Medici Level Up - Live at LA 25

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.

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Key Points From This Episode:

[00:00:00] Intro

[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

[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

Links:

The Medici Network

X.com 

LinkedIn 

Website

Co-Hosts 

David Grider, Finality Capital 

Sean Farrell, Fundstrat Global Advisors

Guests   

Charlie Gasparino, Fox Business Network

Eleanor Terrett, Crypto In America

Joe Marenda, Cambridge Associates

Ben Jacobs, Scenius Capital

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