Insilico Terminal Podcast

In this episode, we dive into the journey of a trader who entered crypto in 2016, lived through the 2017 alt mania, round-tripped early bags, and returned to the 2021 cycle far better prepared. He breaks down his current long-term swing approach, how he thinks about narratives, and why the Solana trade stood out. We talk tech vs narratives, tokenomics realism, and why Hyperliquid is one of the few "tech that actually matters." The conversation explores learning to sell, avoiding CT sentiment traps, timeline curation, balancing work with trading, on-chain experiments, missed airdrops, public sales, and views on the current cycle - from majors vs alts to the unfolding Trump meta. 00:00 Intro, getting into crypto in 2016, ETH-pilled early, 2017 alt mania  05:07 Round-tripping early bags, learning to sell, RuneScape gold to BTC, entering 2021 better prepared  08:00 Trading style today - long-term swings, narratives, Solana trade breakdown  12:46 Tech vs narratives, tokenomics realism, Hyperliquid as rare "tech that matters," losing faith in plasma/VC chains  15:38 Biggest lessons - learning to sell, CT sentiment traps, subreddits, bagholder echo chambers  20:10 Life on CT - reply guy origins, filtering grifters, timeline curation  27:16 Work vs trading - why he keeps a job, risk management, lifestyle balance,  34:53 On-chain attempts, meme seasons, airdrop misses (HL/Kaito), public sales, Monad/MegaETH thoughts  43:04 Market outlook - cycle views, late-stage concerns, majors vs alts, Trump meta

In this episode, Adam - known as Abetrade —-shares his path from early binary options scams to trading German bonds, Bitcoin, and derivatives across markets. He talks about evolving from short-term order-flow scalping to longer-term swing and volatility strategies, using options and ETFs to trade mean reversion and risk premiums. Adam also dives into his work as Head of Trading at Breakout, recently acquired by Kraken, explaining prop-firm mechanics and risk management. The conversation closes with reflections on burnout, lifestyle balance, and why building sustainable habits matters more than chasing constant action. 00:00 Intro, Adam's background, first exposure to trading and  ICO cycle in 2017  06:30 Trading German bonds, transitioning to crypto perps in 2020, early bull market experiences  14:41 Burnout, switching from intraday to higher-timeframe trading, learning patience  22:22 How he trades now - sentiment, options, mean reversion, and trend systems across markets  31:03 Selling options, volatility strategies, ETFs, and balancing different uncorrelated systems  42:45 Teaching new traders, reflections on markets changing, and why higher TFs make more sense now  46:22 Founding Breakout, getting acquired by Kraken, managing risk at scale  52:07 Why prop trading makes sense, risk frameworks, and thoughts on leverage for smaller traders  55:16 Staying motivated after success, daily habits, balance, and mental clarity

In this episode, Scott shares his journey from a TradFi background to finding success in crypto's early DeFi days. He breaks down momentum effects, on-chain inefficiencies, and how simple systems often outperform over-optimized ones. The discussion covers mid-frequency quant trading, partnering with market makers, and the psychology of trend following. Scott also opens up about burnout, mental health, and his personal story of redemption - ending with reflections on the future of systematic trading, vault design, and finding peace beyond success. 00:00 Intro, Scott's background in TradFi, pivot to crypto in 2019, and early DeFi summer success  07:08 Momentum effects in crypto, on-chain inefficiencies, and finding edge in smaller venues  20:18 Building systems, market-making hybrids, and why simple signals outperform optimization  26:00 Mid-frequency quant trading, execution costs, and partnering with market makers  35:00 Trend following as a career - psychology, losing streaks and Hyperliquid strategy  43:00 Burnout, mental health, taking breaks, and reflections on trading longevity  48:05 Life story - crime, jail, rebuilding through trading, lessons on risk and humility  52:29 Future of crypto and systematic trading, decaying edges, and institutional arrival 58:08 Vault design, momentum modeling, and cross-asset trend logic  01:12:00 Closing thoughts on money, wisdom with age, and the balance between success and peace

