Introducing Layer One: Poker Logic Meets Crypto Reality
Episode 1 of Layer One, hosted by The Block's Kelvin Sparks and Hypha Founder Steven Gates, was recorded with Dragonfly Managing Partner Haseeb Qureshi and Sean Lippel, General Partner at Fintech Collective.Listen below, and subscribe to Layer One on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Please send feedback and revision requests to [email protected] 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 cutting-edge 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 guests 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.OUTLINE 0:00 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 GUEST/HOST 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 The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters Are you hiring in crypto? Use Campus to quickly find your best candidates with our challenging Crypto Assessment Test. Faster hiring, stronger teams.Sign up for a trial today: theblock.co/campusDisclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.© 2025 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.