Crypto Sheds "Get Rich Quick" Image as It Embraces Real-World Assets, Says Nansen CEO

The cryptocurrency industry is finally moving beyond its long-standing "get rich quick" reputation, a shift driven by the integration of real-world assets and a maturing ecosystem, according to Alex Svanevik, founder and CEO of blockchain analytics firm Nansen. This evolution, Svanevik suggests, is not solely a consequence of the current market downturn where rapid wealth accumulation has become less common.

"Crypto assets have kind of been like the ‘toy world’ era of blockchains," Svanevik explained in an interview on the Trade Secrets show. "And now we’re moving into the real-world era, where you see tokenized stocks, you see people trading indices like the S&P 500 and Hyperliquid." He emphasized that blockchains are increasingly becoming platforms that accommodate and facilitate the tokenization and trading of a broader range of non-crypto assets.

Svanevik expressed particular optimism about the long-term potential of certain blockchain ecosystems. While Hyperliquid has recently garnered significant industry attention, Svanevik maintains that Solana remains one of the strongest contenders for sustained growth, despite its prevalent association with meme coins.

Solana’s Misunderstood Potential

"There’s been this view that Solana is just for meme coins, which I think is completely ridiculous," Svanevik stated, arguing that the blockchain’s capabilities extend far beyond speculative tokens. He attributed this misconception to a limited understanding of the underlying technology and the "incredible team" driving its development.

"Maybe the most effective BD team, if we think broadly, behind that chain; they really are here to win," Svanevik remarked, highlighting the strategic business development efforts behind Solana.

Despite his positive outlook on the Solana ecosystem, Svanevik refrained from making specific price predictions for its native token, SOL, over the next twelve months. "I think Solana overall as an ecosystem and as a chain is going to do well," he said. "I don’t know what that means for the SOL price. I mean intuitively you’d imagine that it’s gonna go up based on what I’m saying."

Svanevik’s insights are informed by his position at Nansen, a company that plays a crucial role in the crypto space by analyzing millions of labeled wallets and tracking user activity across various blockchain networks. He co-founded Nansen in 2019 with Lars Bakke Krogvig and Evgeny Medvedev. His involvement in the industry has also expanded to include advisory roles, such as his position on the advisory board of the popular NFT collection Pudgy Penguins, which he joined in August 2022.

Robinhood Chain: A Contender Without a Token?

Beyond Solana, Svanevik also voiced enthusiasm for the Ethereum layer-2 network, Robinhood chain, which launched on July 1st of the current year. He views Robinhood chain as a significant competitor to Base, another prominent Ethereum layer-2 solution. "Robinhood seems to kind of rise up as like a big contender to Base. It’s really interesting because Robinhood has such excellent distribution," Svanevik noted.

However, Svanevik is skeptical about the likelihood of Robinhood chain launching its own token. He believes that the platform’s existing user base and strong distribution channels, facilitated by the Robinhood trading app, diminish the need for a token to bootstrap engagement. "They clearly don’t need to, right? A lot of projects launched tokens as a way to bootstrap excitement in a user base," he explained.

Furthermore, Svanevik suggested that issuing a native token could be counterproductive for Robinhood, given that the company is publicly traded on the Nasdaq. "You should just channel all of that value into the HOOD stock. That’s kind of the first thought," he commented, implying that the company would likely prioritize directing value towards its existing equity. "They’ve been able to launch Robinhood chain and get tons of traction without a token."

Bitcoin Price Outlook: Approaching a Bottom?

Regarding the price trajectory of Bitcoin, Svanevik indicated that the market may be nearing a cyclical bottom. He suggested that the current price levels, hovering around the $60,000 mark, could represent the low point for the current Bitcoin cycle.

"My personal view is that I don’t think Bitcoin’s gonna go back below $60,000," Svanevik stated. "I think that’s the past… I think forever," he added. His conviction stems from the belief that Bitcoin functions as a hedge against central bank monetary expansion, a phenomenon he anticipates will continue globally for the foreseeable future.

The sentiment among Bitcoin analysts is divided regarding whether the cryptocurrency has already found its bottom. After experiencing a decline to around $60,000 in early February, Bitcoin saw a rebound, followed by further dips below this level, and is currently trading within a largely sideways pattern.

In contrast to Svanevik’s outlook, veteran crypto investor Michael Terpin recently shared a more bearish short-term view. Speaking on the Trade Secrets show, Terpin expressed his belief that the market could witness further declines before reaching a definitive bottom. "We still have more pain to go," Terpin told Cointelegraph, predicting that Bitcoin could fall approximately 66% from its all-time high of $126,100 reached in October 2025. "I think that brings us down into the 40s, and I think that’s about where we’re gonna go."

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