TraderJoe (JOE) Surge

Joe Rogan, a comedian and UFC commentator, rose from humble beginnings to host the world's most influential podcast, "The Joe Rogan Experience," valued at $250 million. His unconventional, long-form, and unscripted style attracts high-profile guests like Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and Jensen Huang, who share candid moments rarely seen in traditional media. The podcast’s success lies in its authenticity, reaching audiences distrustful of mainstream media. In 2024, Trump’s three-hour appearance, discussing topics from UFOs to tariffs, garnered over 50 million views and was credited as a key factor in his election victory. However, Rogan faces controversy for spreading misinformation on COVID-19, AIDS, and climate change, highlighting the tension between free speech and responsible media. In China, figures like Luo Yonghao attempt to replicate this model, but face challenges due to shorter content trends, weaker monetization, and cultural constraints. While the format can be imitated, Rogan’s unique influence remains rooted in American media dynamics.

From the history of the internet, this article draws parallels to project the next decade of Crypto. A key threshold is identified: 1 billion monthly active users, which signifies a transition from a tool to a civilization-altering infrastructure, as seen with platforms like Facebook and Amazon. Currently, Crypto is likened to the internet circa 2002, with user growth from 5 million in 2017 to over 500 million by 2026. Presently, the few applications with over 100 million users are predominantly exchanges and stablecoins (e.g., Binance, Tether), leading to skepticism about its broader utility beyond finance. Despite this, investors like Marc Andreessen remain highly optimistic, drawing a parallel to his early belief in the web. A major catalyst for adoption is improved user experience. For the internet, it was the graphical web browser; for Crypto, it was the 2017-2018 infrastructure boom with the rise of efficient exchanges (Binance), stablecoins (USDT), and smart contracts (Ethereum) that created a functional global financial system. The article posits that the next major accelerator for Crypto could be AI Agents. For autonomous AI to operate independently, they will require a permissionless, 24/7 global settlement layer—a role Crypto is uniquely positioned to fill, potentially creating billions of non-human economic agents. Two primary paths to 1 billion users are identified: solving cross-border payments for the over 1 billion people engaging in global interactions, and the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) to democratize global investment. The conclusion is that the first Crypto application to reach 1 billion users will mark its transition to true global infrastructure, much like Facebook did for the internet in 2012. This milestone is predicted to occur around 2036, but only if Crypto solves problems at a sufficiently massive scale. History of technology shows that transformative innovations are often misunderstood at their inception, and Crypto is likely following the same path.

Crypto hedge fund founder Joe McCann is under investigation by Zanzibar police following the death of his fiancée, Ashly Robinson, on April 9. Robinson was found unresponsive in her hotel room with a belt around her neck after the couple had a dispute and were moved to separate rooms. While authorities have preliminarily ruled the death a suicide, they are withholding McCann’s passport pending a formal autopsy. Robinson’s family has publicly challenged the suicide ruling, noting she had recently celebrated her 31st birthday and their engagement. McCann’s not commented publicly. The incident occurs amid reported financial struggles at McCann’s fund, Asymmetric, which lost 80% of its value in 2025.

After nine years as a Web3 VC, the author observes a severe downturn in Asia's crypto venture capital scene, with many funds disappearing or pivoting away. The market has cooled dramatically since the 2021-2024 frenzy, leading to fewer deals and active investors. IOSG Ventures, a firm that has endured three market cycles, has adapted its strategy: shifting from 80-90% early-stage investments to a 50% early-stage, 30% post-TGE, and 20% OTC portfolio to find better value and liquidity. The current bear market is described as "hell mode" for Asian funds due to scarce LP capital, forcing extreme precision in targeting only top projects. The author argues the core industry problem has been the disconnect between tokens and real value, where tokens served as fundraising tools without granting holders rights to protocol revenue. A positive shift is emerging where projects like Uniswap and Morpho are programmatically binding token value to protocol profits. Investment focus has moved towards fundamentals: real-yield financial infrastructure (stablecoins, lending) and crypto-native AI infrastructure, while avoiding narrative-driven projects. The conclusion is that true, durable companies are born in pessimistic times when focus shifts to real user needs and sustainable business models. The industry's future will be shaped by those who remain after the泡沫 dissipates.

Alibaba Executive Chairman Joe Tsai recently outlined the company's comprehensive AI strategy in a public discussion. He believes AI represents a massive opportunity, estimating its potential economic impact at up to $50 trillion, stemming from the automation of human intelligence and productivity. Tsai detailed Alibaba's four-layer investment approach across the AI stack: starting from the chip level, moving to cloud infrastructure (Alibaba Cloud), then the model layer with its open-source Qwen model, and finally applications within its vast digital ecosystem (e-commerce, logistics, etc.). The company avoids the energy layer due to China's efficient infrastructure. This broad strategy is designed to ensure Alibaba captures value regardless of where it ultimately concentrates in the AI value chain. He dismissed concerns about an AI investment bubble, pointing to the enormous $50 trillion opportunity. While acknowledging U.S. cloud giants' higher capital expenditure, he argued Chinese firms, including Alibaba (funded by its cash-generative e-commerce core), need to invest more in AI infrastructure. A key theme was technological sovereignty. Tsai positioned open-source models like Qwen as a solution for companies, especially in Europe, seeking independence from proprietary U.S. models and greater data privacy control. He contrasted this with the trend of U.S. giants keeping their models closed-source. Tsai highlighted Alibaba's collaborations with European manufacturers like Bosch and Siemens, using AI for design and quality control. He concluded with an optimistic vision of AI agents enhancing productivity, ultimately freeing up human time for leisure, family, and experiences like live entertainment.