In this episode, Nick shares his journey from discovering markets to mastering DOM scalping and developing a unique order book–driven style. He dives into breakout and knife-catching setups, lessons from the Russian scalping scene, and his transition into algorithmic trading with Spreadfighter. The conversation explores building an algo fund through volatile markets, adapting as edges decay, managing risk, and lessons from major drawdowns - ending with insights on protecting capital, holding winners, and embracing positive tails. 00:00 Intro, Nick's background, early exposure to markets and discovering crypto 06:05 Discovering DOM scalping, order book focus, and early trading habits 12:16 Developing skill with DOM tools, breakout vs knife-catching setups, Russian scalping scene 18:26 Joining Spreadfighter, learning pairs trading, and transition toward algorithmic strategies 29:18 Building Spreadfighter into an algo fund, adapting through the 2021–22 bear market 39:16 Current trading today - decayed edges, intuition, risk management, surviving October 10th 54:27 Protecting capital, lessons from dumps, holding winners, positive tails, and closing thoughts

In this episode, Ponzi shares his path from early on-chain trading to joining Spartan Group, reflecting on big wins, losses, and emotional lessons along the way. He talks about the Hyperliquid airdrop era, shifting from altcoins to perps, and developing structured strategies in a team environment. The conversation covers trading psychology, DEX competition, public sales, and the evolving airdrop meta - ending with insights on adaptability, letting go of old bags, and staying sharp in changing markets. 00:00:00 Intro, Ponzi's background, getting into crypto and early trading years 00:06:08 Big wins and losses - Rollbit, Trader Joe, emotional trading lessons 00:10:25 Hyperliquid airdrop, airdrop farming mindset, and lessons from missed opportunities 00:15:05 Transition to perps trading, shift away from on-chain alts, adapting strategy 00:26:16 Joining Spartan Group - team trading, structure, learning valuation frameworks 00:33:09 Trading psychology, loneliness, social aspects, and adapting over time 00:38:11 Thoughts on Lighter, Hyperliquid, perp DEX competition and market outlook 00:55:01 Public sales meta, Echo deals, MegaETH, and evolution from airdrops 01:06:08 Closing thoughts - trading advice, adaptability, dumping old bags, final wrap-up

In this episode, Ruslan, founder of Extended, shares his journey from Revolut to building a fully self-custodial exchange. He explains the vision behind Extended's unified margin and multi-asset collateral system, the choice to build on Starknet, and the challenges of trustless architecture. The discussion dives into liquidation logic, exchange stability during volatile markets, and what sets Extended apart - closing with thoughts on sustainable growth, token plans, and the future of decentralized trading. 00:00 Intro, Ruslan's background, founding Extended, and vision for a self-custody exchange 06:11 Leaving Revolut to build independently, benefits of a small agile team 13:09 What sets Extended apart - unified margin, multi-asset collateral, and long-term roadmap 18:42 Why they chose Starknet, trustless design, and Ethereum ecosystem integration 24:59 Deep dive into multi-asset margin mechanics, liquidation logic, and risk handling 33:46 Why others don't build this yet, technical complexity, and future competition 39:18 Exchange stability, recent crash lessons, and how Extended handled downtime 45:56 Sustainable growth, token plans, long-term goals, and closing remarks

In this episode, Heart shares his journey from the early DeFi days to becoming a disciplined trend trader. He talks about the lessons from his first bear market, how trading psychology reshaped his approach, and why he stopped shorting. The discussion covers trend following, coin rotation, using CT as signal, and the role of community, journaling, and personal growth -ending with insights on managing size, staying sharp, and building long-term freedom through trading. 00:00:00 Intro, Heart's background, getting into crypto and the early DeFi boom 00:04:38 From on-chain degening to perps, first bear market, lessons and mindset shift 00:08:00 Trading psychology - why he stopped shorting, emotional control, risk habits 00:12:32 How he trades today: trend following, rotation, coin selection, and CT as signal 00:21:00 What CT taught him - psychology over TA, community, filtering noise 00:33:53 Books, mentors, journaling, and personal growth as a trader 00:45:11 Key lessons, managing size, staying sharp, freedom and long-term goals

In this episode, V discusses developing as a trader through the 2021–22 bear market and how a macro framework shapes his approach. He breaks down positioning vs prediction, interest rate differentials, and carry trades, while exploring how macro conviction translates into intraday execution. The conversation covers narratives, data, Fed policy, crypto rotations, and possible next bear market scenarios — ending with insights on building edge, balancing discretion and quant, and leveraging the right tools. 00:00:00 Intro, V's background, starting to trade during the 2021–22 bear market 00:05:09 Macro traders, positioning vs prediction, VAR shocks, applying macro to trading 00:23:54 2024 selloff, interest rate differentials, carry trades and correlations 00:33:11 Macro as conviction, holding trades, scalping liquidations, intraday execution 00:41:08 Market data, narratives vs positioning, outlook on Fed, Trump, tariffs and gold 00:51:26 Crypto rotations, lack of narratives, comparisons to 2021, seasonality and Q4 flows 00:58:21 Next bear market scenarios, stagflation fears, sideways chop vs crash 01:13:29 Closing thoughts on finding your edge, discretionary vs quant, importance of tools

