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Rebuilding Wall Street On Solana With Solmate — MarketVault
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Rebuilding Wall Street On Solana With Solmate

Arthur Laffer
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In this episode of FYI – For Your Innovation, ARK's CEO Cathie Wood hosts a wide-ranging conversation with Marco Santori, CEO of Solmate, and Dr. Arthur Laffer, renowned economist and longtime ARK advisor. Together, they explore the evolving crypto landscape, regulatory shifts, and why Solana is emerging as a powerful foundation for next-generation financial infrastructure. Santori, previously Chief Legal Officer at Kraken and General Partner at Pantera, shares why he’s now focused on building Solmate atop the Solana blockchain—and why the Middle East is a critical part of that strategy. He explains Solana’s technical advantages, from base-layer speed to support for smart contracts, and its potential to become the platform of choice for high-frequency trading, AI-driven transactions, and decentralized financial services. Dr. Laffer brings historical context to the conversation, contrasting private and government-controlled currencies and making the case for innovation in monetary systems. He also reflects on why he joined the board of Solmate and what excites him about its approach to financial infrastructure and economic growth. Key Points From This Episode: 00:00:00 Meet the guests: Marco Santori’s legal background and early Solana investment 00:04:45 Regulatory whiplash: How the U.S. landscape shifted under a new administration 00:07:16 Dr. Laffer’s crypto “aha” moment and the history of private money 00:13:30 Why Marco chose Solana: performance, smart contracts, and AI readiness 00:18:05 Ethereum vs. Solana: decentralization, speed, and Wall Street applications 00:23:27 Solmate’s board and Middle East connections 00:30:14 Why the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is betting on Solana 00:37:09 The evolution of Solmate from digital asset treasury to infrastructure company 00:42:38 Revenue strategy: building cash flow, not just holding tokens 00:46:23 The Middle East as a geographic and latency hub for blockchain innovation 00:51:06 High-frequency transacting: the next frontier in trading 00:52:31 Solana and on-chain prediction markets More FYI Podcasts: https://ark-invest.com/podcasts/ To learn more about ARK: https://arkinv.st/ARKInvest Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠) For more updates, follow us on: X: https://arkinv.st/3corDiY LinkedIn: http://arkinv.st/1f7AiVX Facebook: http://arkinv.st/3r4EDOU Instagram: http://arkinv.st/39td8bO Disclosure: http://arkinv.st/39rzF94f



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About Arthur Laffer

Arthur Betz Laffer (; born August 14, 1940) is an American economist and author who first gained prominence during the Ronald Reagan administration as a member of Reagan's Economic Policy Advisory Board (1981–1989). Laffer is best known for the Laffer curve, an illustration of the hypothesis that there exists some tax rate between 0% and 100% that will result in maximum tax revenue for government. In certain circumstances, this would allow governments to cut taxes, and simultaneously increase re...

More about Arthur Laffer→

Added 1 Apr 2026

About This Footage

This 1-hour and 33-minute clip featuring renowned economist Arthur Laffer is a treasure trove of insights on the evolving crypto landscape and its potential to revolutionize financial infrastructure. As one of the most influential economists of our time, Laffer's expertise and historical context bring depth and nuance to this conversation with ARK's CEO Cathie Wood and Marco Santori, CEO of Solmate.

The clip is notable for several reasons. Firstly, it showcases Laffer's unique perspective on private currencies and their potential to disrupt traditional monetary systems. As the creator of the Laffer curve, a fundamental concept in economics that illustrates the relationship between tax rates and government revenue, Laffer brings a wealth of knowledge to this discussion. His historical context is particularly valuable, as he contrasts private and government-controlled currencies, highlighting the limitations of the latter.

The conversation also delves into the technical advantages of Solana, which Santori explains will enable high-frequency trading, AI-driven transactions, and decentralized financial services. Laffer's enthusiasm for Solmate's approach to financial infrastructure and economic growth is palpable, and his decision to join the board of Solmate underscores the significance of this project.

The clip is also notable for its exploration of regulatory shifts in the crypto landscape. The conversation highlights how the U.S. landscape has changed under a new administration, creating uncertainty and "regulatory whiplash" for companies operating in the space. This discussion is particularly relevant given the current state of cryptocurrency regulation, which remains uncertain and often contradictory.

One of the most interesting aspects of this clip is Laffer's personal "aha" moment regarding crypto. He shares his experience of being introduced to private currencies and how it changed his perspective on monetary systems. This anecdote provides a unique window into Laffer's thought process and highlights the potential for innovation in traditional economic thinking.

The conversation also touches on the competition between Solana and Ethereum, with Santori explaining why he chose Solana as the platform for Solmate. The technical advantages of Solana, including its base-layer speed and support for smart contracts, are highlighted as key factors in this decision.

Overall, this clip is a must-watch for anyone interested in cryptocurrency, economics, or financial infrastructure. Laffer's expertise and historical context bring depth and nuance to the conversation, while Santori's insights into Solana's technical advantages provide valuable information for those looking to understand the potential of this platform. As we continue to navigate the rapidly evolving crypto landscape, this clip provides a unique perspective on the future of financial infrastructure and economic growth.

The fact that Laffer has joined the board of Solmate underscores the significance of this project and its potential to disrupt traditional monetary systems. His enthusiasm for Solana's approach to financial infrastructure and economic growth is contagious, and his historical context highlights the limitations of government-controlled currencies.

This clip is also a testament to the power of innovation in driving economic growth. As Laffer notes, private currencies have the potential to revolutionize traditional monetary systems, providing greater efficiency, security, and flexibility. The conversation highlights the importance of embracing this innovation and creating an environment that supports its development.

In conclusion, this 1-hour and 33-minute clip is a treasure trove of insights on the evolving crypto landscape and its potential to revolutionize financial infrastructure. Laffer's expertise and historical context bring depth and nuance to the conversation, while Santori's insights into Solana's technical advantages provide valuable information for those looking to understand the potential of this platform.

Editorial context researched and compiled from verified sources.

United States

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