Crypto is starting to shed its long-running “get rich quick” image as the industry shifts toward real-world tokenization, regulated-style trading products, and broader distribution channels, Nansen founder and CEO Alex Svanevik says.
On Cointelegraph Magazine’s “Trade Secrets” show, Svanevik argued that blockchains are moving from a mostly speculative “toy world” phase into a more practical era—where tokenized stocks and index-like trading tied to benchmarks such as the S&P 500 are becoming part of the mainstream conversation.
Key takeaways
- Svanevik frames today’s shift as crypto entering a “real-world era” with tokenized traditional assets and benchmark-style trading.
- He says Solana’s current public narrative—focused on meme coins—is “ridiculous,” and argues the ecosystem has long-term strength.
- Regarding the Robinhood chain launched on July 1, Svanevik sees it as a serious contender to Base and doesn’t expect a token launch.
- On Bitcoin, Svanevik suggests the market may be approaching a bottom around $60,000, while other analysts disagree on how far downside could still extend.
From “toy world” speculation to tokenized real assets
Svanevik’s core thesis is that crypto’s evolution is now being defined by its ability to support non-crypto assets and trading patterns that resemble conventional finance. In his view, the industry’s next phase will be characterized less by isolated retail hype and more by interoperability with widely recognized financial instruments and market structures.
He pointed to the growing availability of tokenized assets and products that mimic index exposure, noting that these developments reflect more than just another cycle of speculative demand. The “interesting spot” for blockchains right now, Svanevik said, is that they create room for non-crypto assets.
Solana’s “meme coin” label misses the bigger picture
While acknowledging the attention Hyperliquid has recently attracted, Svanevik singled out Solana as one of the strongest long-term blockchain ecosystems—despite Solana’s reputation for meme coins.
In the interview, he called the idea that Solana is “just for meme coins” completely misguided, arguing that there is far more underneath the surface. Svanevik emphasized what he described as an “incredible team” behind Solana and said that, in his assessment, the business development effort across the ecosystem is unusually strong.
At the same time, Svanevik drew a clear line between ecosystem performance and token price expectations. He said he is optimistic that Solana as an ecosystem will do well, but added that he doesn’t know what that necessarily means for SOL over the next twelve months—despite acknowledging that price might be expected to rise “intuitively” if the ecosystem strengthens.
Robinhood chain: traction without a token
Svanevik also discussed the Ethereum layer-2 network known as Robinhood chain, which launched on July 1. He suggested the project could “rise up” as a major competitor to Base, largely because of Robinhood’s distribution advantages.
However, he was not convinced Robinhood chain will introduce a token. Svanevik argued that a token may not be necessary if the goal is to bootstrap user adoption and create product momentum. In his view, many projects issue tokens specifically to generate excitement and accelerate early growth—an approach he doesn’t think fits Robinhood’s situation.
He also raised a practical contradiction: launching a token would be counterintuitive for a company that operates a major publicly traded stock on the Nasdaq. Svanevik’s comment was that value is likely better directed toward the existing HOOD stock rather than competing within the same corporate ecosystem through a new token.
“They’ve been able to launch Robinhood chain and get tons of traction without a token.”
Bitcoin: $60,000 as a potential cycle line in the sand
When asked about Bitcoin’s outlook, Svanevik said his personal view is that the market may be near a bottom. He pointed to the current level around $60,000 as potentially representing Bitcoin’s cycle low.
In the interview, Svanevik said he doesn’t expect Bitcoin to go back below $60,000—adding that, based on his long-term perspective, he expects Bitcoin’s role as a hedge against central bank money creation to remain intact. He also suggested he doesn’t see the broader monetary expansion cycle ending anytime soon, which underpins his reluctance to forecast a deeper breakdown.
Still, the market debate is active. The article notes that some analysts were divided on whether Bitcoin has already found a bottom after trading near $60,000 in early February, rebounding, slipping below the level again, and then moving broadly sideways since.
Earlier coverage referenced in the show interview included commentary from veteran investor Michael Terpin, who told Cointelegraph that Bitcoin could face additional declines before reaching rock bottom. According to Terpin’s comments on the Trade Secrets show, the asset could ultimately fall around “66%” from its October 2025 all-time high of $126,100—implying a move into the 40s.
“We still have more pain to go.”
The split between Svanevik’s “near bottom” view and Terpin’s warning of further downside highlights a key uncertainty for traders: whether current price behavior is consolidating near a true cycle low or merely pausing before another leg down.
For readers, the next watch items are straightforward: whether Solana’s long-term ecosystem narrative continues to hold up despite price volatility, whether Robinhood chain sustains traction without token incentives, and—most immediately—how Bitcoin behaves around the $60,000 area as market participants continue to argue over whether “bottom” has already arrived or is still ahead.
