Are We In A Crypto Winter? Mo Shaikh on VC Leaving, Deglobalization, and Market Downturn

Founders and funds adapt to regulatory swings, shifting capital, and East–West opportunities. This episode unpacks resilience, on‑the‑ground investing, fundraising, and token futures.

Key Takeaways

MFE’s contrarian strategy: on‑the‑ground teams in Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, New York and Austin bridge East‑West founders missed by many US VCs.
Tough fundraising climate: LPs shrank checks or skipped re-ups, favor founder‑led smaller funds; MFE was oversubscribed and selectively raised eight checks.
Regulation drives behavior: clearer rules (e.g., Genius Act effects) encourage banks and asset managers to experiment, while prior crackdowns and incumbents slowed adoption.
Build for durability: Aptos launched amid FTX and bank crises—founders should reassess priorities, persist, build product independent of token, and use local support networks.
Token potential requires time: tokens can enable machine‑to‑machine payments, data exchange, and complex nonfinancial use cases, demanding long horizons and strong founders.
Evolving venture landscape: senior VC departures, consolidation, and capital shifting to AI mean funds must evolve theses, maintain stamina, and support founders with current experience.

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