Capital Allocators – Inside the Institutional Investment Industry Crypto for Institutions 4: Ari Paul – Exploiting Inefficiencies in Crypto Trading (Capital Allocators, EP.183)
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Mar 18, 2021 Ari Paul, co-founder and CIO of BlockTower Capital, shares his journey from poker enthusiast to crypto expert. He discusses the challenges of getting institutions to embrace Bitcoin as an asset class and the hurdles of launching a crypto firm amidst market chaos. Paul delves into active trading strategies, the potential of NFTs and gaming, and the necessity for regulatory coherence. He also reflects on the balance between intense trading and personal well-being, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and timing in entrepreneurship.
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BlockTower's Genesis
- Ari Paul's conviction in the 2017 crypto market led him to start BlockTower.
- Existing crypto funds lacked institutional-grade structure needed for UChicago's investment.
Crypto Alpha
- Crypto in 2017 offered high alpha opportunities due to its immaturity and lack of professional involvement.
- Institutional-level controls were lacking, creating both challenges and opportunities.
Opportunistic Approach
- In crypto's early days, an opportunistic, broad approach was favored over specialization.
- Rapid innovation blurred lines between investment stages, requiring a holistic view.
