Layer One explores the people, ideas, and technologies shaping the future of crypto.

In this inaugural episode, Kelvin and Steven are joined by Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly, and Sean Lippel, General Partner at Fintech Collective.

Together, our dive into their origins in the world of poker — and how the decision-making frameworks, risk management skills, and psychological insights they developed at the table carry over into crypto, trading, and investing.

Host/Guest links:

Haseeb Qureshi - https://x.com/hosseeb

Sean Lippel - https://x.com/seanlippel

Steven Gates - https://x.com/stvngts

Kelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks

OUTLINE

00:00 Introduction

1:07 Poker-to-Crypto Pipeline

5:36 Biggest Risks & Bad Beats

11:38 Poker Brains, VC Games

17:08 Reading the Market Regime

21:54 Betting on 2029

25:09 DeFi Growing Pains

31:44 Institutions Meet DeFi

37:17 Stablecoins, RWAs, Alts

46:13 DATs, Staking & Yield

54:47 The Avalanche Thesis

1:00:44 Vertically Integrated Moments

1:06:52 Pump.Fun & Sign-Off

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Show Notes

The Block is proud to introduce our newest podcast: Layer One — created in collaboration with Avalanche.

Hosted by The Block’s Kelvin Sparks and Hypha Founder Steven Gates, Layer One explores the people, ideas, and technologies shaping the future of crypto.

In this inaugural episode, Kelvin and Steven are joined by Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly, and Sean Lippel, General Partner at Fintech Collective.

Together, our dive into their origins in the world of poker — and how the decision-making frameworks, risk management skills, and psychological insights they developed at the table carry over into crypto, trading, and investing.


Host/Guest links:

Haseeb Qureshi - https://x.com/hosseeb

Sean Lippel - https://x.com/seanlippel

Steven Gates - https://x.com/stvngts

Kelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks

OUTLINE

00:00 Introduction

1:07 Poker-to-Crypto Pipeline

5:36 Biggest Risks & Bad Beats

11:38 Poker Brains, VC Games

17:08 Reading the Market Regime

21:54 Betting on 2029

25:09 DeFi Growing Pains

31:44 Institutions Meet DeFi

37:17 Stablecoins, RWAs, Alts

46:13 DATs, Staking & Yield

54:47 The Avalanche Thesis

1:00:44 Vertically Integrated Moments

1:06:52 Pump.Fun & Sign-Off

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!

🚨 Breaking News

👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis

📈 Market Insights

Subscribe now 👉 https://www.theblock.co/newsletters


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Hiring in crypto?

🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!

✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test

⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teamsStart your free trial today

👉 https://theblock.co/campus

What is Layer One?

The Layer One podcast, created in collaboration with Avalanche, features co-hosts Kelvin Sparks and John Wu as they unpack the real forces driving the crypto market forward.

Through candid conversations with the industry’s true movers and shakers, the show delivers clear, grounded insights that cut through the noise.