In this episode, Doc shares his journey from medicine to trading, how discipline from tennis shaped his approach, and the evolution of his strategies from trend trading to intraday mean reversion. He dives into mentors, CT culture, execution with Insilico Terminal, on-chain opportunities, work-life balance, and his long-term outlook on markets and trading as both a craft and a lifestyle. 00:00:00 Intro, Doc's path from medicine to trading, early obsession during the bear market 00:13:21 Tennis mindset applied to trading, discipline, handling losses and setbacks 00:26:36 Transition from trend trading to intraday mean reversion, adapting to new styles 00:33:24 Mentors, CT culture shifts, and Doc's move into education 00:42:58 Execution focus, Insilico Terminal, order types, and the importance of fees 00:47:52 On-chain opportunities, Hyperliquid, and choosing to focus on Bitcoin intraday 00:53:14 Work-life balance, cashing out, lifestyle changes, and future trading goals 01:00:11 Market cycles vs narrative-driven rallies, macro shifts, ETFs, and liquidity 01:08:21 Long-term outlook, trading as joy vs job, when to step away, closing thoughts

Alucard shares his journey from early mistakes and risk lessons through bull & bear markets, into HFT, orderflow, and mean reversion strategies—plus insights on DEX growth, delta-neutral yields, and advice for newcomers. 00:00 Background, getting into crypto, early mistakes and lessons 07:00 Bull & Bear experiences, learning risk management, Luna, FTX 10:30 Moving into HFT, latency/arb focus, division of engineering vs strategy  18:06 Trading strategies, mean reversion, orderflow  23:00 When scalps become swings; liquidation lines, trench sizing; avoid true bagholding 27:00 From years lurking to posting himself, Bunker/mentors, how he filters real signal 34:39  Current DEX landscape, latency, maintenance margin, UX, why DEX share grows  51:10 Delta-neutral yields, cross-venue spreads, advice to newcomers Follow Alucard: https://x.com/AlucardTrades

This episode follows Marusha's journey from gaming into crypto, exploring her early trading wins, burnout, and return with a deeper focus on options and algorithmic strategies. We dive into CT culture, on-chain perps vs. options, Hyperliquid, pump.fun, and the love/hate relationship traders have with the market.   Follow Marusha: https://x.com/maruushae 0:00 Marusha background, move into crypto, gaming connection, first mentor  06:56 Early trading experiences, bullrun luck, burnout, taking a break to study options and algo trading  12:31 Joining Discord & Crypto Twitter, learning from criticism, evolution of CT culture and knowledge  19:10 Post-2021 break return, deeper understanding of options, market structure, perp vs options impact  26:03 Binary options, perpetuals as the ultimate gambling product, on-chain options challenges  30:08 Interest in Hyperliquid, Solana DEX experience, no-KYC appeal, farming and airdrop   38:21 Algorithmic trading focus, arbitrage strategies, funding opportunities, directional vs neutral trading  40:00 Pump.fun discussion  42:20 Motivation to keep going, defining 'retired'  50:05 Struggles in trading, love/hate relationship with the market and CT community

In this episode with Pierre Crypto we cover getting started in crypto, lessons from FTX, building trading strategies and systems, and the mindset needed to stay consistent. We also discuss lifestyle changes, the evolution of Crypto Twitter, execution in trading, and wrap up with thoughts on Hyperliquid, airdrops, and the future of CEX/DEX. 0:00 Getting started in crypto and trading, gaming history and transferable skills, taking accountability 15:30 Learnings and being humbled, FTX 21:40 Development of trading strategy, mental aspects, system building, trend trading 35:50 Doing something else? Lifestyle changes, what helped not to give up 44:35 State of CT, decline and changes, improving and participating  55:18 Execution impact on trading and evolution through the years 1:09:12 Hyperliquid airdrop, future of CEX/DEX, current crypto applications