How to Build a Great Crypto Startup

Welcome back to Talking Tokens.

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The latest Talking Tokens podcast 🎙️

For this week’s Thursday episode, we’re sharing an interview with Qiao Wang, founding member of Alliance, a web3 accelerator program. 

Qiao was a guest on the podcast in May 2024 – but a lot has changed since then. They discuss how Alliance looks for breakout startups, Pump.fun’s journey to hitting $100M revenue in 6 months and what makes a great crypto founder – and investor. Qiao also shared his thoughts on the current crypto x AI landscape, 2025 market predictions and why founders should play the “long game.” 

Talking Tokens episodes are released on Spotify and Apple Podcasts at 6AM EST or YouTube at 8AM EST every Tuesday and Thursday. Listen in!

Make sure to subscribe to keep up with the latest episodes. Feel free to leave a review and tell us your thoughts.

Money and people moves

The biggest updates regarding startups that raised capital, moved money or did a little bit of both as well as market players who have left their web3 job or are starting something new.

1. Jito Labs hires Rebecca Rettig as chief legal officer, effective Jan. 20, to oversee the legal, compliance and policy strategy for its Solana-centric blockchain infrastructure developer

2. Blockchain Association announces its 2025-2027 board of directors, including executives from Uniswap, Kraken, Filecoin, Variant and Consensys, among others

3. Marco Santori departs Kraken after being its chief legal officer for five years

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Please note that this content is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Any views shared should not be considered financial advice, nor should it be used to make investment decisions. Cryptocurrencies are high risk and you should consult a financial professional before making any financial decisions. Make sure you do your own research. We may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this newsletter.