Inside the Mind of Mert: One of the Most Influential 'Crypto Twitter' Personas

Welcome back to Talking Tokens. We’re sharing another episode I recorded at Solana Breakpoint with Mert Mumtaz.

True Talking Tokens fans will remember he came on the show a little over a year ago (November 2024). So this is his return back on the show, bringing fresh, new takes.

Also Happy (early) New Year! This is our last episode of 2025. But we’ll be back right on Jan 1 with a fun one to kick off 2026.

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In this episode of Talking Tokens, I sat down with Mert Mumtaz, cofounder and CEO of Helius. He shares his take on Solana evolving from earlier years with its NFT boom to the memecoin era and where it’s heading, as well as why better infrastructure, indexing and data readability were essential for scaling the network.

Mert breaks down how Helius built the tools that make Solana legible, why transparency actually reinforces the need for privacy, and how its new Orb aims to become a first-principles block explorer designed for internet capital markets.

We also discuss Solana’s performance culture, the challenges of indexing petabytes of historical data, and how developers and traders rely on Helius for both high-frequency data streams and consumer-grade UX. Mert shares his views on memecoins, Solana Foundation, internet culture, Crypto Twitter authenticity, and why teams must aim for exponential growth rather than incremental success. We also do a fun rapid fire segment toward the end, so make sure you listen to the whole episode!

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

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Money and people moves

1. Seoul-based financial group Mirae Asset eyes crypto asset exchange Korbit for acquisition (The Korean Times)

2. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong shares an ex-Coinbase customer service agent was arrested in Hyderabad, India

3. Former Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison is scheduled to be released from federal custody on Jan. 21, 2026, U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons records show

4. Trust Wallet launches compensation process for $7 million browser extension hack victims (The Block)

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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.