Solana Founder - How Solana Mobile is Building the Future of Crypto | E119

In this captivating conversation, Anatoly Yakovenko, co-founder of @SolanaFndn , shares the journey behind building one of crypto's most resilient blockchain networks. From Soviet immigrant to Silicon Valley engineer to blockchain founder, Anatoly reveals how his wife convinced him to quit his stable job with just six months to build Solana. He discusses surviving the COVID market crash, the FTX collapse, and how Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin's support helped during their darkest days. In this episode, we explore: • Building the future of crypto mobile with Solana's innovative Seeker phone • The evolution of Solana from blockchain to hardware manufacturer • How their "Seed Vault" technology protects crypto better than traditional phones • Their mission to eliminate the 30% app store tax holding back developers • Why mobile represents the next frontier for blockchain adoption • The technical innovations making Solana process more transactions than all chains combined • How memecoins unexpectedly fund serious infrastructure development & much more! __________________________________ PARTNERS 🚀 Jupiter is the most used Decentralized Exchange in Crypto and the largest DEX by volume on Solana: https://jup.ag/ 💳 KAST is a global financial platform that enables users to manage and spend stablecoins and cryptocurrencies using a Visa Card or Apple Pay. Sign up and receive 25 USD: https://kastfinance.app.link/X9L0QKY9 🔓 Trezor is the safest cold storage wallets for crypto security and financial independence. Buy your Trezor Wallet (use PROMO Code from the video for a 10% discount): https://trezor.io/?transaction_id=1026f18ed46409e495c6db4bff90ab&offer_id=133&affiliate_id=35356 🌱 Bitwise Asset Management is the crypto specialist asset manager with more than $10 billion client assets and more than 30 crypto solutions across ETFs, index funds, alpha strategies, staking, and more. https://bitwiseinvestments.com/ 💧Sui is a first-of-its-kind Layer 1 blockchain and smart contract platform designed to make digital asset ownership fast, private, secure, and accessible. https://sui.io/ 🔘 Mantle Network enhances dApp development with Ethereum's security, low fees, and quick transactions through innovative layer-2 technology. Users can stake ETH for mETH, contributing to a transparent, community-driven ecosystem governed by $MNT token holders, fostering innovation and collaboration. https://www.mantle.xyz __________________________________ FOLLOW ANATOLY YAKOVENKO 👇 • Twitter: https://x.com/aeyakovenko • Twitter: https://x.com/solana • Website: https://solanamobile.com/ FOLLOW KEVIN & WHEN SHIFT HAPPENS👇 Twitter (X): https://x.com/KevinWSHPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevinwshpod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kevinfollonier_ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinfollonier/ __________________________________ DISCLAIMER The info contained herein is for informational purposes only. Nothing herein shall be construed to be financial, legal, or tax advice. The content of this video is solely the opinions of the speakers who are not a licensed financial advisor or registered investment advisor. Trading cryptocurrencies poses considerable risk of loss. The speakers do not guarantee any particular outcome. #Entrepreneurship #Crypto #news __________________________________ 0:00 Intro 2:06 Partnerships 2:55 Talking to Startup Founders 4:37 Coming Up of Big Ideas 6:16 Thinking Clearer Without Caffeine 7:10 Childhood Trauma to Success 8:22 Comfortable Being Different 9:40 Self Custody with Trezor 10:33 Moving to America Changed Everything 11:05 First Eureka Moment in Coding 13:47 What Happened to Voiceover IP 15:42 Thinking Small vs. Thinking Big 16:57 Why Loving Your Work Matters 20:00 Having Fun as an Employee 21:08 Focus on Progress, Not Perfection 23:13 Crypto World Fascination 25:32 Jumping Into Crypto's Gold Rush 31:42 Choosing Family, Job, and Side Hustle 32:38 The Power of Silicon Valley's Network 36:07 What is Solana? 36:43 Understanding Proof of History 39:14 The Challenge of New Ideas 42:57 Ethereum's Limitations 44:26 Building Beyond Token Price 50:06 Surviving the FTX Collapse 52:31 Dealing with FUD 53:28 Vitalik’s Support for Solana 54:46 Ethereum’s Challenges and Response 57:04 Near Death to Blockchain Success 1:00:33 MadLads & Helium 1:02:16 Why Every Founder Should Be a CSO 1:04:20 What Should a Founder NOT Do 1:05:35 Finding a Co-Founder 1:07:19 Rise of Meme Coins on Solana 1:10:16 Fart Coin 1:11:11 Launching Solana Mobile 1:13:51 Why Buy Solana Seeker mobile phone 1:17:06 What is Seed Vault? 1:18:29 Role of Solflare 1:18:49 End Goal for Solana Mobile 1:20:02 What is Acceleration? 1:21:33 Top Solana Projects to Watch 1:25:56 Meme Coins Fueling the Infrastructure 1:27:23 Solana’s Biggest Achievement 1:27:56 Solana’s Biggest Problem 1:30:37 Has Solana "Made It"? 1:31:00 Success and Happiness 1:33:26 Non-Consensus Ideas 1:36:51 Concluding Remarks