Summary: Our fifth Dragon Interview finally takes us to an exciting, controversial & new asset class that is dear to KVP's heart, Crypto. The first in a series of Crypto focused content, join us as we sit down with Casper B. Johansen, Co-Founder & Partner of The Spartan Group - an advisory & digital asset pioneer in the crypto space.
We take a walk-through Casper's background, how him & his co-founders stumbled across crypto, an overview of how to potentially think about this new, dynamic & constantly evolving space, as well as the rise of The Spartan Group.
So we covered global macro trading with the exceptional Ashvin Murphy from AVM. Proprietary trading global currencies across banks with the talented Dacky (Keith Dack). As well as family office macro trader & nature conservationist Geo Chen.
Yet you know we had to go crypto!
For our latest Dragon Interview we had the pleasure of sitting down with an exceptional entrepreneur & ex Goldman Sachs investment banker Casper B. Johansen.
The first of a number of special series Dragon Interviews on Crypto, we cover a number of things on this first interview with Casper, including:
-Casper's come-up story career wise, from being a Dane educated as a lawyer in the US & jumping immediately to one of Wall Street's most prestigious banks, Goldman Sachs.
-To his first tech start-up in Beijing in 2008, the folding of that a few years later alongside the stripes, lessons & takeaways earned there.
-To coming across crypto in 2017 initially as a VC investor & the inception of The Spartan Group from that. We cover the set-ups, strategy & long-term vision of the group, that Casper Co-founded with Melody He & Kelvin Koh (all Goldman alumni).
-We touch on the last bull market in 2017, as well as the "punched in the face" nuclear bear market that came after, that saw Bitcoin lose more than 80% of its value from its previous peak & naturally a lot of tokens that went to zero.
-We then delve deeper into crypto with an appreciation of decentralized vs. centralized, how to potentially look at the always evolving space, whilst also covering everything from:
Bitcoin, to Ethereum, to DeFi (Decentralized Finance), to NFTs & also touch on some of the pioneering players in the space including: Origin Protocol, Blockstack, Solana, Dapper Labs, Deribit, Blockfolio.
There is a lot here to digest & at bear minimum, likely one of two if not one of three more pieces to come from the dream team at The Spartan Group.
We hope you enjoy the interview as much as we did putting it together.
-KVP
ps. For more crypto related content one can also check out the BlockCrunch podcast, that is run by crypto analyst Jason Choi, from Spartan Capital, the asset management arm of The Spartan Group.
For more Dragon Interviews please click here
Namaste,
-KVP
2024: The wasted year
Markets are driven by election optimism, overshadowing growing debt and liquidity concerns. The 2024 elections loom large, but economic fundamentals and debt issues warrant cautious investment.
As US economic slowdown hints at a shift away from exceptionalism, USD faces downside with looming Fed cuts. AUD and NZD set to outperform as their rate cuts lag. JPY gains on carry unwind bets and BOJ pivot.
Amid AI and obesity drug excitement, equities see varied prospects: neutral on overvalued US stocks, negative on Japan due to JPY risks, positive on Europe. European defence stocks gain appeal.
With the economic slowdown, quality assets will gain favour, especially sovereign bonds up to 5 years. Central banks' potential rate cuts in Q2 suggest extending duration, despite policy and inflation concerns.
Commodities poised for rebound. The "Year of the Metal" boosts gold and silver, copper awaits rate cuts. Grains may recover, natural gas stabilises. Gold targets $2,300-$2,500/oz, copper's breakout could signal growth.
Markets are driven by election optimism, overshadowing growing debt and liquidity concerns. The 2024 elections loom large, but economic fundamentals and debt issues warrant cautious investment.
As US economic slowdown hints at a shift away from exceptionalism, USD faces downside with looming Fed cuts. AUD and NZD set to outperform as their rate cuts lag. JPY gains on carry unwind bets and BOJ pivot.
Amid AI and obesity drug excitement, equities see varied prospects: neutral on overvalued US stocks, negative on Japan due to JPY risks, positive on Europe. European defence stocks gain appeal.
With the economic slowdown, quality assets will gain favour, especially sovereign bonds up to 5 years. Central banks' potential rate cuts in Q2 suggest extending duration, despite policy and inflation concerns.
Commodities poised for rebound. The "Year of the Metal" boosts gold and silver, copper awaits rate cuts. Grains may recover, natural gas stabilises. Gold targets $2,300-$2,500/oz, copper's breakout could signal growth.